Category - today programme

The 'Thought for the Day' debate

Lizzie Clifford — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:56:19 +0000

This 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 embarked on. TftD 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

Remembrance Sunday and the churches, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, 11th November 2008

Press Office — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:44:06 +0000

Jonathan Bartley discusses the approach that the church of england takes to remembrance

Church of England investments, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, 27 September 2008

Press Office — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:24:19 +0100

Priest and financier Reverend Mark Speeks and director of the think tank Ekklesia Jonathan Bartley debate the morality of the Church's investments.

Newspaper calls for non-religious voices on radio faith slot

staff writers — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:04:24 +0000

The Guardian newspaper has joined a growing list of people calling on the BBC to open its Radio 4 Thought for the Day slot to non-religious as well as religious voices. TFTD is broadcast on the flagship Today programme at 07.50 each day.

Why we need to rid ourselves of the 'god of the slots'

Simon Barrow — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 01:15:44 +0100

The church looking for ‘God slots’ in relation to culture is like religion seeking a ‘God of the gaps’ in relation to science: a huge mistake. The Gospel points us elsewhere.

Wider range of voices called for in BBC’s beliefs radio slot

staff writers — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:26:29 +0100

BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day reflection spot could be opened up to the non-religious as well as the religious, argues one of its Christian contributors. Jonathan Bartley says it can help people to listen to one another better.

Williams should have helped indict Saddam to avert war, says MP

staff writers — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 17:00:21 +0000

Welsh Labour MP Ann Clwyd, a long-term campaigner for human rights in Iraq, has said that Dr Rowan Williams did not do enough to get Saddam Hussein indicted for mass murder before the invasion of Iraq in 2003 ‚Ä' when he was Archbishop of Wales.