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Blanquerna Observatory on Media, Religion and Culture

The Blanquerna Observatory on Media, Religion and Culture is an interdisciplinary space for research and the diffusion of information and activities on media and religion. The Observatory monitors the trends in religious information, the presence of religion in the media and new technologies, and the current situation regarding the right to Freedom of Religion and Belief. It also observes the links between popular culture and the spiritual aspects of society. All of this, prioritizing research, training, diffusion, publication and internationalization of the religious phenomenon.

The Blanquerna Observatory created the Specialization Diploma in Corporate Communication and Religion in the Digital Age, which combines the triad of communication, religion and technology. It is also involved in projects of regional, national and international reach, focusing on issues such as immigration, religious communities, new technologies, gender inequality, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Freedom of Expression, among others. Some of these projects are the following, whose starting year is indicated in brackets:

  • Chair on Religious Freedom and Belief in Catalonia (2021). Project that aims to bring citizens closer to the recognition and scope of the fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief, as well as the principle of non-discrimination on religious grounds. Project funded by the General Direction of Religious Affairs of the Department of Justice of the Catalan Government.
  • Vaccine and Prejudices in the Catholic Community (2021). Project that aims to combat misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine in the Catholic media. The Observatory is in charge of developing two reports that analyze the information available on vaccination in this type of media. Project led by Aleteia.org and funded by the Google News Initiative.
  • Mapping Leadership Skills in the Diocesan Church in Spain and Portugal (2020). Project that studies the conception, challenges and opportunities that leadership presents for the diocesan Church. Project carried out jointly with the Catholic University of Portugal and funded by Porticus.
  • Mapping needs, existing resources and best practices in pastoral for youth spiritual formation in a digital age in Spain and Portugal (2020). Project that maps the resources, formats and methodologies used in faith formation for young people in Spain and Portugal. Project carried out jointly with the Catholic University of Portugal and funded by Porticus.
  • Religion goes online (2020). Online platform that brings together good practices of religious communities during the confinement of the COVID-19 pandemic. Project funded by the KAICIID centre in Vienna.
  • Reading seminars (2020). Monthly meetings where relevant texts in the fields of religion and communication are read and interpreted.
  • Industry 4.0, Communication and Society. Twitter and Freedom of Religion in Catalonia (2020). Project that studies the exercise of Freedom of Religion and Belief on the social network Twitter by analyzing profiles of religious leaders in Catalonia. Project funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
  • Covering Religious Freedom in the Spanish Media (2020). Report that studies the media coverage of attacks, violations or limitations to Freedom of Religion and Belief in the Spanish territory. Project funded by the Ministry of Justice of the Government of Poland.
  • Teo-Tapas (2018). Informal conversations between young people and religious leaders aimed at sharing experiences, doubts and knowledge. The dialogue originates around food, taking the form of breakfasts, Afterworks and tapas. The proposal is to delve into the religious phenomenon and its beliefs with a casual, open and respectful perspective.
  • #BeTheKey campaign against Islamophobia (2018). Awareness-raising campaign against Islamophobia and hate speech that exists in both online and offline environments, with the pretext of being the key to fight against these social injustices while generating awareness and empowerment among the population. Project developed in collaboration with Facebook and Fundación Pluralismo y Convivencia.
  • YouVo Lab (Youth Voices) (2018). Project that provides a space for dialogue for young people of different religions and cultures, even though they are complete strangers. It is an intercultural encounter marked by the freedom of the speakers to share their concerns, desires and hopes.
  • Refugees Reporting. Refugees and Communication Rights in Europe (2017). Research on refugee rights in Europe in the communication framework. This initiative analyses and provides new communication tools to support the reporting and media debate generated around refugees. The project is led by the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) - Europe Region and the Churches' Commission for Migrants in initiative aims for Europe (CCME).
  • Teenagers, youth, religion and technology. The Catalan case (2016). Research on how young people use digital tools for religious activities and for learning about the religions that coexist in Catalonia. Project developed in collaboration with the Catalan Government.
  • Digital narratives. Gender, immigration and religion on the move (2015). Research on how immigrant women in the multicultural Raval neighbourhood (Barcelona) use digital tools, how these technologies are a bridge between different religions and cultures and whether these tools facilitate equality and integration. Project funded by the World Association for Christians Communication.
  • Religion in the Shaping of European Cultural Identity (2015). Project based on the idea that if Europe is to explore its religious heritage, it must first acknowledge its heritage. The project offered the opportunity for dialogue in a new context, in an attempt to integrate religious and non-religious traditions of the same standing. Project supported by the Culture Programme of the European Union.
  • Top Catholic Webpages. Creating Community Online (2015). Analysis of the 19 most relevant Catholic portals globally. Awarded in the framework of the Internationalisation programme of Ramon Llull University's Research Groups' activity.
  • Religious Communities Online. How Online Community is built (2015). Study on the online dynamics of the most relevant Catholic communities in five different languages. Awarded by Aristos Campus Mundus in the framework of the First Call for Research Project Grants Programme.

The Blanquerna Observatory has an international perspective and is therefore connected to a network of institutions that share its enthusiasm for the religious, cultural and communicational spheres. This consolidates it as a reference entity in the area. It is a member of:

  • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.
  • American Association for the Sociology of Religion (ASA).
  • Anna Lindh Foundation.
  • International Society for Media, Religion and Culture (ISMRC).
  • World Association for Christian Communication (WACC).
  • International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC).
  • Euromediterranean Women Foundation.
  • International Association of Religion Journalists.

You will find us at the Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations (Ramon Llull University), located in the heart of the Raval neighbourhood, a very central and stimulating intercultural area.