Over 35 journalists gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 14-16 for the conference “Reporting Religion in Africa – Rising to the Challenge”, hosted by the International Association of Religion Journalists (IARJ), in collaboration with the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) and KAS Media Africa (Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung).

On 14-15 April, some 40 journalists and communicators gathered at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya, for the IARJ conference on journalism and religion in East Africa.
Photo credit: the Graduate School of Media and Communications-Aga Khan University

During the two-day event participants shared the challenges they face in their job and exchanged best practices and ideas to strengthen accuracy in reporting, and build empathy in covering religion and faith across Africa. Speakers and panellists offered their insightful perspective on a wide range of topics, such as the media’s role in the construction and the aticulation of Africa’s religious narratives; the politicization and weaponization of religion; religious extremism and the media; the role of religion in war and peacebuilding; gender issues in religious organizations and newsrooms, but also the role of young voices on faith, media and interfaith relations.

“The conference, aimed at exchanging best practices in reporting religion in Africa and worldwide and introducing religion reporting to young journalists, showed how important it is to understand religion’s central role in societies and contextualize reporting”, say the organizers, who underlined the importance of strengthening accuracy and building empathy for impactful reporting, as well as identifying training needs in religion reporting.

IARJ’s members offered their global perspectives on reporting religion, with Jorgačević Kisić of Serbia, Peggy Fletcher Stack of Utah (USA), Priyadarshini Sen of India and George Sunguh of Kenya sharing their experiences as religion reporters.

Religion shapes politics, culture, identity across our continent. When it makes the headlines it is because of scandals, but we owe more to our audience.

As editors, reporters, and educators, we must do more to invest in religion literacy in newsrooms. This investment would entail training reporters, assigning beats and building networks of religion journalists. Most importantly, we must listen to believers, skeptics, and everyone in between.

Professor Nancy Booker, Dean at GSMC, Aga Khan University – Nairobi, Kenya

A shared document

Following a comprehensive dialogue at the conference, stakeholders—including journalists, religious leaders, policymakers, and academics—convened to address the challenges and opportunities in reporting religion across Africa. Recognizing the media’s pivotal role in shaping perceptions of faith, peace, and societal cohesion, the following document outlines actionable steps to enhance fairness, accuracy, and inclusivity in religion reporting.

The document – endorsed by participants in the conference – serves as a roadmap for redefining religion reporting across Africa, ensuring it reflects the continent’s rich spiritual diversity while advancing societal harmony.

Key Obeservations
  1. Imbalanced Reporting: Media coverage often lacks depth, perpetuating stereotypes or political agendas due to insufficient religious literacy and editorial biases. 
  2. Politicization of Religion: Sensationalism and oversimplification in reporting risk exacerbating interfaith tensions or legitimizing extremist narratives. 
  3. Gender Disparities: Women remain underrepresented in both religious leadership and newsrooms, limiting diverse perspectives in coverage. 
  4. Youth Engagement: Young voices are critical to interfaith dialogue but are marginalized in media spaces. 
  5. Conflict and Peacebuilding: Religion’s dual role in fuelling conflict and fostering reconciliation is often underreported. 
  6. Digital Challenges: Misinformation thrives online, yet digital platforms also offer untapped potential for constructive discourse. 
Recommendations
  • Strengthen Ethical and Contextual Reporting

Develop Africa-centric guidelines for religion reporting, emphasizing accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and conflict-aware journalism. 

Train journalists in religious literacy, including workshops on Africa’s diverse faith traditions and their socio-political contexts. 

  •  Combat Extremism and Promote Peace

Avoid sensationalizing extremist acts; instead, amplify narratives of interfaith solidarity and grassroots peacebuilders. 

Collaborate with cybersecurity experts to counter online radicalization while protecting free expression. 

  • Advance Gender Equity

Newsrooms should adopt policies ensuring gender parity in staffing and coverage, including stories on women’s roles in religious spaces. 

Support networks for female journalists specializing in religion reporting. 

  • Engage Youth and Interfaith Dialogue

Create platforms (e.g., podcasts, youth-led panels) for young Africans to discuss faith, media, and social cohesion. 

Partner with educational institutions to integrate media literacy and interfaith studies into curricula. 

  • Foster Collaboration and Policy Advocacy

Establish forums for regular dialogue between media, religious institutions, and policymakers to address mutual concerns. 

Advocate for legal frameworks protecting journalists covering sensitive religious issues and ensuring access to information. 

  • Leverage Digital Innovation

Utilize fact-checking initiatives and social media campaigns to disseminate balanced religious content. 

Invest in digital storytelling tools to highlight underrepresented voices, such as indigenous faiths and minority communities. 

  • Monitor Progress and Accountability

Form a continental working group to track implementation of these recommendations and publish annual progress reports. 

Host regional follow-up conferences to share best practices and address emerging challenges. 

Conclusion

Religion reporting in Africa holds the power to either deepen divides or bridge communities. This communique calls on all stakeholders—media houses, religious bodies, governments, and civil society—to commit to ethical, inclusive, and courageous journalism. By centering accuracy, empathy, and collaboration, we can transform religion reporting into a force for unity, understanding, and sustainable peace. 

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