Venue: JW3 Centre, 341-351 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6ET
When: Monday 12 June 2023 10.30 – 17.15 BST
Tickets: £30, register here >>
The Religion Media Centre and JW3 are delighted to announce the fifth Religion Media Festival with keynote speaker, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
The day will be packed with excellent speakers, in-depth discussions and panel talks delving into all aspects of the presentation of religion.
From mainstream television, radio and print to the huge engagement with religion online and in social media, this is an essential event for anyone wanting to help shape or critique the narrative of modern-day religion.
Itinerary
| 10:30 | Doors open | Tea and coffee available |
| 10:45 | Introduction | A welcome and introduction from our presenter Hannah Scott-Joynt |
| 10:50 | Keynote |
Onjali Rauf – award-winning children’s author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, founder of Making Herstory campaigning against trafficking of women and girls, and founder of O’s Refugee Aid Team supporting refugee families in Calais and Dunkirk. In conversation with Hannah Scott Joynt |
| 11:30 | Panel Discussion: THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION ON WORLD AFFAIRS |
A panel discussion chaired by Roger Bolton with Michael Wegier, CEO of the Board of Deputies of British Jews; Muddassar Ahmed, founder of the Concordia Forum for western Muslim leader; Chine McDonald, Director of Theos; and Sheetal Parma, former BBC journalist and presenter |
| 12:30 | Polemic: DAISY SCALCHI |
Polemic with Daisy Scalchi – BBC Head of Religion and Ethics, Television: “Why I’m targeting secular viewers: taking the genre out of its perceived silo and growing religious literacy with universal themes like love”. |
| 12:50 | Religion Media Centre Community Reporting Award | Launch of Religion Media Centre community reporting award, presented by Leo Devine, former senior editor in the BBC regions, in conversation with Jacqui Merrington, Discovery Director, Reach PLC |
| 13:00 | LUNCH | Food is available to buy from BaladyT in the JW3 cafe. Pre-ordering in the morning advised. |
| 14:00 | Radio Recording: BEYOND BELIEF BBC Radio 4 | Beyond Belief, BBC Radio 4 recording, presented by BBC Religion Editor Aleem Maqbool |
| 15:00 | Polemic: PROFESSOR OPINDERJIT KAUR TAKHAR |
Polemic with professor Opinderjit Kaur Takhar – Director of the Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at the University of Wolverhampton. |
| 15:15 | Panel Discussion: REPORTING RELIGION | Reporting religion panel discussion – chaired by Rosie Dawson with guests including Kaya Burgess, science reporter and religious affairs correspondent The Times; Amardeep Bassey, freelance reporter specialising in social and community affairs; Justin Cohen, News Editor Jewish News; and Burhan Wazir, Editor of Hyphen. |
| 16:00 | BREAK | Opportunity for networking |
| 16:15 | Keynote: JUSTIN WELBY |
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in conversation with Julie Etchingham, ITV, plus audience questions. |
| 17:15 | WRAP UP | A word from Michael Wakelin about the Religion Media Centre |
| 17:15 | Reception | Reception in the Youth Centre |
