Troy McNaughtonReligion in the Media Landscape
May 10th 2007 06:32
Religion has become an important and controversial issue within Australian media. Spawned by widespread controversy, interest surrounding religion and its counterparts has resurfaced with an unanticipated force. This renewed manifestation indicates a dire need for the accurate coverage of religious issues in the news media.
Religion is no longer restricted to the common household or limited to Sunday morning church. It embodies a broad spectrum of people and types and is defined on terms unbeknown to the majority. Religion, it seems, dwells within all facets of life to some immeasurable degree, determined by individual circumstance, having different dimensions and offering followers a system of ideas and belifs.
Following events such as September 11, 2001 in the USA, the emergence of Islamic fundamentalism, the debate about intelligent design, the cases of pedophilia involving the Catholic Church, and even the release of Dan Brown’s novel the Da Vinci Code, religion has become a central theme in the media.
Religion is very much a part of the staple of the news agenda and churches – from all denominations – are far more exposed to media scrutiny. Modern churches have learned to use and appreciate the media, projecting their message to the globe, such as through televangelism; international religious sermon through television programs. Such practices are allowing religion to streamline into the normality of public life, and embody a generation exposed to widespread religious standing.
It could be argued that media marginalise religion which results in a misguided and inadequate understanding of religious beliefs and practices. It seems religious voices are distorted, providing superficial content with an absence of meaning or depth; surface material primarily devoted to hearsay. While the subject of religion is (usually) recognised as vitally important and its prominence on the media agenda has increased, there is clearly a lack of understanding and appreciation of its core purpose and value.
Religion is no longer restricted to the common household or limited to Sunday morning church. It embodies a broad spectrum of people and types and is defined on terms unbeknown to the majority. Religion, it seems, dwells within all facets of life to some immeasurable degree, determined by individual circumstance, having different dimensions and offering followers a system of ideas and belifs.
Following events such as September 11, 2001 in the USA, the emergence of Islamic fundamentalism, the debate about intelligent design, the cases of pedophilia involving the Catholic Church, and even the release of Dan Brown’s novel the Da Vinci Code, religion has become a central theme in the media.
Religion is very much a part of the staple of the news agenda and churches – from all denominations – are far more exposed to media scrutiny. Modern churches have learned to use and appreciate the media, projecting their message to the globe, such as through televangelism; international religious sermon through television programs. Such practices are allowing religion to streamline into the normality of public life, and embody a generation exposed to widespread religious standing.
It could be argued that media marginalise religion which results in a misguided and inadequate understanding of religious beliefs and practices. It seems religious voices are distorted, providing superficial content with an absence of meaning or depth; surface material primarily devoted to hearsay. While the subject of religion is (usually) recognised as vitally important and its prominence on the media agenda has increased, there is clearly a lack of understanding and appreciation of its core purpose and value.
| 48 |
| Vote |
