Journalists turn to researchers as expert sources when reporting on issues of import in the world of religion. In turn, scholars of religion look to journalists to report on, and amplify, their academic insights and contributions. Both are committed to accurate, fair, and balanced coverage of religion in the media, so that multiple publics might have a better understanding of religion. Nonetheless, there can often be misunderstanding, disappointment, and outright conflict between journalists and scholars. On the one hand, journalists may be frustrated with academics' insistence on jargon in discussing their research or their lack of appreciation for the compressed timelines and need for quick turnaround on deadline. On the other hand, scholars may be disquieted by journalists' lack of nuance in covering complex issues, quote selection, or seemingly jejune simplifications as they attempt to communicate with popular audiences. In this paper, I compare and contrast the norms, aesthetics, and ethics of academic and journalistic coverage of religion. Given the symbiotic relationship between religion scholarship and journalism, I offer critical suggestions for additional collaboration and cross-pollination between the two, so that various publics might better appreciate the importance, diversity, and changing nature of religion in Europe.