Mason Named Director of Center for Religion, the Professions & the Public

Columbia, MO (9-08-06) - Religion Newswriters Executive Director Debra L. Mason, an award-winning specialist in religion journalism, has been named the new director of the Center for Religion, the Professions & the Public at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In addition, the Religion Newswriters Association will move from its suburban Columbus, Ohio, home to the University's School of Journalism by 2008.

The extended transition time was necessary because the school has no physical space to house RNA until it completes a new building. The delay also gives more time to deal with transitions among the Ohio-based staff.

The move was unanimously approved by RNA's Board of Directors and the School of Journalism last month. Mason will become a part-time executive director for RNA.

The Center's mission is to improve religious literacy among the professions. It is an affiliate of the Missouri School of Journalism. The Center was founded in April 2003 with a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts.

"RNA has created many tools improve journalists' knowledge of religion. The center's work extends efforts to the professions of medicine, law, business, education and others," Mason said.

"With religion so central to the world's most virulent conflicts, it's vital that professionals better understand the role faith and values play as they serve an increasingly diverse public," she added.

For the past 10 years Mason has headed the Religion Newswriters Association (RNA), the world's only professional association for journalists who write about religion in the mainstream media.

As the founding executive director for RNA's nonprofit Foundation, Mason helped secure more than $5.4 million in grant funding to resources for journalists writing about religion with balance, accuracy and insight.

Religion Newswriters' tools include the acclaimed online news resource ReligionLink, distributed free to more than 5,000 journalists each week, and an extensive online reference library. Under her leadership, RNA has become the nation's preeminent trainer of religion for journalists. She manages a staff of 19 employees across the country.

As Center director, Mason replaces Professor Emeritus of Journalism Ed Lambeth, who retired from the directorship on Sept. 1 after serving in the job since February 2004.

"Debra Mason is an outstanding leader, mentor and administrator known across the country for her energy and understanding of academic and professional education," Lambeth said.

Mason brings more than 25 years of professional reporting, research and teaching experience to the position.

Mason holds a doctoral degree in Mass Communication from Ohio University in Athens, a master's in journalism from Northwestern University in Chicago and a master's in theological studies from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.