ABC Signs Beliefnet Deal; Religion Reporter to Leave

ABC News signed an editorial partnership agreement with Beliefnet, an ecumenical Web site devoted to religion and spirituality, to conduct joint polling and co-produce reports, even as it said its religion beat reporter will leave the network.

Reporter Peggy Wehmeyer, who as a full-time religion reporter was a rarity in TV network news, will leave when her contract expires in the fall, as a result of ongoing cost-cutting. She won’t be replaced. Wehmeyer was out of the country and unavailable for comment.

Executive Vice President Paul Friedman said ABC News isn’t giving up its commitment to covering religion and will assign the topic to other reporters, as needed. The new Beliefnet partnership will “become a terrific source for us for story ideas,” he said, and will also generate ideas for using the ABC polling unit to measure the impact of religion on the issues and events making news.

The two organizations collaborated last year on anchor Peter Jennings’ documentary “The Search for Jesus,” which was a topic of extensive discussion on Beliefnet’s Web site. ABC has also been selling videos of the program on the Beliefnet site.

Jennings is currently at work on a documentary about the early Christian leader Paul.

Privately held Beliefnet, based in New York, also produces books, subscription online products and technology tools for spiritual groups.