Religion News Service
An American news agency covering religion, ethics, spirituality, morality, and religious movements.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Religion News Service, commonly known as RNS, is an American news agency founded in 1934. Its editorial subject area centers on religion and the ways faith intersects with ethics, spirituality, morality, public life, and social movements. Rather than operating primarily as a consumer-facing newspaper, RNS has historically functioned as a content provider whose reporting, information, and commentary can be carried by newspapers, magazines, broadcast organizations, and religious publications. The service was established by journalist Louis Minsky as an affiliate of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Everett R. Clinchy served as managing editor and was also identified as a co-founder. This founding relationship placed RNS within a broader effort to improve public understanding among religious communities while creating a dedicated source of news about faith and religion. RNS passed through several ownership and institutional arrangements during its history. The United Methodist Reporter acquired the service in 1983. Newhouse News Service acquired it in 1994, linking the agency to a major American news-services organization. In 2011, ownership moved to the Religion Newswriters Foundation. That transition represented a return to an institution more directly associated with religion journalism and the professional community that covers religion. The agency's coverage is broad rather than limited to a single denomination or tradition. Its subject matter includes religious organizations and movements, public debates involving faith, ethical questions, spirituality, and developments affecting religious communities. Its distribution model has allowed its work to reach audiences through partner and subscribing media outlets as well as through its own website, religionnews.com. Available reference material does not establish a current headquarters, a named current chief executive, a detailed corporate structure, or specific financial information.
History
Religion News Service was founded in 1934 by journalist Louis Minsky. It began as an affiliate of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, reflecting an institutional interest in interreligious understanding and public communication about religious life. Everett R. Clinchy was identified as both a co-founder and the service's managing editor. From its beginning, RNS operated as a specialized news organization whose subject was religion and whose intended distribution extended beyond a single publication or denomination. The agency's editorial remit developed around news, information, and commentary concerning faiths and religious movements. Its coverage also addressed ethics, spirituality, and morality, allowing it to report on religion as both an organized institutional activity and a force shaping public debate and personal life. RNS content was made available to newspapers, magazines, broadcast organizations, and religious publications, giving the service a syndication-oriented role within the American media system. A series of ownership changes marked the later institutional history of the organization. The United Methodist Reporter acquired RNS in 1983. In 1994, Newhouse News Service acquired the agency. In 2011, RNS was acquired by the Religion Newswriters Foundation. These changes shifted the service among denominational, broader news-service, and religion-journalism-oriented ownership settings while preserving its identity as a specialist source of religion news. RNS continues to operate under the Religion News Service name and publishes through its website, religionnews.com. The available reference material does not provide enough information to document every editorial leadership change, its current legal ownership details, its headquarters, or its financial performance. Its publicly identifiable role remains that of an American specialist news agency covering religion and related ethical and cultural issues.
- 2011
Acquisition by the Religion Newswriters Foundation
[1]The Religion Newswriters Foundation acquired RNS.
- 1994
Acquisition by Newhouse News Service
[1]Newhouse News Service acquired RNS, placing the specialist agency within a larger American news-services organization.
- 1983
Acquisition by the United Methodist Reporter
[1]The United Methodist Reporter acquired Religion News Service.
- 1934
Religion News Service is founded
[1]Journalist Louis Minsky founded RNS as an affiliate of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Everett R. Clinchy was identified as managing editor and co-founder.
Products and positioning
A specialist news agency focused on religion and its connections to ethics, spirituality, morality, culture, and public affairs, serving both general-interest and religious media.
News agency content · 1934
RNS news reporting
Reporting focused on religions, religious movements, faith communities, ethics, spirituality, morality, and the public role of religion. The service has historically distributed its work through newspapers, magazines, broadcasters, religious publications, and its own digital platform.
Editorial content
RNS commentary and information
Commentary and informational material addressing religious and ethical issues. This offering complements reported news by providing interpretation and broader context about faith traditions and religious developments.
Brand decisions
2011
Transfer to the Religion Newswriters FoundationM&ABackground
RNS changed ownership after its period within Newhouse News Service.
Action taken
The Religion Newswriters Foundation acquired the agency.
Aftermath
The service continued under the RNS name and operates through religionnews.com.
1994
Transfer to Newhouse News ServiceM&ABackground
RNS underwent another ownership change after its period under the United Methodist Reporter.
Action taken
Newhouse News Service acquired Religion News Service.
Aftermath
RNS operated under Newhouse News Service until its subsequent acquisition by the Religion Newswriters Foundation.
1983
Transfer to the United Methodist ReporterM&ABackground
Religion News Service changed ownership during its continuing operation as a specialist religion news agency.
Action taken
The United Methodist Reporter acquired RNS.
Aftermath
The acquisition made the United Methodist Reporter the recorded owner of the service until a later sale to Newhouse News Service.
Sources2 sources
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