RUP Coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic
For the past four months our colleagues at Religion Unplugged have covered the COVID-19 pandemic through extensive reporting from around the globe. From a report in March by our TMP chairwoman Roberta Ahmanson who was writing in Rome at the time of the outbreak, to a story from one of our TMP Poynter Leadership Fellows about the lockdown in Kashmir, to stories from contributors in the United States, Asia and Latin America about religious freedom and the impact of COVID-19 on churches and charities, below is a list of over 50+ reports from RUP about the pandemic in the order they were published. Several of these stories, podcasts and videos are written and produced by TMP faculty, board of directors and members from around the globe. Check them out and share with your personal and professional networks and see below about how you can pitch your own stories to Religion Unplugged.
Religion Unplugged COVID-19 Coverage (in order of publication):
March
Coronavirus Fears Cause World's Largest Faith Groups To Pause Pilgrimages, Rethink Tradition by Gil Zohar and Meagan Clark
Rome In The Time Of Coronavirus by Roberta Green Ahmanson, philanthropist, art collector and writer who started her career as a religion reporter at the San Bernadino Sun and Orange County Register. She is the co-author of Islam at the Crossroads and Blind Spot: When Journalists Don’t Get Religion. She is also the chairperson of The Media Project’s Board of Directors.
Purim Celebrations Amid The Coronavirus Outbreak Teach Kids How To Face A Crisis by Caroline Wambui, Arne Fjeldstad scholar studying at The King’s College NYCJ program in spring 2020.
What Christian Art Can Teach Us About COVID-19 by Clemente Lisi, senior editor and regular contributor to Religion Unplugged and journalism professor at The King’s College in New York City.
Jews And Christians Join Forces To Help West Bank Coronavirus Patients by Gil Zohar, a Jerusalem-based correspondent for Religion Unplugged. He also reports for the Jerusalem Post.
Coronavirus Fighter Dr. Anthony Fauci's Forgotten Catholic Roots by Clemente Lisi, senior editor and regular contributor to Religion Unplugged and journalism professor at The King’s College in New York City.
Aging Catholic Priesthood Risk Health To Comfort The Faithful During Pandemic by Clemente Lisi, senior editor and regular contributor to Religion Unplugged and journalism professor at The King’s College in New York City.
A Question Of News: Global Coronavirus Pandemic Is BIG, But Exactly How Big? - by Bobby Ross, Jr. columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross hascovered religion since 1999.
New York Church Founded Weeks After 9/11 Responds To Coronavirus by Caleb Galaraga, freelance writer and journalist based in New York City. He has been published at The Jerusalem Post, the Times of Israel, Rappler and The Algemeiner Journal.
5 Saints Catholics Are Calling On To Fight The Coronavirus Pandemic by Clemente Lisi, senior editor and regular contributor to Religion Unplugged and journalism professor at The King’s College in New York City.
Both Faith And Science Require Us To Overcome Our Human Instincts To Fight COVID-19 by Nancy Kasten, Chief Relationship Officer of Faith Commons in Dallas and a Public Voices Fellow through The OpEd Project.
In Photos: Balinese Hindus Perform Purification Ritual Amid Pandemic by Agues Rudianto, photojournalist based in Jakarta, Indonesia. His work has been published in Reuters, Anadolu Agency, South China Morning Post, The Diplomat and National Geographic Indonesia.
Killing Grandma And Other Religion Questions During The COVID-19 Crisis by Bobby Ross, Jr. columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross hascovered religion since 1999.
Why Mister Rogers Is Worth Watching During Coronavirus Quarantines by Paul Glader, executive editor of Religion Unplugged, executive director of The Media Project, director at the McCandlish Phillips Journalism Institute, a former resident of Pittsburgh, Pa.
With Drop In Offerings, Evangelical Churches Brace For Coronavirus Impact by Meagan Clark and Liza Vandenboom
As India's New Coronavirus Cases Are Linked To A Mosque, Some Blame Muslims by Avinash Giri, a Delhi-based reporter and former Poynter-Koch fellow for Religion Unplugged.
Podcast: COVID-19 Part 1: Stories from North America, Europe, Africa & Asia - In the wake of Covid-19, the physical rituals of faith are being removed. As religious communities in major cities and towns around the world are faced with the removal of holy water and prayer rugs or having their services completely cancelled until further notice, there is a new question. How do you reach a congregation if you can’t leave your own home? We messaged every member of The Media Project to get a sense of what it's like living in the midst of the pandemic for 10 journalists around the world, and how their local religious practices are adapting.
April
COVID-19: The Gap Between The News Media And People Of Faith by Bobby Ross, Jr. columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross hascovered religion since 1999.
Praying Together During A Pandemic, Even When Divided by Paul Marshall, Wilson Distinguished Professor of Religious Freedom at Baylor University, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, Washington, D.C, and a contributor to Religion Unplugged.
The Eleventh Plague: Passover In The Time Of Coronavirus by Kimberly Winston, freelance religion reporter whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today and more. She is the recipient of the Religion News Association’s 2018 award for best religion reporting at large news outlets.
5 Virtual Tours Of Religious Sites You Can Take While You Stay Home by Clemente Lisi, senior editor and regular contributor to Religion Unplugged and journalism professor at The King’s College in New York City.
Christian And Muslim Gatherings Are Africa's Greatest Risk Of Spreading COVID-19 by Jenny Taylor, journalist, author and part-time Fellow in Media, Communication and Journalism at Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics in Cambridge, UK.
Finding Answers To The Pandemic In The Writings Of Saint Pope John Paul II by Clemente Lisi, senior editor and regular contributor to Religion Unplugged and journalism professor at The King’s College in New York City.
Quarantines Resurrect Church Attendance Just In Time For Easter by Meagan Clark, managing editor of Religion Unplugged. She previously reported retail and economic news for International Business Times, and human rights and religion stories from India for several outlets like Indian Express, the Wire and Scroll.in.
This Easter, Christians Worldwide Are Fighting Not Just COVID-19 But Persecution Too by Lela Gilbert and Arielle Del Turco
Tanzanian Churches Are A Hub For Prevention (And Potential Hotspot) For Coronavirus by Georgia Gee, reporter on international human rights and foreign affairs. She is a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School.
India Changes Residency Rules In Kashmir Under Cover Of COVID-19 Lockdown by Zaffar Iqbal, a journalist based in Kashmir India. He has reported for 18 years on armed encounters, environmental issues, crime, politics, culture and human rights. He’s formerly the bureau chief of Jammu and Kashmir for NDTV.
Buddhist Influencer Tyler Knott Gregson Offers Spiritual Tools To Cope During COVID-19 by Liza Vandenboom, student at The King’s College, an intern at Religion Unplugged, and a religion columnist for the Empire State Tribune.
In India, Muslims Are Blamed For Spreading Coronavirus by Shuriah Nazi, journalist based in India. He works on a broad spectrum of issues for a variety of media outlets, but specializes in social, religious, environmental and health issues, especially as they related to women.
Buddha At The Door: Coronavirus Lockdown Opportunity For Spiritual Practice by Hunter Liguore, professor of writing and award-winning author, who promotes understanding our shared humanity, as an alternative to discrimination and hate.
Coronavirus Is Highlighting The Rift In Islam by Lawrence Pintak, founding dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. A former CBS News Middle East correspondent with a PhD in Islamic Studies, he is the author of five books on Islam and U.S. policy in the Muslim world.
The COVID-19 'Miracle' Drug Maker Is Named After Biblical Balm by Meagan Clark, managing editor of Religion Unplugged. She previously reported retail and economic news for International Business Times, and human rights and religion stories from India for several outlets like Indian Express, the Wire and Scroll.in.
COVID-19 Widens The Rift Between Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox And Secular Communities by Gil Zohar, a Jerusalem-based correspondent for Religion Unplugged. He also reports for the Jerusalem Post.
'Zoo Rabbi' Opens Museum Featuring Biblical Wildlife With Virtual Tours by Gil Zohar, a Jerusalem-based correspondent for Religion Unplugged. He also reports for the Jerusalem Post.
For Lessons On Closed Houses Of Worship, Look At 1918 Flu Pandemic - by Bobby Ross, Jr. columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross hascovered religion since 1999.
In A Pandemic, A Buddhist Chaplain’s Zen Practice Becomes Purpose by Micah Danney, former Poynter-Koch fellow and a reporter and associate editor for Religion Unplugged.
Tacos To Tote Bags: Churches Partner With Small Businesses During COVID-19 by Liza Vandenboom, student at The King’s College, an intern at Religion Unplugged, and a religion columnist for the Empire State Tribune.
This Indonesian Muslim Group Is Keeping Millions Safe During COVID-19 by Mark Woodward, associate professor of religious studies at Arizona State University and author of more than 50 scholarly articles on religion and conflict in Southeast Asia.
Religious Nonprofits In 'Evangelical Mecca' Face Unprecedented Challenges by Steve Rabey, veteran author and journalist who has published more than 50 books and 2,000 articles about religion, spirituality, and culture. He was an instructor at Fuller and Denver seminaries and the U.S. Air Force Academy. He and his wife Lois live in Colorado.
Two Secular New Yorkers Visited The Samaritan’s Purse Field Hospital: One Volunteered, The Other Was Arrested by Micah Danney, Micah Danney, former Poynter-Koch fellow and a reporter and associate editor for Religion Unplugged.
Podcast: COVID-19 Part 2: Stories from North America, South America, Africa & Asia- In the wake of Covid-19, the physical rituals of faith are being removed. As religious communities in major cities and towns around the world are faced with the removal of holy water and prayer rugs or having their services completely cancelled until further notice, there is a new question. How do you reach a congregation if you can’t leave your own home? We messaged every member of The Media Project to get a sense of what it's like living in the midst of the pandemic for 15 journalists around the world, and how their local religious practices are adapting.
Podcast: Kyle Harper: The Black Death and COVID19 - TMP chairwoman and senior correspondent at ReligionUnplugged.com, Roberta Ahmanson, interviewed special guest and author, Kyle Harper. Dr. Harper is a professor of classics and letters who serves as Senior Vice President and Provost. He has a PHD from Harvard University and has written several books about the ancient world including several titles related to religion and christianity in the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds. Dr. Harper’s 2017 book was titled "The Fate of Rome, climate disease and the end of an empire," published by Princeton University Press. It explains how devastating viruses, pandemics and other natural catastrophes swept through the Roman Empire and brought down one of the most powerful civilizations in history. Roberta talked with Kyle about the parallels between COVID19 and the ancient world.
May
Beyond The Public Gatherings Debate: Religious Freedom During COVID-19 by Chelsea Langston Bombino, director of Sacred Sector, an initiative of the Center for Public Justice.
Islamic And Hindu Customs Wipe Out Need For Toilet Paper by Avinash Giri, a Delhi-based reporter and former Poynter-Koch fellow for Religion Unplugged.
New Research Says Religion Can Prevent COVID-19 'Deaths Of Despair' by Micah Danney, Micah Danney, former Poynter-Koch fellow and a reporter and associate editor for Religion Unplugged.
New Zealand Crushed COVID-19: How Māori And Pacific Faith Groups Helped by Serena Soloman, a multimedia freelance journalist based in Auckland who has reported for VICE, the Guardian, the New York Times, DNA Info and many other outlets.
Why These Christian Missionaries Donated To A Mosque In Indonesia by Paul Marshall, Wilson Distinguished Professor of Religious Freedom at Baylor University, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, Washington, D.C, and a contributor to Religion Unplugged.
African Churches Prepare For Their Next Plague by Erik Tryggestad, president and CEO of The Christian Chronicle. He has filed stories for the Chronicle from more than 65 nations.
How Charities In The Richest County In The U.S. Cope With COVID-19 by Kathryn Caswell, recent graduate of The King’s College in New York City.
Megachurch Launches 'Peaceably Gather' Petition For Sunday Reopenings by Liza Vandenboom, student at The King’s College, an intern at Religion Unplugged, and a religion columnist for the Empire State Tribune.
Templeton Prize Awarded To Francis Collins, Pandemic Response Leader by Micah Danney, former Poynter-Koch fellow and a reporter and associate editor for Religion Unplugged.
Methodists Are Reviving 19th Century 'Love Feast' Rituals Online by Kimberly Winston, freelance religion reporter whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today and more. She is the recipient of the Religion News Association’s 2018 award for best religion reporting at large news outlets.
Faith Vs. COVID-19: Restrictions Prompt Clashes Over Churches Reopening by Bobby Ross, Jr. columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross hascovered religion since 1999.
Class Of COVID-19: 3 Commencement Addresses That Highlighted Faith by Clemente Lisi, senior editor and regular contributor to Religion Unplugged and journalism professor at The King’s College in New York City.
In Photos: Malaysians Celebrate Eid Al Fitr In Lockdown by Alexandra Radu, photojournalist based in Bucharest, Romania. She has been published in Al Jazeera, the New York Times, Religion News Service, Reuters and AP, and her images have won awards at the Religion News Association Awards for Religion Reporting Excellence in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Newly Ordained Divinity Grads Grapple With Adapting To A Pandemic by Kristi Allen, freelance journalist normally based in East China, but stuck in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic.
What Climate Change And COVID-19 Have In Common For The Faithful by Abigail Brougher, writes about faith, doubt, and the Bible. She lives in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, DC and is part of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action.
RUP Podcast: How South Africa is managing COVID-19 - Has Africa's history of outbreaks with HIV, AIDS and Ebola better prepared faith communities to manage COVID-19? To find out, Roberta Ahmanson interviewed Dr. Nyaradzo Murefu, a Christian chemist who has led research in HIV prevention and immunology, established the first African lab to study drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (how drugs absorb into the body) and helped produce Africa's first clinical drug candidate with modern models as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cape Town, where she earned her PhD in Chemical Engineering.
June
Q&A With Dr. Syra Madad, Leader Of Coronavirus Response In New York City by Meagan Clark, managing editor of Religion Unplugged. She previously reported retail and economic news for International Business Times, and human rights and religion stories from India for several outlets like Indian Express, the Wire and Scroll.in.
Indian Sikhs Sanitizing Over 500 Temples, Mosques And Churches For Reopening by Zaffar Iqbal, a journalist based in Kashmir India. He has reported for 18 years on armed encounters, environmental issues, crime, politics, culture and human rights. He’s formerly the bureau chief of Jammu and Kashmir for NDTV.
Burundi's President Dies Of COVID-19 After Insisting God Would Protect The Country by Tom Osanjo, a Nairobi-based correspondent for Religion Unplugged. He is a former parliamentary reporter and has covered sports, politics and more at Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper.
Missionaries Around The World Are Responding To COVID-19 by Bethany Johnson, journalism student at The King’s College in New York City and photographer. Her recent gallery, "On the Streets of New York: COVID-19" earned her an honorable mention from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Pitch your story ideas to Religion Unplugged:
We invite you to pitch stories from your home country and region. Email your story ideas to meagan@themediaproject.org and paul@themediaproject.org