Program Overview

Introduction to the Program

The "Fachjournalismus Religion" program is a unique training opportunity for media professionals, offered by the Exzellenzcluster "Religion und Politik" of the University of MŁnster in cooperation with the Journalistenschule ifp. This program aims to provide expertise on religion to media professionals, addressing topics such as antisemitism, racism, conflicts over religious practices, and new ideological movements on the web.

Program Modules

The program consists of five modules, each focusing on different aspects of religion and its interaction with society and politics.

Module 1: Religion, Politics, Law

• Dates: January 22-24, 2025
• Location: Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Haus, Berlin
• Topics:
  • Introduction to religion, politics, and law
  • Religious policy: basics and case studies
  • Religion in the constitution: a European perspective
• Speakers:
  • Dieter Grimm
  • Karl JŁsten
  • Matthias Kortmann
  • Vilwanathan Krishnamurthy
  • Petra Pau
  • Katrin Raczynski
  • Burkhard Schšfers
  • Miaoshiang Shih
  • Christoph Strack
  • Viola van Melis
  • Fabian Wittreck
  • Wolfgang Wulf

Module 2: Worldview Plurality

• Dates: July 9-11, 2025
• Location: Akademie Franz Hitze Haus, MŁnster
• Topics:
  • Basic knowledge of Buddhism
  • Theology and churches in the media
  • Basis knowledge of Islam
  • Religious diversity in Western immigration societies
• Speakers:
  • Dina El Omari
  • Joachim Frank
  • Anna-Nicole Heinrich
  • Daniel Heinze
  • Siegfried Kleymann
  • Detlef Pollack
  • Klara Robbers
  • Markus RŁsch
  • Arnulf von Scheliha
  • Annika Schmitz
  • Viola van Melis

Module 3: Belonging or Exclusion

• Dates: October 8-10, 2025
• Location: Frankfurt am Main
• Topics:
  • Historical roots of antisemitism
  • Diversity in religious reporting
  • Basic knowledge of Judaism
  • Visit to the Jewish Museum and Jewish community
• Speakers:
  • Gerald Beyrodt
  • Saba-Nur Cheema
  • Mike Samuel Delberg
  • Rev. Christopher Easthill
  • Regina Grundmann
  • Pastor Jens D. Haverland
  • Sylvia LŲhrmann
  • Meron Mendel
  • Burkhard Schšfers
  • Julian-Chaim Soussan
  • Sara Soussan
  • Viola van Melis

Module 4: Us and the Others

• Dates: January 28-30, 2026
• Location: KŲln
• Topics:
  • War or peace in the name of God
  • Introduction to Christianity
  • Religious diversity as a challenge
  • Visit to the DITIB Central Mosque
• 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

• Dates: June 24-26, 2026
• Location: MŁnchen
• Program to be announced

Seminar Leadership and Partners

• Seminar Leadership: Burkhard Schšfers, Studienleiter ifp, and Viola van Melis, Leitung Zentrum fŁr Wissenschaftskommunikation, Exzellenzcluster "Religion und Politik", Universitšt MŁnster.
• Kooperationspartner und FŲrderer: The program is a cooperation between the Journalistenschule ifp and the Exzellenzcluster "Religion und Politik" of the University of MŁnster, supported by the FŲrderverein des ifp (Fifp).

Participation Fee

• The participation fee for all five modules, including accommodation and meals, is 3,950.00 (reduced rate 3,800.00 ).
• Application Deadline: October 1, 2024.