NAIROBI: Amidst growing concerns over the underreporting of religion in African journalism, experts have highlighted the need for deeper, more investigative coverage of religious issues. The call was made during a three-day conference hosted by the International Association of Religion Journalists (IARJ), in collaboration with the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications and KAS Media Africa.
Despite religion’s significant influence on values, politics, and identities across Africa, reporting often only scratches the surface, focusing primarily on events. This limited scope, experts say, results from inadequate funding, lack of institutional backing, and the marginalization of religion journalism in newsrooms.
Professor Nancy Booker, Dean at the Graduate School of Media and Communications, emphasized the importance of addressing these issues. “Driven more by personal commitment than institutional support, coverage tends to focus on events rather than deeper analysis,” she remarked, advocating for more context and critical insight into religion’s public role.
The event aims to equip journalists with the tools and confidence needed to report on religion with the same depth as other major topics like politics or economics. Keynote speaker Dr. Andrew Kaufa urged educational institutions to train communicators to uphold professionalism and remain sensitive to Africa’s religious diversity.
Hendrik Sittig from KAS Media Africa underscored the political misuse of religion, pointing out its potential to fuel division and conflict. “Religion is often instrumentalized to achieve political goals and secure power,” he noted, while also addressing the threat of disinformation, exacerbated by artificial intelligence, to democratic processes.
Prince Charles Dickson of IARJ called for collaboration among journalists from diverse faiths and backgrounds. He encouraged journalists to use the conference as a platform to celebrate differences and promote mutual understanding.
The conference seeks to foster a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of religion’s impact on African societies, urging media houses to invest in media literacy and strengthen partnerships with religious communities.