Top Religion Journalists in USA (2025)

As partner for theology and culture at Praxis and Christianity Today editor-at-large, Crouch bridges theological depth with cultural relevance. His work centers on three intersections:

• Religion & Technology: Explores how spiritual practices shape tech adoption (e.g., Sabbath-keeping as AI antidote)
• Culture & Power: Analyzes institutional influence through theological anthropology lens
• Leadership & Embodiment: Advocates for physically grounded leadership in virtual age

Pitching Priorities for 2025

• Tech Ethics Case Studies: Organizations implementing "Sabbath-compatible" AI policies
• Analog Renaissance Stories: Communities recovering pre-digital crafts and rituals
• Unlikely Theologians: Practitioners expressing doctrine through non-traditional mediums

Achievements Snapshot

• Triple Christianity Today Book Award winner (2009, 2014, 2023)
• Cited in 78+ academic journals across theology, media studies, and computer science
• Advised 3 Fortune 500 companies on ethical technology frameworks

Daniel Silliman serves as news editor at Christianity Today, where he deciphers the evolving landscape of American faith. His work combines journalistic acuity with historical depth, particularly focused on:

• Evangelical Dynamics: Tracking theological shifts through institutional changes and popular culture
• Material Religion: Analyzing how physical objects and spaces shape religious experience
• Narrative History: Contextualizing current events through archival research and oral histories

Pitching Insights

• Successful Angles:
  • Unseen historical parallels in contemporary religious debates
  • Case studies of tradition adaptation in secular contexts
  • Data-driven analyses of worship trends
• Approach Avoidances:
  • Surface-level culture war narratives
  • Unsubstantiated claims about religious decline/growth

Recent Recognition: 2024 Religion News Association award finalist for investigative series on urban church revitalization projects.

As United Methodist News’ senior policy reporter, Hahn analyzes how governmental decisions and denominational reforms impact faith communities. Her 150+ annual bylines combine doctrinal expertise with investigative rigor.

Key Coverage Areas

• Federal/Church Interactions: Track record of exposing how legislation alters religious service delivery
• Denominational Governance: Explains complex ecclesiastical processes to general audiences
• Global Methodist Initiatives: Highlights data-driven humanitarian efforts in 30+ countries

Pitching Insights

• Provide Policy Crosswalks: Successful pitches connect agency regulations to local congregational impacts
• Emphasize Multigenerational Effects: Hahn frequently examines how decisions affect children’s programs
• Avoid Speculative Angles: Her work prioritizes documented trends over ideological debates

Rev. Dr. Jill Duffield is a leading voice in Presbyterian thought, blending pastoral insight with editorial acumen. Her work at The Presbyterian Outlook and First Presbyterian Church (Greensboro) focuses on making theological concepts accessible to modern audiences. She frequently writes on:

• Liturgical Innovation: Crafting devotionals for Advent and Lent that reinterpret tradition through everyday objects.
• Church Leadership: Advocating for hybrid ministry models that combine digital and in-person engagement.
• Social Justice: Addressing issues like poverty and racial equity through a faith-based lens.

Pitching Tips

• Do: Connect themes to liturgical seasons or practical faith applications.
• Avoid: Secular politics or celebrity-driven stories.

As The Pillar's Senior Correspondent, Luke Coppen has redefined coverage of institutional Catholicism through analytical rigor and policy-aware reporting. His work focuses on three key areas:

• Vatican Diplomacy: Tracking the Holy See's evolving geopolitical strategies and their implementation across global dioceses
• Church Governance: Analyzing financial reforms, episcopal appointments, and canonical jurisprudence developments
• Religious Media Ecology: Examining how digital transformation impacts evangelization and institutional communication

Pitching Priorities

• Seek: Canon law applications in modern governance, diocesan digital transformation case studies, historical analyses of Vatican diplomatic strategies
• Avoid: Parish-level human interest stories, liturgical practice debates, youth ministry programming overviews

With 20+ years shaping Catholic media institutions, Coppen brings unique insight into both journalistic practice and ecclesiastical policy-making. His recent Gabriel Award win underscores his dual expertise in rigorous reporting and theological nuance .

At NPR since 2004 (with brief ABC News tenure), Martin now helms the Peabody-winning Wild Card podcast. Her career spans:

• Conflict Reporting: 600+ days in Afghanistan/Iraq zones, pioneering "empathic embed" techniques
• Morning Journalism: 2,189 Morning Edition episodes hosted (2016-2023)
• Existential Storytelling: 58M+ podcast downloads since 2023 pivot

Pitching Priorities

Do Pitch

• Meaning-Making Systems: Especially nontraditional (corporate chaplains, AI ethicists)
• Resilience Innovations: Post-crisis adaptation tools with measurable outcomes
• Media Evolution: Experimental storytelling formats with psychological components

Avoid

• Breaking news without deeper context
• Celebrity profiles lacking psychological depth
• Partisan political analysis

"The best stories aren't told - they're uncovered together." - Martin on Wild Card Episode 47

As Deputy Managing Editor of The Christian Post, Samuel Smith occupies a unique position at the crossroads of faith journalism and investigative reporting. His 11-year tenure has produced:

• 87% of articles triggering institutional reforms
• 42 citations in federal court briefs
• 9 awards for ethical religious reporting

Current Focus Areas

Prioritizes stories with:

• Cross-denominational implications
• Documented financial or governance irregularities
• Legal precedents affecting religious liberty

"The best pitches help me connect doctrinal debates to their real-world consequences for ordinary believers."

Avoid These Angles

• Personal spirituality narratives without institutional hooks
• Interfaith initiatives lacking policy components
• Commentary on biblical interpretation without historical context

For urgent matters, use his church-affiliated sources verification portal at christianpost.com/pitch.

Shira Hanau is a staff reporter at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), where she covers religion, politics, and culture through a Jewish lens. Based in the United States, her work frequently examines Israeli-Palestinian tensions, antisemitism trends, and efforts to preserve Jewish traditions in modern contexts.

Key Coverage Areas

• Religion & Policy: How Jewish law intersects with governmental mandates, from public health to education.
• Cultural Preservation: Profiles initiatives reviving endangered Jewish practices, such as spice trading or liturgical music.
• Communal Security: Documents antisemitism incidents and grassroots responses, particularly in suburban areas.

Pitching Guidance

• Do: Highlight underreported conflicts at holy sites or innovative cultural projects with measurable impact.
• Don’t: Pitch holiday-themed fluff pieces or stories lacking broader societal relevance.

Hanau’s reporting has been recognized by the Columbia Journalism Review and JTA’s editorial team for its depth and nuance. Her articles often serve as primary sources in policy debates about religious freedom and Middle Eastern diplomacy.

This Oregon-based author and journalist specializes in creating resources that help young Christians navigate spiritual growth through engagement with the natural world. Her work across devotionals, curricula, and novels establishes her as a leading voice in faith-based children's literature.

Core Coverage Areas

• Nature-Based Spirituality: Examines how outdoor experiences shape religious understanding
• Homeschool Innovation: Tracks evolving approaches to faith-integrated education
• Eco-Theology: Explores Christian environmental stewardship through fiction

Pitching Preferences

• Prefers case studies from non-urban faith communities
• Seeks untold stories of intergenerational knowledge sharing
• Prioritizes practical applications over theoretical discussions

Based in Newton, Kansas, Huber primarily writes for Anabaptist World while maintaining select automotive commissions. His 2025 work shows three emerging interests:

• Decentralized Leadership Models: Tracking how hierarchical religious groups adapt flat organizational structures
• Rural Tech Adoption: Documenting technology integration in traditional farming communities
• Overlanding Subcultures: Exploring how mobile lifestyles influence community-building

Pitching Do's and Don'ts

Successful Angles

• Cross-Beat Synergy: A 2024 piece on Mennonite disaster relief vehicles exemplified this approach
• Historical Continuity: His popular series "Modern Martyrs" connected 16th-century persecution to current events

Common Missteps

• Generic Faith Pitches: Requires specific Anabaptist connections beyond general Christianity
• EV Overemphasis: Prefers combustion-engine innovations in automotive coverage

Career Highlights

MilestoneImpact AP Energy Task ForceShaped national coal industry coverage 2006-2015 Anabaptist World MergerIncreased global readership by 40% post-2020