Open letter to the Times re: Media Bill Omission

Sir,

Religious literacy is more important than ever in today’s world. But the Media Bill, to be debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday, puts this core civic competency in peril by removing existing obligations for public service broadcasters to provide programming about religion or belief. We believe that to ignore religion is dangerous, as faith is a prime motivator of individuals and communities. What people believe informs political, economic, ethical and social behaviour. It inspires acts from the heinous to the heroic.

Broadcasting can help audiences to understand how religion affects human affairs, raise awareness of diversity, confront stereotypes and educate people about the world’s many rich cultures and traditions. Hence we urge the government to specify religion as a key component of the public service broadcasting remit, and to protect in its Media Bill programmes exploring religion and belief.

Aliya Azam, interfaith co-ordinator, Al-Khoei Foundation; Simon Barrow, director, Ekklesia; Steve Clarke, editor, Television Magazine, Royal Television Society; Rabbi Warren Elf, co-chair, Faith Network for Manchester; the Right Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; Dr Edward Kessler, director, Woolf Institute; Katie McColgan, chair, Interfaith Council for Wales; the Right Rev Beverley Mason, bishop of Warrington; Chine McDonald, director, Theos; Marilyn Priday, Community House Presbyterian Church of Wales; Dr Shaunaka Rishi Das, director, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies; Elizabeth Slade, chief officer, General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches; Professor Tony Stoller, chairman, The Sandford St Martin Trust; the Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus, Scottish Episcopal Church; the Most Reverend Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh