“Even the most religiously literate journalist will not be able to pursue a story properly without some cooperation from the faith group, and so it is vital to foster these relations.”
In April 2020, Media Diversity Institute submitted evidence to the Inquiry into Religious Literacy in Print and Broadcast Media following a call for evidence by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Religion in the Media (UK). Although the inquiry’s report was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic, the final report is now available to the public. Using evidence from a variety of MDI projects, such as Get The Trolls Out!, MDI argues for the need for more religious literacy amongst British journalists.
From the APPG page:
“The APPG recognises that religion continues to play a crucial role in public life. Traditional religious adherence is declining in the UK and new forms of spirituality are becoming increasingly prominent. The APPG believes that it is essential that the media provides a balanced portrayal of faith groups and an accurate reflection of the diversity of religious belief and practice in the UK. While journalists must be free to report accurately on matters relating to faith without fear or censure, the APPG emphasises that where nuanced representations of faith groups can promote mutual understanding and social harmony, reductive, distorted or misleading depictions can provoke or aggravate social tensions.”
You can read about the Inquiry by visiting this page.
You can download the full report ‘Learning to Listen. Inquiry into Religious Literacy in Print and Broadcast Media’ here
