The Media and Theology Project

Connect : Research : Teach

The Media and Theology Project, which is part of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues in the School of Divinity, has three aims:

• connect scholars and practioners
• facilitate research on the theological and ethical implications of communication
• provide innovative teaching on media and religion

Media and Theology at Edinburgh University

Edinburgh is one of the world's leading centres in the study of communication and religion, theology and the media. Students from around the world come to research and learn about these topics through the Media and Theology Project.

Connecting Scholars

The Media and Theology Project aims to connect scholars of theology and religion with academics from other different disciplines such as communication, media, cultural or film studies.   It will also connect broadcasters and practitioners with research students, producers with consumers.

To this end the project hosted the third international conference on Media, Religion and Culture, July 1999.   Since then the MTP has hosted, and continues to host, a range of conferences and public lectures.

Research

The project encourages research into areas where theology and media, religion and communication intersect.   Equally important is the dissemination of research material and results through a range of media.   Publication and information sharing is a central aim of the Project.

A number of new publications and international networks are planned or in progress, on issues around Communication and Religion, Media and Theology, and Media Ethics.

Jolyon Mitchells, Visually Speaking: Radio and the Renaissance of Preaching was published in Edinburgh by T&T Clark, Autumn 1999. Interactions: Theology meets film, television and radio (edited by Heidi Campbell and Jolyon Mitchell, Edinburgh: CTPI, 1999) is another example of the dissemination of research through publication.

Teaching

The MTP provides support for post-graduates in subjects related to media and theology, communication and religion.   It also supports the Media degree specialism in the MTh in Theological Ethic: Media and the teaching of undergraduate students in subjects connected with Communication and Religion, and Media Ethics, in courses such as Film, Religion and Ethics and Media and Religion.