About RNS
Our Mission
Religion News Service (RNS) is an independent, nonprofit and award-winning source of global news on religion, spirituality, culture and ethics, reported by a staff of professional journalists. Founded in 1934, RNS seeks to inform readers with objective reporting and insightful commentary, and is relied upon by secular and faith-based news organizations in a number of countries.
RNS is a subsidiary of Religion News Foundation and a proud member of Institute for Nonprofit News.
RNS aims to be the largest single source of news about religion, spirituality and ideas. We strive to inform, illuminate and inspire public discourse on matters relating to belief and convictions.
History
For more than 90 years, RNS has been an authoritative source of news about religion, spirituality and ideas. With a team of correspondents around the world, RNS provides news on religion and its intersections with political and cultural issues. Our stories are distributed to the nation’s leading newspapers, news magazines, online media outlets, broadcasting firms and religious publications.
The Religious News Service, its original name, was founded by journalist Louis Minsky (1909-1957) as an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. From the start, it was dedicated to providing fair, balanced, nonsectarian news about religion to the secular and religious press.
In 1983, RNS was acquired by the Dallas-based United Methodist Reporter and continued to operate as an independent news agency. In 1994, Newhouse News Service, a major publisher of daily newspapers and magazines, purchased it and changed its name to Religion News Service.
In June 2011, RNS returned to its nonprofit roots when it was acquired by the Religion Newswriters Foundation, which became Religion News Foundation in 2016. Today, RNS operates under Religion News Foundation (RNF), a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, under the leadership of RNF CEO and RNS Publisher Deborah Caldwell.
Editorial Independence
RNS retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Editorial content is not submitted to advertisers, donors, board members, or subjects of a story for pre-publication approval or review, other than for standard fact-checking. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions.
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.
Our organization may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.
Our organization will make public all donors who give a total of $5,000 or more per year. We’ll accept anonymous donations for general support only if it’s clear that sufficient safeguards are in place to ensure the expenditure of that donation is made independently by our organization.
RNS Code of Ethics
Overview
Religion News Service (RNS) is a nonprofit media organization. Since its founding in 1934, RNS has provided readers with objective, trustworthy, and unbiased reporting and insightful commentary on the role of religion, spirituality, culture, and ethics. This mission drives the values and guidelines set out below.
Religion News Service (RNS) is a nonprofit media organization. Since its founding in 1934, RNS has provided readers with objective, trustworthy, and unbiased reporting and insightful commentary on the role of religion, spirituality, culture, and ethics. This mission drives the values and guidelines set out below.
Faith intersects with many of the major issues of the day and is both deeply personal and public, impacting individuals and communities alike. RNS seeks to create a neutral space for trustworthy reporting, build community, and deepen public understanding of belief and values, not to advocate for any creed or cause.
This Code affirms our commitment to journalistic excellence, independence, and respect for the wide diversity of human conviction. It guides our work, protects our credibility, and honors the trust of our readers, sources, and partners. We’ll review it periodically to ensure that RNS continues to uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics in an evolving media and religious landscape.
1. Mission and Public Service
Religion News Service (RNS) exists to inform, not persuade. We serve the public by reporting on religion, spirituality, culture, and ethics with accuracy, fairness, neutrality, and independence. Our goal is to foster understanding of religion’s role in society without promoting or disparaging any faith tradition, worldview, or ideology.
Religion News Service (RNS) exists to inform, not persuade. We serve the public by reporting on religion, spirituality, culture, and ethics with accuracy, fairness, neutrality, and independence. Our goal is to foster understanding of religion’s role in society without promoting or disparaging any faith tradition, worldview, or ideology.
2. Editorial Independence
RNS maintains complete editorial independence from outside sources, including funders, sponsors, and partners. Editorial decisions regarding coverage and framing rest solely with the Editor-in-Chief and editorial staff. No donor, advertiser, or religious institution influences editorial content or story selection. We disclose all significant funding relationships and partnerships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing coverage.
RNS maintains complete editorial independence from outside sources, including funders, sponsors, and partners. Editorial decisions regarding coverage and framing rest solely with the Editor-in-Chief and editorial staff. No donor, advertiser, or religious institution influences editorial content or story selection. We disclose all significant funding relationships and partnerships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing coverage.
3. Integrity, Accuracy, and Accountability
Facts are verified using multiple, credible, and independent sources. Complex theological, ethical, or cultural topics are handled with care and appropriate context. Errors are corrected promptly and transparently, with clear notes on published stories. We don’t republish content from outside sources without permission and attribution. Staff and contributors are expected to uphold the highest standards of honesty in research and reporting.
Facts are verified using multiple, credible, and independent sources. Complex theological, ethical, or cultural topics are handled with care and appropriate context. Errors are corrected promptly and transparently, with clear notes on published stories. We don’t republish content from outside sources without permission and attribution. Staff and contributors are expected to uphold the highest standards of honesty in research and reporting.
4. Audience Engagement
RNS welcomes reader feedback and takes seriously claims of inaccuracy or bias. We maintain open dialogue through comments, social media, and public forums to build trust and transparency. We aim to bring people together by highlighting the role of faith and people of faith in supporting and strengthening community.
RNS welcomes reader feedback and takes seriously claims of inaccuracy or bias. We maintain open dialogue through comments, social media, and public forums to build trust and transparency. We aim to bring people together by highlighting the role of faith and people of faith in supporting and strengthening community.
5. Fairness and Respect for Belief
RNS approaches all faiths, philosophies, and secular perspectives with respect and curiosity and neither promotes nor attacks any faith group. We seek diverse perspectives within and across traditions. Subjects of coverage are given a fair opportunity to respond to criticism or allegations.
RNS approaches all faiths, philosophies, and secular perspectives with respect and curiosity and neither promotes nor attacks any faith group. We seek diverse perspectives within and across traditions. Subjects of coverage are given a fair opportunity to respond to criticism or allegations.
6. Transparency
Anonymous sources are used only when essential to protect safety or confidentiality and with editor approval. Reporters share the identity of anonymous sources with a senior editor, who keeps that information confidential. When content is produced with external partners, RNS discloses the nature of the collaboration. Journalists identify themselves clearly, don’t misrepresent their role, don’t use hidden recording devices, and don’t pay for interviews. Timely efforts are made to contact primary subjects of criticism.
Anonymous sources are used only when essential to protect safety or confidentiality and with editor approval. Reporters share the identity of anonymous sources with a senior editor, who keeps that information confidential. When content is produced with external partners, RNS discloses the nature of the collaboration. Journalists identify themselves clearly, don’t misrepresent their role, don’t use hidden recording devices, and don’t pay for interviews. Timely efforts are made to contact primary subjects of criticism.
7. Conflicts of Interest
Staff must avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest. RNS journalists may not hold leadership or advocacy roles in organizations related to their beats. Gifts or honoraria from covered sources are prohibited. Journalists may moderate or speak at events, provided their role is purely journalistic and sponsors don’t influence content. Any honoraria must be paid to RNS as a tax-deductible donation.
Staff must avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest. RNS journalists may not hold leadership or advocacy roles in organizations related to their beats. Gifts or honoraria from covered sources are prohibited. Journalists may moderate or speak at events, provided their role is purely journalistic and sponsors don’t influence content. Any honoraria must be paid to RNS as a tax-deductible donation.
8. Sensitivity, Privacy, and Human Dignity
Reporting on faith and personal belief requires sensitivity and empathy. RNS doesn’t exploit private suffering or sensationalize religious conflict.
Reporting on faith and personal belief requires sensitivity and empathy. RNS doesn’t exploit private suffering or sensationalize religious conflict.
9. Diversity and Inclusion
RNS is committed to reflecting the diversity of religious experience and belief. We seek diversity among staff, contributors, and sources to ensure a broad range of cultural, racial, gender, and theological perspectives, and to amplify underrepresented communities and emerging faith and spirituality movements.
RNS is committed to reflecting the diversity of religious experience and belief. We seek diversity among staff, contributors, and sources to ensure a broad range of cultural, racial, gender, and theological perspectives, and to amplify underrepresented communities and emerging faith and spirituality movements.
10. Technology, Images, and Data Ethics
Photos, video, and data visualizations must accurately represent events and people. RNS journalism is produced by human beings. Artificial intelligence tools may support, but never replace, human editorial judgment. RNS explores responsible and creative uses of new technologies.
Photos, video, and data visualizations must accurately represent events and people. RNS journalism is produced by human beings. Artificial intelligence tools may support, but never replace, human editorial judgment. RNS explores responsible and creative uses of new technologies.
11. Sponsorships and Advertising
RNS accepts sponsorships, underwriting, and advertising that don’t compromise editorial integrity. All such support is clearly distinguished from editorial content. Sponsor or advertiser messages that are false, unlawful, or undermine RNS’ mission or brand may be removed at RNS’ discretion. All sponsorships are solicited by RNS business staff.
RNS accepts sponsorships, underwriting, and advertising that don’t compromise editorial integrity. All such support is clearly distinguished from editorial content. Sponsor or advertiser messages that are false, unlawful, or undermine RNS’ mission or brand may be removed at RNS’ discretion. All sponsorships are solicited by RNS business staff.
12. Governance and Enforcement
The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the publisher and senior editorial leadership, oversees compliance with this Code. Violations are reviewed internally and may result in disciplinary action.
The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the publisher and senior editorial leadership, oversees compliance with this Code. Violations are reviewed internally and may result in disciplinary action.
Religion News Foundation
RNS is the wholly-owned subsidiary of RNF. RNF is an independent educational and secular nonprofit organization founded in 1999.
RNF’s mission is to strengthen and improve the understanding of religion, improve public discourse about religion, advance religious literacy, and support religion journalism. In this, the Foundation works to provide comprehensive coverage of religion, religious freedom, and religious persecution across the globe.
RNF seeks to achieve its religious literacy goals through storytelling, films, videos, podcasts, training workshops, student and cultural exchanges, events, programs and initiatives.
For more information, please visit religionnewsfoundation.org.
Our EIN is 31-1650883.
Partners
Thanks to a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., RNS, the Associated Press (AP) and The Conversation are involved in a multi-year global religion reporting initiative, in an effort to expand religion news reporting in the U.S. and around the world.
This initiative aims to provide balanced, nuanced coverage of major world religions, with an emphasis on explaining religious practices and principles behind current events and cultural movements.
Staffed by journalists from RNS and the AP and editors from The Conversation — an independent, nonprofit publisher of commentary and analysis sourced from academic experts — the desk produces multiformat religion journalism intended to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith.