Conference Programme
09.30	Delegate Registration
10.00	Welcome to morning session Morning chair Rt Revd Dr Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark, Chair of the Churches' Media Council and Co-Chair, Inter Faith Network for the UK
10.10	Keynote address: The role of the media in a multi faith society Roger Bolton looks at how the media contribute to the development of a Britain where different faiths coexist harmoniously; the need to cover religious issues with sensitivity while balancing this with the need for items which are newsworthy and provocative; some of the challenges of working with faith communities; points that the communities need to bear in mind when working with the media; and how coverage of faith issues and inter faith issues have improved across the last decade and where there is still room for improvement.
10.35	Montage of media coverage of faith issues
10.45	Covering religion in multi faith Britain Panellists from a range of faith or media backgrounds offer reflections on the conference theme and on examples of coverage of religious issues by the media in the UK that they believe have contributed to greater understanding about the faith or faiths in question. Speakers include: Alex Brummer, City Editor, Daily Mail and contributor, Jewish Chronicle. Priya Lukka, Senior Policy Officer (Religion and Belief), Commission for Racial Equality. Bob Satchwell, Executive Director, Society of Editors. Dr Indarjit Singh OBE, Director, Network of Sikh Organisations (UK). Nick Stuart, Chief Executive Officer, CTVC and television producer.
11.10	Plenary discussion with the panel
11.25	Break
11.45	Keynote address: The role of faith and inter faith as important dimensions in community cohesion Fiona Mactaggart MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Race Equality, Community Policy, and Civil Renewal, Home Office
12.15	Workshop 1 - Television and religion. Facilitators: Jane Mote, Channel Controller, The Community Channel and Mr Jehangir Sarosh, Zoroastrian Trusts for Europe, President, World Conference of Religions for Peace (Europe Region), and Chair of the Watford Inter Faith Association.
	Workshop 2 - Radio and religion. Facilitators: Sandra Herbert, Radio Leicester and Rob Weinberg, Senior Producer Classic FM/Editor classicfm.com and member, Baha’i community.
	Workshop 3 - Religion and the new media. Facilitators: Simon Cohen, Director of Tolerance Ltd, freelance writer on religious affairs and Paul Seto, General Secretary, Buddhist Society and Inter Faith Coordinator, Network of Buddhist Organisations.
	Workshop 4 - The press and religion. Facilitators: Stephen Bates, Religious Correspondent for the Guardian and Ms Shiban Akbar, Chair, Social Affairs Committee, Muslim Council of Britain.
	Workshop 5 - Building media relations: a practical workshop for those in the faith communities and inter faith groups on building media relations and getting the story across. Facilitators: Nicky Garsten, Communications Director, the Media Trust and Dr Atul Shah, Executive Director, Jain Spirit.
1.15	Lunch
Afternoon session
2.15	Welcome to afternoon session
	Afternoon chair Caroline Diehl, Chief Executive, The Media Trust
2.25	Inter faith issues on the box
	Simon Cohen, Director of Tolerance Ltd, freelance writer on religious affairs, video clip with introduction.
2.35	Faith to faith: covering inter faith issues
	Presentations from media, faith communities and inter-faith groups discuss the work they have done in promoting inter faith relations in their areas. Presenters include:
	Dr Salah Beltagui, Glasgow Muslim community and Scottish Interfaith Council Nick Carter, Editor, Leicester Mercury Carmel Heaney, Project Manager, Respect Hari Shukla, Chair, Inter Faith Sub Committee Tyne and Wear Racial Equality Council
3.10	Plenary discussion
3.15	Break
3.40	Reflections from the Chair Rt Revd Dr Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark, Chair of the Churches' Media Council and Co-Chair, Inter Faith Network for the UK
4.00	Close