Pray for the media

We're encouraging all churches and Christians to mark Sunday 12th May 2013 as a special day of prayer for the media, and to use the prayers on this website in their church and individual intercessions on that day.  

The British media is under scrutiny as never before. Illegal and unethical practices by some journalists have combined with tough economic times and pressures from new technology to make these challenging times for everyone working in the media.

• National newspapers are under scrutiny as some have been guilty of phone-hacking, bullying and poor journalism.

• Local radio stations are struggling with issues of funding

• Many local and regional newspapers are closing or reducing their editions

• The internet is transforming the ways people use TV and radio.

As Christians, we want to affirm the media’s vital role in our society. At its best the media

• gives a voice to the voiceless
• holds the powerful to account
• highlights unjust practices
• calls for justice
• keeps people informed
• brings us strong opinions to challenge our own
• tells stories to entertain us.

We support the highest standards in the media
We want to give our backing to the vast majority of people working in the media as they strive for integrity and truth.

We believe that working in the media is an honourable profession
We want to encourage Christians and other people of faith and goodwill to consider it as a calling. We want to support all those working with the media in our churches; church leaders and communications officers who help to portray and interpret the Church’s role in our society.

We want to see a thriving media
From national newspapers to community radio, from websites to specialist publications, from TV networks to blogs, all have a valuable role to play. Churches are parts of international and national networks – so a thriving global and national media matters to us. We want to know about our world, its celebrations, its problems and its joys, and we need a thriving media to help us engage with it.

We want to engage positively with the media
Churches are communities of believers rooted in local areas. So the local and regional media matter to us – they are vital parts of our communities, and help to hold those communities together.

In difficult economic and social times, we need a strong and courageous international, national and local media, working to the highest ethical standards.

We want to play our part in ensuring that we have a thriving media, committed to truth, and in affirming – and challenging – those who work within it.

We encourage Christians and churches to tweet their support for the Day of Prayer @churchandmedia and use #pray4media. 
 

To submit your own prayer, please use the contact form.