Vibrant, But Invisible: A Study of Contemporary Religious Periodicals

Abstract

Religious publications have a long and varied history in the United States. The publications are among the first magazines to appear in the United States, and their content helped shape the early Republic's literacy, morals, and political events. But during the past 150 years, their influence has lessened. Although some 3,000 religious publications exist today, most report small circulation levels. Critics contend that many religious magazines are more focused on doctrinal battles than presenting news and information for the general public. To further study this invisible but vibrant segment of magazine publishing, the researcher surveyed editors of publications holding membership in either the Associated Church Press or the Evangelical Press Association. The survey is used to construct a picture of the editorial foci, audiences, funding models, and future opportunities awaiting the Protestant press. This is the first step toward integrating the religious press into existing theories of specialty magazine publishing. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research.