Spanish study suggests a lack of religious knowledge among journalists
16-06-2021
Southern Europe
CNE.news
Professor Manuel Alcántara , one of the authors of the study. photo screencapture UAM
Southern Europe
Revealing conclusion emerged from a study into the treatment of Spanish press to evangelicals; Spanish researchers presented these findings last Sunday.
The online news magazine Actualidad Evangélica writes that, according to the scientists' findings, journalists currently have not sufficient knowledge on religious matters. "If you combine the speed of digital journalism with the lack of training of journalists on religious facts, a cocktail is formed that prevents the news from being given properly, says professor Ana Ruiz.
The report recommends journalism faculties to include training on religious matters, either in the academic curriculum or at least in courses or seminars.
According to the researchers, news about the evangelical society is usually not positive. "When there is news about the evangelical community, it is usually due to a sad event or something negative," explains Professor Manuel Alcántara, one of the authors of the study. "On the other hand, everything else that happens, which can be 99 per cent of the reality of the evangelical community, never reaches the press. It reduces the visibility in the press to a very negative caricature of what this community is."
Valuable
During the study, researchers analysed articles from the last two decades from the twelve main press media present in the corpus of reference in studies on digital discourse. The Pluralism and Coexistence Foundation, a governmental foundation to promote religious freedom in Spain, funded the research.
Improving religious diversity
On October 15th 2004, at the proposal of the Spanish Ministry of Justice, the Council of Ministers agreed to create the Pluralism and Coexistence Foundation to contribute to the promotion of religious freedom in Spain.
On its website, the foundation states that it is its mission to encourage the recognition and accommodation of religious diversity as fundamental elements for guaranteeing the effective exercise of religious freedom and the construction of an adequate framework of coexistence.
Furthermore, the foundation's objectives are to improve knowledge about religious diversity in Spain, improve the management of religious diversity, and influence the construction of an informed and tolerant public opinion towards religious plurality.
According to Rita Gomes, a technician at the foundation, the project appeared valuable from the beginning. "It seemed to have great potential for awareness-raising work with media professionals and a benefit for the evangelical community."
Jorge Fernández, media advisor at the Spanish Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities, thinks that the study is a helpful tool. “The research offers us objective data with which we can go to media professionals and show them what is happening.” According to Fernández, the study also helps plan strategies to counteract a narrative that harms the evangelical community.
