Religoin in the Media

Religion in the media coursework part ai)

Describe the variety of specifically religious programmes on the four main television channels.

In the 1950s when television first started being broadcasted in England there has always been a ‘God slot’ on BBC and ITV between 9and 11 am on Sunday mornings. This has changed over the years as the country has become more multi-faith; people have become more attracted to the new age spiritually. For this piece of course work I have been asked to ‘Describe the variety of specifically religious programmes on the four main television channels.’

I have been watching TV for just under a month 27th December 2004 to 23rd January 2005. I’ve been looking out for religious programmes on the four main television channels.

I have put the programmes into four categories:

• Magazine-Heaven and Earth

• Educational-The Ark

• Documentary- Noah’s Ark, St. Jimmies, Are Muslims Hated

• Worship- Songs of Praise

On Saturday 8th January at 6:00 there was a thirty minute documentary called ‘Are Muslims Hated?’ I would say this programme is aimed at Muslims, people of comparative faiths and anti-racists. In this programme it asked the question are people victimised today because of their religion, also if Islamaphobia happened today in the UK. An academic was asked whether he thought the UK had become more anti Islam. The presenter looks at both sides of the argument, also he looks at newspaper articles about Islamaphobia. The programme concludes by saying that anti-Islam is exaggerated.

I think this is a religious programme as it talks about Muslims and their faith and helps others to understand about other faiths which promotes racial harmony.

On Sunday 9th January at 10:30 ‘The Heaven and Earth Show’ was on BBC, this is a magazine programme. It lasted 1 hour and Darius and Mini Driver were on it. This show is aimed at housewives and those who can’t make church on Sunday mornings. The show looked at ‘Will Power’ and current affairs of the BBC broadcasting of the ‘Jerry Springer the Opera’. It shows how Christians became offended and upset when seeing it. It looked at modern day culture issues Sikh play in Birghinham which caused offence, also Madame Tusauds putting David and Victoria Beckham as Mary and Joseph.

The presenters interview an evangelical Christian Leader and artistic director.

The programmes as the question to the viewers ‘Is Nothing Sacred?’ viewers can reply to this via text email and phone. They look at Sunday papers to see what’s in them. This is a very religious programme as it looks at all faiths and how religions are affected. I think it is a good programme and would attracted many viewers.

On Sunday 9th January at 8:25am ‘The Ark’ was on ITV it lasted 35 minutes. This show is aimed at young children as it is animated. The episode is called ‘Stepping out in Trust’ it is very colourful and uses simple language. There are puppets who narrate Bible stories. The episode is trying to teach children to have faith in God this programme would educate people in the Christian faith and help towards a religious