Venue: Methodist Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London SW1H 9NH
When: Monday 9 June 2025 10.00 – 17.30 BST
Tickets: £25, buy tickets here >>
The Religion Media Centre is delighted to announce the sixth Religion Media Festival, hosted for the first time at Methodist Central Hall Westminster.
The day will be packed with excellent speakers, in-depth discussions, panel talks delving into all aspects of the presentation of religion, and networking over tea/coffee and lunch (included in ticket price).
The programme (below) includes interviews with Cathy Newman, Channel 4 News; Lord Russell Rook, adviser to the Faith Minister; and Sir Mark Thompson, CEO of CNN and former BBC Director General.
Panels will discuss British Muslims; the British Media and British Jews; Millennials, Faith and the Digital Space; and the role of local media in creating connections across society.
Well-known religion journalists will be quizzed on their work and host the discussions.
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.
| 1000 | Doors open | Tea and coffee available. |
| 1030 | Introduction | A welcome and introduction from our presenter Hannah Scott-Joynt. |
| 1035 | Interview: Cathy Newman | Interview with Cathy Newman, Channel 4 News presenter and RTS Network Television Journalist of the year, recognised for exposing John Smyth’s abuse and the Church of England’s failure to act, which led to Justin Welby’s resignation. The interviewer is Roger Bolton. |
| 1100 | Panel Discussion: MUSLIMS IN BRITAIN | Muslims in Britain, a panel discussion chaired by Poonam Taneja, investigative journalist with BBC News in London, specialising in race, security, human rights and global affairs; and presenter of the podcast series: Bloodlines. With guests: Dr Azim Ahmed, deputy director at the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, Cardiff University Akeela Ahmed, co-chair of the British Muslim Network Burhan Wazir editor-in-chief of Hyphen Online Rizwana Hamid, director of the Centre for Media Monitoring |
| 1145 | Presentation: DAL DARROCH | Presentation by Dal Darroch, head of diversity and inclusion programmes at the Football Association. |
| 1200 | Panel Discussion: REPORTING RELIGION | Reporting religion — panel discussion chaired by Rosie Dawson with journalists specialising in reporting religion. |
| 1245 | LUNCH | Food served, included in ticket price |
| 1330 | Panel Discussion: BRITISH MEDIA AND BRITISH JEWS | British media and British Jews, a panel discussion chaired by Richard Allen Greene, CNN’s Jerusalem Bureau chief at the time of the 7 October attack. He is now in London training to be a rabbi after 30 years as a journalist. |
| 1415 | Interview and Panel Discussion: COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN BRITAIN TODAY AND MEDIA’S ROLE IN CREATING COHESION | How are community relations in Britain today and what is the media’s role in creating cohesion? This session is hosted by Leo Devine, former senior BBC editor. Interview with Lord (Russell) Rook, Anglican priest and adviser to the faith minister, Lord Khan. Followed by a panel discussion with people who have taken part in our Creating Connections events around the country: Gary Newby, news editor at ITV News Central Yakub Qureshi, democracy editor at Reach plc Dr Opinderjit Takhar, associate dean and director of the Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at the University of Wolverhampton and RMC trustee Rabbi Warren Elf, MBE, co-chair of Faith Network for Manchester Professor Adeela Shafi, founder of the Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group and commissioner for race equality in Bristol |
| 1515 | Interview: SIR MARK THOMPSON | Religion, Politics and the Media in Trump’s America Interview with Sir Mark Thompson, chief executive of CNN and former director-general of the BBC. |
| 1600 | BREAK | Opportunity for networking |
| 1615 | Session: MILLENNIALS, FAITH AND THE DIGITAL SPACE | Millennials, Faith and the Digital Space, a session produced and presented by Jessie Paktiazay, with guests: Swarzy Macaly, BBC 1Xtra presenter Indy and Dr, Sikh content creators with a weekly Desi podcast Islah Abdur-Rahman, Muslim founder of The Corner Shop Network creating viral clips Lamorna Ash, award winning author of “Don’t Forget We’re Here Forever – a new generation’s search for religion”. With reflection by Daisy Scalchi, BBC commissioning editor, specialist factual. |
| 1715 | Wrapping Up: A BRIEF HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING | A Brief History of Religious Broadcasting Rounding off the day with Paul Kerensa, comedian, writer and historian of BBC Radio Religion. |
| 1745 | ENDS |
