Christian Muslim Forum, UK

Press release

Primary school pupils take media to task on faith in the media

When: Wed 14 March at 10.00am

Report to: BBC Birmingham, The Mailbox, Birmingham B1 1RF

Christian and Muslim students from Birmingham primary schools will be examining the way faith is covered in the media during an interactive event at the BBC’s offices in the Mailbox on Wednesday.

Year six (aged 10-11) pupils from St Marys and Birchfield Schools in Handsworth, Highfields School in Saltley and St Mary’s School in Selly Oak, along with media professionals, will explore the relationship between what they see, hear and read in the media and their own every day experiences.

The conference, organised by the Christian Muslim Forum, which was launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Prime Minister last year, will analyse stories such as the wearing of the veil and how terrorism and Muslims have been reported on TV, radio, websites and in the newspapers. Pupils will learn about how the media works, create their own reports, features and web pages, quiz journalists and examine the affect the media has on young people.

Maurice Coles, educational specialist in the Christian Muslim Forum says: “The media plays a key role in forming opinions on faith and identity; it is astonishing that at such a young age many of the pupils already hold strong and very negatives views about the media.

“One obvious response was that they needed to get more involved in the mainstream media to redress such hostile views. This conference will develop communication skills as well as help them express and explore their self-understanding.”

The work links in with the PSHE and Citizenship curriculum and will help provide a model for other areas to emulate.