Practice of Religious Media in the 21st Century

Dear Colleagues,

Since the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, print media have been an important way for religious institutions to communicate with followers and to share beliefs with the broader public. In the 20th century, the broadcast media of radio and television provided additional ways for religions to meet these goals. While these media continue to be important in the 21st century, they have been significantly transformed by the use of the internet and mobile devices. In the 21st century, religious institutions are also faced with an ever-increasing variety of new media possibilities, including webpages, e-mail lists, blogs, and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

This Special Issue focuses on the ways that the new media opportunities of the 21st century are being employed in a variety of religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Important topics to consider include the following:

• How have the internet and social media affected religious print media such as newspapers and magazines? How have these print media changed in the 21st century? How effective are print media in the 21st century?
• How have the internet and social media affected religious broadcasting via radio and television? How are such broadcasts different in the 21st century? How effective are these broadcasts in the 21st century compared to broadcasts in the 20th century?
• How are individual types of social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) currently being used by individual religions traditions? Which religions have been more successful in their use of these social media? Why? Which types of social media have been more successful for these religions?
• How are the goals of using media articulated in various religious traditions? What evidence is there that they are successful in meeting these goals?
• How are religious media events funded in the 21st century? Who are the sponsors of religious media events? How do different types of funding and sponsorship affect the quality and success of such events?
• What impact did the Coronavirus pandemic have upon the use of media for religious purposes? How will the pandemic transform religious media going forward?
• What does the future hold for the use of media for religious purposes?

These are just some of the topics this Special Issue might consider. Contributors are also encouraged to propose studies of other aspects of the use of media for religious purposes in the 21st century.

Prof. Dr. Thomas J. Sienkewicz
Guest Editor

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• broadcasting media
• social media
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Instagram
• religious media
• religious television
• religious radio