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The mainstream newspapers are worrying about declining circulation. On November 1 the Newspaper Association of America reported that during the six-month period culminating on September 30, 2004 circulation declined by 0.9% for daily newspapers and 1.5% for Sunday papers when compared to the same period for 2003. Moreover, the figure may very well be worse considering the reports of inflated circulation figures by several leading newspapers.

At the same time, many people interested in religion are turning to the Internet for their information. The Pew Internet and American Life Project discovered that 64% of 128 million web users check the Internet for news and information about religion. USC Annenberg Online Journalism Review wrote about this trend in a December 2004 article "Religion is Big News on the Internet" and concluded that the seekers of news and information about religion on the Internet represent a large population that is "not...catered to, or understood by the mainstream media. News media generally treat religion either as an aspect of a larger story, like religion in politics, or seasonally [citing a recent Newsweek article about the birth of Christ]. Religion is rarely a story in its own right. 'As a subject it's a niche subject, not central to the life of a news organization,' said [Pew Project Director Lee] Rainie.'"

Some news organizations are starting to realize the need to change. The Wall Street Journal, for example, has plans to place a reporter on the religion beat. However, it is not enough to simply report about religion -- particularly when it is "hot" as it is now in wake of the 2004 election. It is necessary to have producers, reporters and editors who have an understanding of the tenets of the different faiths within America today and to present an accurate picture of those faiths to their readers and listeners.

"Diversity" in newsrooms has been a top goal for some time within the newspaper industry. However, the fact is that the newsrooms of America are shorn of any kind of real diversity when it comes to religion. The vast majority of editors, reporters and producers in the leading newspapers, news magazines and TV stations are secularists, many of whom lack an appreciation -- much less to say a real understanding -- of the importance of religion in the lives of the majority of Americans. Graham says in his report, "As national journalism organizations publicly declare diversity in the newsroom as a requirement for a balanced reflection of the communities they serve, why is that any less compelling for people of faith than other constituencies in the viewing audience?"

If the news industry of this country were really interested in promoting diversity it would mean placing more emphasis upon religion, hiring reporters who have taken the time to learn their beat, even hiring as journalists graduates of divinity schools and religious studies programs, and insisting upon accurate and truly balanced reporting. Otherwise, the news industry is just handing us a line about their interest in "diversity." The producers, editors and management, who proudly proclaim their commitment to diversity but do not hire knowledgeable religion reporters or ignore covering it altogether, deserve to wear a scarlet "H" for Hypocrisy.

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