Religion news gets boost from Lilly, writers group
In a complex transaction designed to strengthen nonpartisan religion reporting, the newly nonprofit Religion News Service received a grant of almost $3.5 million from the Lilly Endowment and was acquired by the Religion Newswriters Association, effective June 1.
As newspaper circulation numbers fell and online journalism struggled for profits, "religion reporting became a lower priority," said RNA president Steve Maynard. When the for-profit Advance Publications sought a buyer for RNS in the fall of 2009, the Washington-based news service looked for help from the professional journalists' organization beyond the RNA's existing role of providing contracted assistance to RNS's business operations.
RNA officials approved a proposal to buy RNS provided that it could become a nonprofit entity. In a May 19 letter to RNA members, Maynard said that the news service would not seek to gain a competitive edge over other members and that RNS's newly envisioned regional news websites would not be created in areas where media outlets already have religion reporters.
