The Religion and the Media program seeks to strengthen reporting on, and deepen the level of commentary about, the impact of religious conviction and religiously grounded moral argument in American politics and public life. Under the direction of Center vice president Michael Cromartie, the program hosts seminars and publishes with the intent to promote serious reporting on religion and religious communities in public life, as well as increase the nuance and sophistication of that reporting in various forms of media.

The program's signature endeavor, among its many others, is its semi-annual summit conference. "The Faith Angle: Conversations among Journalists and Scholars on Religion and Public Life," is supported in part by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts. These conferences give journalists the chance to learn from expert analysts about issues at the intersection of religion and politics. The aim is to strengthen reporting and commentary on how religious conviction and religiously grounded moral argument affect American politics and public life.

Participating journalists list their comments below:

Comments by Journalists

"These conferences are fantastic. Religion informs just about every issue in public life, and there is no other forum where journalists can go to get sophisticated and balanced background knowledge. There's no other organization in town that does as good a job at getting jouranlists to think about religion, ethics, and the deeper issues that are shaping politics and world affairs. And making it fun! Congratulations." - David Brooks, New York Times

"The test of one's own conviction comes when subjected to superior firepower. During the impressive-high-powered discussion at [EPPC's] conference on religion and international conflict, I had to worry about pinpoint accuracy as well... The secular and the devout are almost as segregated as the sacred and the profane. Thanks to the work of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, I have discussed at a high level with people who attribute my presence here to a divine plan. So, thank you (I think...)." - Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair

"The discussion we had in the formal seminars, as well as around the dinner table and in the bar at night, enlightened me beyond all my expectations, and did so about a subject that is as important as anything happening right now in the world. The guest list of participants you assembled was inspired; everybody took the purpose for being there quite seriously. Even here at the National Journal, which prizes thoughtful journalism, the opportunity to listen, to discuss, to be reflective is a luxury. Thank you again for providing it." - Carl Cannon, National Journal

"Journalists intensely focused on the presidential campaign can’t be reminded too often of how complex and subtle the differences in political leanings on key issues can be, not only from faith to faith, but within each. It’s too easy to oversimplify these leanings and misinterpret the polls—i.e., assume people of one faith feel one way about an issue, or lump voters of various faiths together because they represent narrow, hard to detect slices of the electorate. This is the plane on which the country is its most complex, and figuring out how to account for that in the context of the campaign is probably one of the biggest challenges we face, and I thought the conference really helped drive that home." - Elizabeth Wilner, NBC News

"It was a great conference. So much political courage and thinking today is geared to the insta-mythologies of the perpetual news cycle. Spiritual identity is easily lost in the blur—as well as in the demographics. The conference broadened my perspective on the powerful and hidden dynamics within the electorate." - Mark Leibovich, Washington Post

"It was a rich source of story ideas, a great setting to meet religious thinkers--and enormous fun. The two days were a terrific respite from the pressure of daily deadlines and allowed me the luxury of looking at the White House beat in a different way." - Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times

"Journalists talk with intelligent sources all the time, but only rarely get a chance to exchange ideas and reflect together in an unpressured way in the company of thoughtful experts willing to teach, to argue, and even to laugh. This discussion of Islam in the wake of September 11 came at just the right time, and it provided a great antitdote to stereotypes and mushy thinking." - E. J. Dionne, Washington Post

"While no one would turn down a trip to Key West in December, that was not the draw. The draw was the content and caliber of the speakers, as well as the other journalists. At Key West, I was continuously absorbing new ideas and new facts. When I left, my notebook was full and I was a much more informed journalist." - Barbara Bradley Hagerty, National Public Radio

"What's impressive about [these] conferences isn't just the panel of world-class experts and journalists that the Center curates. It's the debates that the Center ignites--at the dinner table, at the bar, between sessions. For two days, it became impossible to set aside our discussions of Islam--its pathologies, its prospects. There was a shared feeling of intellectual fervor. And even for those of us who have spent considerable time thinking over these issues, we came away from the retreat having advanced our understanding of these monumentally important issues." - Franklin Foer, The New Republic

"[This] conference raised all the right questions about the role of Islam in current international conflict. Even if we journalists were not satisfied by all of the scholars' answers, we were challenged to seek them on our own. As usual, beyond the useful information and contacts, the Ethics and Public Policy Center conference was an invaluable provocation. It will help focus our news-gathering for years to come." - Jay Tolson, U.S. News & World Report

"This was my first Ethics and Public Policy Center retreat, and I thought it was an inspiring and worthwhile experience. On a practical note, it helped me tremendously as a columnist. I wrote two major pieces for the front page of our Sunday Review section directly from what I learned at the conference. On a personal level, the setting and the company were simply restorative. I so enjoyed reconnecting with jouranlists I knew and meeting many new ones. The conversations at mealtimes (and in the bar!) were illuminating and, frankly, fun. I returned to work refreshed and inspired by what I heard. More importantly, I felt the urge to 'think big' about my work, to lift my eyes a little from the daily grind and look at the world more broadly." - Jane Eisner, Philadelphia Inquirer

"My attendance at the Ethics and Public Policy Center seminar in Key West was a wonderful window not only into political Islam and Christianity, thanks to the articulate and well-chosen speakers, but also into my colleagues' approaches toward the topic. The seminar propelled me down several fruitful lines of inquiry and has helped me to better read--and comment on--today's events." - David Van Biema, Time

"It is often said that the real virtue of a conference is not in the formal lectures but in the conversation that take place afterwards, in the corridors, at the bar, during lunch. But one of the memorable things about your Key West conference last winter was that those conversations were the point of the conference. The issues and ideas that arose informally among colleagues were the very same issues and ideas that arose at the formal discussions: a result of good planning and good company. The focus was never on personalities or ideologies but on the interactions and disagreements that lead to understanding. It was a valuable experience that I was pleased to share with journalists and scholars I admire." - Edward Rothstein, New York Times

"[The conference] gave me an opportunity to step away from the multiple daily deadlines to discuss issues with informed colleagues who offered different perspectives from those I work with every day. The discussions, both formal and informal, were thought provoking and helpful in gaining a better understanding of the issues I cover." - Kelli Arena, CNN

"I appreciated being included in your Key West conference. The presentations were thought-provoking, the scenery gorgeous, and the company grand. But perhaps even better is that now that I’m back at my desk, I find I am still thinking about the culture wars and other topics we discussed. So thank you for the infusion of fresh ideas." - Linda Kulman, U.S. News & World Report

"Your conference on Islam post-September 11 was a one-of-a-kind experience; no one else provides an opportunity for working reporters to gather and listen to the experts--and this is the important part--without the pressure of looming deadlines. The talks were informative and the debates were lively; all in all, an invaluable experience." - Jeffrey Goldberg, The New Yorker

"Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to take part. The conference was an extraordinary opportunity to step back, take a deep breath, and consider the context that so often gets lost in the daily chase for news. The speakers--and the other participants--challenged everything I thought I knew about Islam. Probably the greatest compliment to the quality of the discussion is the fact that it continued right up until we all said goodbye at the airport." - Karen Tumulty, Time

"Two days of brilliant discussion on my favorite topic? I would come if you did this in Cleveland." - Melinda Henneberger, Newsweek

"The conference was particularly helpful because it gave me insight into thinking 'inside the beltway.' Chicago, like many cities in the U.S., is detached from politics and religion that stems from the Washington establishment." - Geneive Abdo, Chicago Tribune

"The discussions were searching, stimulating, and provocative. On a practical level, I came away from the conference with half a dozen great column ideas. On a personal level, it was terrific meeting journalists and scholars with similar interests and to have the time for real conversations." - William Powers, National Journal

"It very much helped put into context many things I had been thinking about and starting to research for Slate. It was fantastic to be around such knowledgeable people who were all concerned with and interested in the same things as I am. Thanks a million for the opportunity!" - Sian Gibby, Slate.com

"[The conference] allowed me to think, listen, and converse about an important underlying element in the fall election—away from deadline pressure! Many of the remarks challenged conventional wisdom, leading me to think more deeply about the evolving role of religion in politics. It was the perfect combination of intellectually stimulating and physically relaxing. You’ve hit upon the perfect formula." - Linda Feldman, Christian Science Monitor

"I was pleasantly surprised at how substantive and informative the sessions were. The conference was fascinating and useful in more ways than I can count (and has resulted, as you may have noticed, in two columns in the Book Review). The speakers were impressive, but no more so than my fellow participants. You all really perform a valuable service." - Judith Shulevitz, New York Times Book Review

"As if the speakers’ presentations were not enough, within days of the conference’s conclusion I was exchanging valuable information with other participants I met. It’s hard to imagine getting so much critical information in such a short time." - Mark Pinsky, Orlando Sentinel

"Once again, the Ethics and Public Policy Center provides two days of contemplation and conversation on issues far more important than the issues of the day." - David Shribman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  

"The conference has been invaluable in helping to sharpen my fuzzy thinking about some of the more fascinating features of American society and public life: the diversity of evangelical America; the nature of U.S. philo-semitism; values--or the absence of them--in U.S. foreign policy. It has been informative, thought provoking, and happily, for such a high-minded project, great fun. It has been a privilege to be a part of such an impressive gang of journalists and historians." - James Harding, Financial Times 

"As a citizen as well as a writer, I'm grateful to the Ethics and Public Policy Center for bringing together journalists who cover religion with academics who study it. The 2002 Key West conference on Religion and International Conflict provided me with a lot of lessons and even a few epiphanies. Invite me to the [next one], and I'll be there even if you hold it in Pittsburgh." - Wendy Kaminer, freelance writer and author

"This was a splendid and immensely fruitful conference, not the least for the quality of journalists you were able to attract. It was beautifully organized and executed, and managed to cover a lot of ground." - Kenneth Woodward, Newsweek

"I can only thank you for including me on what was a really thought provoking, all too brief, two days. The presentations and discussion at the conference both gave me new ideas for specific stories as well as some new ways of framing questions for stories and storylines I have long worked on. I also enjoyed meeting the other participants and thought the informal talks were equally valuable." - Danna Harman, Christian Science Monitor

"The Center's Key West program was topical, substantive, and thought provoking; an unusually good combination for a meeting aimed at journalists. I was very much taken with the quality of the discussion and participants. A first-rate outreach effort on a subject that will only grow in importance." - John Fund, Wall Street Journal

"I've sat through a lot of conferences, but the seminar for journalists organized by the Ethics and Public Policy Center is one of the best. A lot of what I learned there has already made its way into print." - Patricia Cohen, New York Times

Direct all inquiries to:

Michael Cromartie
Ethics and Public Policy Center
1015 15th St NW #900
Washington, DC 20005

By e-mail: crom@eppc.org