Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-079 (General Interest)

TRIVIAL INTERNET DEBASES RELIGION

says new Justin Phillips Award winner

Naomi Cornwell, a broadcast journalist student from the London College of Printing, has won the new Justin Phillips Award for religious journalism, with a challenging report warning of the danger of trivialising religion on the internet.

Cornwell’s report explored the increasing focus of the internet on religion and spirituality, in the light of declining attendances at religious meetings. She examined examples of ‘cyber-religion’ – ranging from the Pope’s rumoured decision to name a ‘Patron Saint of the Internet’, to warnings of unchecked cult activities on the internet, and websites that give religion a bad name.

Naomi concluded her report with a brief interview from Brother Daniel of the virtual ‘Universal Life Church’, which she suggests trivialises spirituality. Brother Daniel welcomes people of any belief system – or no beliefs at all, and on presentation of your name, email address and credit card details, you can be ordained as a minister of the church for $10, or alternatively purchase a Divinity Degree for $20.

The Justin Phillips Award, formally the Whitefield Radio Award, is sponsored by the Evangelical Alliance UK in conjunction with the London College of Printing, and requires students to research and record a short news package on a religious theme.

The competition has been renamed in honour of the founder and former judge of the award, Justin Phillips, who died in December 2000. Justin’s experience and expertise as the former editor of Radio Four’s The World Tonight and Today programmes, and latterly as Head of Heritage at the BBC, enabled him to offer sound advice to those starting off their careers in the broadcast media.

This year’s competition was judged by Richard Staples, Religious Correspondent for BBC Regions, and a former producer at BBC World Service and Radio Four’s Today Programme; and by Jay Knox, an independent producer, who was formerly with the BBC World Service and APTN Television.

Iain Taylor, Head of Media at the Evangelical Alliance, said: ‘Naomi’s report has continued the high standard of this award with a provocative and challenging analysis of the way the internet may impact religion for good but – she suggests it is far more likely to trivialise and debase it. This was a timely warning to those who think moving into cyberspace can cure the malaise in the church.’

Enquiries: Iain Taylor, Evangelical Alliance <>