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  • 6 Nov
    2009
    The 'Thought for the Day' debate

    This research paper by Ekklesia researcher Lizzie Cifford looks into the background and history of BBC Radio 4's short 'Thought for the Day' (TftD) slot, as a precursor to a wider analysis of Thought for the Day scripts which Ekklesia is currently carrying out. TftD which has become a topic of public and media debate of late concerning the proposal that non-religious as well as religious voices should be heard on it. The paper seeks to reflect the range of viewpoints on TftD, as well as providing information about its development and presentation. It traces how the origins of TftD came in a context of BBC religious broadcasting which was originally viewed as ‘evangelistic and missionary’ and now has to adapt to a mixed-belief society, including humanists, atheists and those who see themselves as 'spiritual but not religious'. The paper describes how attempts at re-branding from the mid 1960s have been opposed by some in the Anglican Church and elsewhere as part of a concern about the withdrawal of the BBC from its position as a central broadcaster in what was seen as a ‘Christian country’. It also highlights how a number of other radio stations, in particular regional programmes, have output which is similar to TftD, but successfully include contributions from the non-religious, as well as ‘minority’ religions, raising further questions about why TftD itself has not followed suit. However, the aim of this paper is description rather than advocacy. Further research on the content of TftD will be published in the new year.

    Lizzie Clifford
  • 7 Oct
    2009
    Barely a third of British public support war in Afghanistan

    Only 37% of the UK public support the war in Afghanistan, according to research published today, eight years after it began. Despite the government's attempts to increase support for the war, it is opposed by 56% of the population.

  • 28 Apr
    2009
    Head of BBC Religion 'doesn't need to be a Christian' says Churches Media Council

    The director of the Churches Media Council (CMC) has said that whether the new head of Religion and Ethics is ‘a Muslim or a Methodist, a Hindu or a Humanist’ is irrelevant - as long as they believe something with a passion.

  • 28 Apr
    2009
    BBC religion head should have a 'passion for production'

    Andrew Graystone says that the new Head of Religion could be a Muslim or a Methodist, a Hindu or a Humanist - as long as they believe something and believe it with a passion.

  • 22 Apr
    2009
    Bowing to religious prejudice in broadcasting?

    Calls for the BBC's new head of religion and ethics to be a Christian as if by right or necessity are wrong, says Sunny Hundal. Public broadcasting should be open to all and not beholden to narrow lobbies.

  • 20 Feb
    2009
    BBC may face judicial review of its refusal to show charity appeal

    In a move likely to increase accusations of lack of public accountability, the BBC Trust has found that the BBC acted "reasonably" in refusing to screen a non-political humanitarian appeal for Gaza.

  • 19 Feb
    2009
    Hearing what children are saying

    The whole point of the Children Society’s latest project was to hear what children were saying and to give them a voice, says Jonathan Bartley. But the world of adult decision-making does not really want to know.

  • 9 Feb
    2009
    Newspaper launches alternative Thought for the Day

    The Guardian has today launched an alternative to the BBC’s long running Thought for the Day slot, broadcast at 7.50am in the morning on Radio 4.

  • 30 Jan
    2009
    Catholic bishop says BBC and Sky should show compassion

    Bishop William Kenney, part of a delegation of Catholic bishops from Europe and North America who visited Israel-Palestine this month, has expressed regret at the BBC's refusal to show a charity appeal for Gaza.

  • 28 Jan
    2009
    Protesters destroy TV licenses in Gaza appeal row latest

    Protesters set fire to their TV licenses in a sit-in at the BBC broadcasting centre in London yesterday evening, as complaints continued about the Corporation's refusal to show a Gaza charity appeal.

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