Raham Karimaghei 11c   Can no: 8079       Centre no: 12538

A1

In the world we live in today people have revolutionized the image of religion, so that it is now regarded as a pastime instead of it solely being about God. In today’s world media has evolved to be much more powerful than religion, and therefore some say that media is taken more seriously.

     After observation of the TV channels broadcasting specific religious programmes, I saw that all terrestrial TV channels had at least one hour a week of religious programmes. The government issues the license enabling TV companies to broadcast, and has a significant role in deciding on what has to be shown. In each TV channels broadcasting charter it is stated that they must “provide an average of at least two hours a week of religious programmes.” This means that if a TV channel does not show this minimum amount their license could be evoked.

     It is very obvious why the government is concerned about religion in the UK since only 48 per cent of UK residents claim to belong to a religion, compared to 89 per cent in the United States and 92 per cent in Italy. Also two-thirds of 18-24 year olds in the UK, say that they have no religious affiliation compared to just a quarter in Spain.

    Nearly all religious programmes are aired at non-prime time slots, with the exception only being Songs of Praise on Sundays from 17.45-18.15. This suggests that the TV companies see broadcasting religious programmes as something they must to do, and not something they wish to do. We see further evidence of this by Reverend Ernest Rea words, who was the head of religion and ethics at the BBC. Revd Ernest Rea explains that “religion is rarely the priority in the minds of the movers and shakers who commission the programmes.” Later on in the passage he goes on to describe the programme controllers as “people who regard religion as a little more than an amusing but outdated phenomenon.” The bottom line is, if the programme controllers regard religion as “amusing,” they will simply portray it in very much the same way. I personally am totally against this due to the simple fact that the media is taken advantage of its power.

Join now!

    Although the media regards religion as “outdated” and “amusing,” their broadcasting schedule does coincide with the multicultural society in the UK. Examples of these programmes are “Marrying a Stranger” and “Rooted” which were both aired in November 2002. “Marrying a Stranger” which was aired at 21.00-22.00 (prime time), illustrates the struggle for young Muslims to both satisfy their parents needs and their own. “Rooted” which was aired at 11.55-12.30 (non-prime time), presented Indian children taken back and introduced both to their country of origin and their religion (Sikhism).

    The Broadcasting companies also show ...

This is a preview of the whole essay