Program Overview

Training Programme "Journalism on Religion"

The Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics" at the University of M³nster and the ifp School of Journalism are offering the "Journalism on Religion" training programme, the only one of its kind in Germany.

Program Overview

The programme aims to provide media professionals with expertise on religious matters, covering topics such as antisemitism, racism, conflicts over religious practices, and new ideological movements.

Module 1: Religion, Politics, Law

• Date: 22-24 January 2025
• Location: Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Haus, Ziegelstra▀e 30, 10117 Berlin
• Topics:
  • Religion, politics, and law
  • Religious policy: foundations and case studies
  • Religion in the constitution: a look at Europe
• Speakers:
  • Dieter Grimm
  • Karl J³sten
  • Matthias Kortmann
  • Vilwanathan Krishnamurthy
  • Petra Pau
  • Burkhard Schõfers
  • Miaoshiang Shih
  • Christoph Strack
  • Viola van Melis
  • Fabian Wittreck
  • Wolfgang Wulf

Module 2: Plurality of Worldviews

• Date: 9-11 July 2025
• Location: Akademie Franz Hitze Haus, Kardinal-von-Galen-Ring 50, 48149 M³nster
• Topics:
  • Basic knowledge of Buddhism
  • Basic knowledge of Islam
  • Religious diversity in Western migrant societies
• Speakers:
  • Dina El Omari
  • Joachim Frank
  • Anna-Nicole Heinrich
  • Daniel Heinze
  • Siegfried Kleymann
  • Detlef Pollack
  • Klara Robbers
  • Markus R³sch
  • Arnulf von Scheliha
  • Annika Schmitz
  • Viola van Melis

Module 3: Belonging or Excluded

• Date: 8-10 October 2025
• Location: Frankfurt am Main
• Topics:
  • Intellectual roots of antisemitism
  • Diversity in reporting on religion
  • Essential knowledge of Judaism
• Speakers:
  • Gerald Beyrodt
  • Saba-Nur Cheema
  • Mike Samuel Delberg
  • Christopher Easthill
  • Jens D. Haverland
  • Regina Grundmann
  • Sylvia L÷hrmann
  • Meron Mendel
  • Burkhard Schõfers
  • Julian-Chaim Soussan
  • Sara Soussan
  • Viola van Melis

Module 4: Us and Them

• Date: 28-30 January 2026
• Location: Cologne
• Topics:
  • War or peace in the name of God
  • Introduction to Christianity
  • Religious diversity as a challenge for religions
• Speakers:
  • Abdassamad El Yazidi
  • Panagiotis Karagiouvanis
  • Abdul-Ahmad Rashid
  • Perry Schmidt-Leukel
  • Annika Schmitz
  • Michael Seewald
  • Volker Spelthann
  • Mia Steeg
  • Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger
  • Viola van Melis

Module 5: Ideological Movements and Conspiracy Theories

• Date: 24-26 June 2026
• Location: Munich
• Program will follow

Seminar Management, Partners, and Sponsors

• Seminar leader: Burkhard Schõfers
• Co-founder and seminar organizer: Viola van Melis
• Partners: Catholic School of Journalism ifp and the University of M³nster's Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics"
• Sponsor: Supporter association of the ifp (Fifp)

Fee

• 3,950 for all five training modules, including accommodation and meals at each location
• Reduced fee: 3,800
• Deadline for registration: 1 October 2024