Previous Conventions
The annual convention of the Religion Communicators Council provides attendees a wealth of information to enhance their professional skills and pick up new ones.
You can explore some of our past conventions and read summaries of our many workshops and plenaries, as well as recaps of the DeRose-Hinkhouse and Wilbur award winners, the RCC annual business meeting, and more.
2019
When we consider the time in which we live, as religion communicators and journalists too often we see situations and experiences in the same old ways. During our 2019 RCC-ACP Convention, we strove to see in new ways with new possibilities and perceptions to reach existing and new audiences with a refreshing message of truth, justice, freedom, and hope.
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Workshops
- What we know, how do we know it, what does it mean
- Photo artist leads editors through paces in photography, design
- 7 tips to help find podcast success
- Handling media interviews like a pro
- Clear vision, effective communication woo writers
- How to not be a grumpy data cat
- You will have a crisis so prepare in advance
- Getting faith news into secular media
- Improve skills, earn credentials via APR
- ‘Backpack’ journalism: the new reality
- When it comes to strategic communications, begin at the end
- Engaging on social media – remaining relevant in a crowded newsfeed
Plenaries and Keynotes
- Violence and faith in light of today’s society and reporting on violence
- #MeToo – Bring empathy, passion and conviction to discussions
Awards
- RCC recognizes, awards excellence at yearly convention
- Religion Communicators Council honors 22 for work during 2018
Business Meeting
Other
Photos: 2019 Convention Photos
2018
Religion Communicators Council met in Atlanta to “realize the dream” of promoting peace and justice through communication. Plenary and workshop topics included public relations, branding, crisis management, promoting justice through media, and more.
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Workshops
- From theory to practice: Teaching, learning, and communicating in interfaith studies
- Reframing diversity and inclusion
- Be prepared: copyright, trademark and privacy laws do affect religion communication
- Breaking through noise requires research, planning
- Annual reports tell your story one year at a time
- Building relationships is key in communication leadership
- Enhancing your story with digital media
- To work more smartly in social media, realize it’s not all about you
- Reach your audience with these six steps
- Communicators attend workshop on crisis scenarios
- Reputation management requires planning, evaluation of risks and opportunities
- Ask, decide, and take action: Tips for visualizing expanded media engagement
- Intersectional justice: Gender, race, and religion in the media
Plenaries and Keynotes
- Atlanta convention opens with keynote on “Realizing the Dream”
- Faith groups should recommit to leadership on civil rights, panel members say
- Find commonalities, then go deeper and understand our differences
Awards
- Stories about race in America lead the 2018 Wilbur Awards
- Awards presented to religion communicators
Business Meeting
Other
- Religion communicators explore peace and justice through communication
- RCC members learn about Atlanta’s history
- Religion communicators visit Atlanta’s Center for Civil and Human Rights
Photos: 2018 Convention Photos
2017
The three-day event, “Virtually Here, There and Everywhere: Faith Communications and Presence,” was a multi-faith forum designed to enrich, engage, educate and empower professional communicators of religion and faith-based issues.
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Workshops
- Re-writing the script: analyzing gender and religion in the media
- Creating podcasts with sustaining power requires research, thought
- The many lessons learned when hosting the Pope
- Podcasters give tips to RCC convention goers
- Meaning-making among the disenfranchised
- Religion communicators trained for crisis scenarios
- Workshop tackles anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim movements
- Going viral with Father Rocky and Facebook
- Film tries to answer pressing question for those who remain after Newtown tragedy
- Seasoned religious communicator offers tips for connecting with secular media
Plenaries and Keynotes
- Ali to communicators: We have to tell our own stories
- Theater as communicator? Silk Road Rising shows how it can be done
- 2017 RCC convention opens with film, discussion about issue(s) of violence
Awards
Business Meeting
Other
- Religion Communicators explore faith communications and presence at convention
- U.S. religion communicators address violence and Islamophobia from WACC Global
- Religion Communicators Council Annual Convention – A Member’s View by Brian Fesler
- REPORT: Religion Communicators Convention Dives Deep by Paul Chaffee
2016
The Religion Communications Council met in Manhattan to build “bridges” among faith groups, find “avenues” to new communications skills and discover “intersections” between faith groups and the world at large. Plenary and workshop topics at different locations throughout the city included multi-religious activism, Google News Lab and the future of media, finding funding and resources, advanced social media training, and issues of religious freedom.
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Workshops
- Hacking a Better Future for Interfaith Cooperation
- Strategic partnerships key to humanitarian effectiveness
- Presenter gives tips on writing with a purpose
- United Nations discovers that faith-based organizations also support sustainable development goals
- Getting a ‘like’ is not enough, workshop leader tells attendees
- Presenter introduces digital tools to improve journalists’ storytelling
- Grim says faith is good for the economy, peace is good for business
Plenaries and Keynotes
- Forbes opens 2016 RCC Convention with a song, some words of praise and a challenge
- Intersection of faith and global community is focus of RCC 2016 Saturday keynote
- Media panelists offer tips for coverage
- Navigating multi-religious activism
- Election year and beyond: Social and political activism in the city’s black churches
- Panel explores intersection of faith and creative work
Awards
- RCC awards excellence in religion communication at New York City ceremony
- Ecumenical and interfaith leader slated for special Wilbur Award
- 3 news organizations win 2016 Wilbur Award for coverage of pope
- The AP, NPR, CNN among winners of RCC’s annual Wilbur Awards
Business Meeting
Other
- Religion Communicators Council Handa Fellows mark first gathering at 2016 RCC Convention
- Religion Communicators Council Convention: Faith-based Communications: Bridges, Avenues, and Intersections (2016)
- Groups pursue interfaith activism for social change on WACC site
- Diverse group of religion communicators gathered to build bridges, find avenues and discover intersections
2015
The Religion Communications Council met in Alexandria, Virginia, to explore the theme “Faith-based Communications: Connecting Locally, Reaching Globally.”
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Workshops
- Communications professionals need a ‘seat at the table,’ Steigman tells RCC convention
- Workshop teaches how to research and evaluate well and on a budget
- RCC workshop leader offers tips for effective media placement
- Religion reporter offers advice for getting coverage
- Workshops help religion communicators improve visual storytelling
Plenaries and Keynotes
- Faith-based communication responds locally and globally – on WACC Global web site
- Panel of religion writers discusses changes in their industry
- Waj’s top 30 do’s and don’ts when covering Islam and Muslims
- State Department official describes impact of understanding role of religion on foreign affairs
- Presidential adviser explains mission of White House faith-based office, principles of interaction between religion and government
- Former Obama adviser, experts on religion discuss importance of religious literacy
Awards
- RCC awards excellence in religion communication at D.C.-area ceremony
- CBS leads list of 2015 Wilbur Award winners
- CBF staff recognized by national organization for communications, PR and marketing work – on the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship site
- BWA magazine wins award – on the Baptist World Alliance site
Business Meeting
- RCC elects Casey Tom president at annual business meeting
- WACC Global directors meet at RCC convention – on WACC Global web site