'The Religion Report' looks at the big questions

The BBC continues to pour resources into its equivalent program Reporting Religion, appreciating that more than ever, the politics of religion must be examined and their implications explained.

The changes will, we are told, make way for new “interdisciplinary” shows that are “consumer focused”. Veteran Catholic author and commentator, Paul Collins, is right when he says that that is code for “dumbing down”. “Specialist broadcasters will spend more time responding to opinionated bloggers rather than rather than making programs. God help us!”

Management says the changes "allow ABC Radio National to convert a small number of positions into roles with a stronger online and digital editorial focus and to enable general enhancements to the networks website." This, we are told, includes a proposed religion-focused internet portal. Doesn't the ABC already offer such a website collecting and posting stories about religion?

Many of Radio National's most avid listeners live in regional and rural Australia. They are also older listeners, and many may feel that in the rush to appeal to a younger audience, the ABC is ignoring them.

Australians need more specialist and sophisticated programming, not less. If The Religion Report does not continue, news and current affairs staff should be encouraged to develop a religious affairs round - just as the ABC has an economics round - so that mainstream current affairs is better able to cover religious affairs with depth and insight. The BBC has its own religious affairs experts, who not only produce religion-focussed programs, but who are also available to other “mainstream” programs for breaking stories and analysis.

Events in recent years demand greater critical analysis and understanding of the workings of faith and religion, more than ever before.