The BBC

We want an end to the privileged status and position of religions and religious broadcasting by the BBC, and for some programmes about humanism or from a humanist perspective to be broadcast. In spite of legislation making clear that religions and beliefs, including non-religious beliefs such as Humanism, should be treated equally in terms of broadcasting, the BBC continues to resist doing so. See our Thought For The Day campaign for example.

What are we doing?

The BHA has long protested to the BBC about its failure to provide any explicitly humanist programmes, by contrast with the many hours of programmes that are explicitly religious, a high proportion of which consist of Christians preaching Christianity to their own followers. No programme has ever been broadcast on a national network in which humanists have been allowed directly to address humanists on Humanism. (The only possible exception would be the 1958 broadcasts by humanist Margaret Knight on morals without religion, which created outrage at the time for the mere suggestion that morality could be independent of religious faith.) In addition, religious representatives have had a privileged position in advising the BBC, through special committees, and the BBC's Religion and Ethics department has a history of focusing on religions in its broadcasting about the beliefs found in the world today.

Importantly, in 2009, non-religious representatives were included in the Standing Conference on Religion and Belief, a new independent body that liaises with the BBC on matters of common concern to the BBC and religious and belief groups. The first humanist representative is Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the BHA. 

During 2009 and 2010 we have responded to many BBC consultations regarding the output of the BBC and the strategy which underlines the content of their programming. Our responses are available to view here.

In addition to our case being taken up by humanists in Parliament, we have had meetings with the Director-General of the BBC, the chair of the BBC Trust and the BBC Head of Religion and Ethics, and will continue to pursue change through those and other channels.

What can you do?

You can support the BHA by becoming a member. That helps in itself, and you can help even more by supporting our campaigns in the ways suggested above.  But campaigns also cost money – quite a lot of money – and we also need financial support.  You can make a donation to the BHA.