The Bishop of Bradford has criticised the BBC for its ‘lazy intellectual sidelining of religion’ and questioned why the broadcaster does not have a religious editor. In a disparaging analysis of religious programming, the Rt Revd Nick Baines claimed major television networks chose to ignore faith as if it had become ‘a toxic contaminator of decent culture’. He called for a shift in attitudes among leading broadcasters and warned that a wide variety of political and economic stories could not be adequately covered without taking ‘religion seriously. Writing in the Radio Times, he asked: ‘How does the BBC fulfil its public service remit by transcending the lazy intellectual sidelining of religion – challenging the ridiculous assumption among some in the Corporation that the ‘non-religious’ world view is neutral? The BBC has a sports editor, an economics editor, a political editor and editors for other areas of life. It has no religion editor.’ (See also Prayer Alert 09-2012)
Pray: for the BBC that the pressure fom the Church and the public will lead to recognition of the importance of our faith. (1Cor.2:6)