The Religion News Association (RNA), formerly the Religion Newswriters Association, is an American non-profit professional association which seeks to promote better reporting on religion in the news media and to provide help and support to journalists who cover religion.^[1][2]

The RNA was founded in 1949 and in 2007 had 570 members and subscribers.^{[3][4][needs update]} Membership in the RNA is open to journalists who regularly report on religion in the secular print and broadcast media.^[5][6] Since 2006, the RNA has been associated with the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.^[7] In 2016, RNA members approved a proposal to change the name from the "Religion Newswriters Association" to the current name.^[8]

RNA awards scholarships for full-time journalists who wish to take college courses on religion,^[9] gives awards and scholarships to college journalists,^[10] sponsors seminars and conferences ^[11][12] and publishes a "primer" for religion reporters^[13] and an online style guide,^[14] as well as other resources for journalists. RNA is funded by membership dues, donations, and Religion News Foundation support.^[15]

In 1999, former RNA executive director Debra Mason said in an interview that the topic of religion is very complex and requires extensive research, something which newspaper editors don't always appreciate.^[16] In 2005, Steve Buttry writing at Poynter Online said, "The Religion Newswriters Association does a tremendous job helping reporters learn the beat."^[17] RNA was cited by Kenneth G. C. Newport and Crawford Gribben in their 2006 book Expecting the End: Millennialism in Social and Historical Context for helping reporters get in touch with credentialed scholars on religion, leading to better public understanding of religious issues.^[18]

Since the 1970s, RNA has published an annual list of the top ten religion-related news stories of the previous year.^[19][20] In 1999, RNA was criticized by the Islamic organization the Wisdom Fund for listing a story on a special "Top 10 Stories of The Millennium" list which gave inaccurate information on the history of Islam in India.^[21] In the same year, RNA also published a list of the top ten religious news stories of the Twentieth century, with the Holocaust being the most important event.^[22]

In 2006, representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Church of Scientology spoke to the annual RNA conference and discussed issues concerning their respective faiths.^[23]