A conference on the intersection of media and faith will be held April 11-12 at Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio). The conference will feature Amanda Melefsky, a 2005 graduate of the university and a producer for DeSales Media Group whose credits include the films “Bella” and “The Human Experience.”

“Media and Faith: New Beginnings” was created as a response to Pope Francis, who said on World Communications Day in January that the Catholic Church “needs to be concerned for, and present in, the world of communication, in order to dialogue with people today and to help them encounter Christ.”

Dr. Wayne Lewis, associate professor of communication arts at Franciscan, said: “Our main goal is to show students that you can remain committed to your faith and still produce great media — whether that is print or online or broadcast.”

Melefsky will be the keynote speaker on Friday evening. Other featured speakers will include Doug Keck, president and chief operating officer of EWTN; Matt Weilgos, manager of media production at Franciscan Media; Terry Mattingly, director of the Washington Journalism Center with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and longtime “On Religion” columnist with Scripps Howard News Service; David DeWolf, chairman and CEO of 3Pillar Global, Inc.; and Ann Rodgers, communications director of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and former religion reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The conference begins at 7PM on Friday, April 11, and ends at 8PM on Saturday, April 12. Registration is $35 ($25 for faculty and $15 for students). For more information or to register for the conference, email mediaandfaith@franciscan.edu or visit franciscan.edu/mediaandfaith.