This programme, which includes interview footage and clips from the film State of Play, explores ideas of truth and integrity in journalism.
The programme invites discussion of the question 'what kind of journalists would you like to have writing the news for us?' - and sets up any talk about integrity or the reliability of the Bible.
Show the first part of the programme - then freeze frame on the question "What kind of journalists would we really like to have writing the news for us?"
Invite people to share their answers with one another.
Invite feedback and discuss what our answers tell us about:
our view of the news - what do we think is important to hear about on the news and in the newspapers, and how should it be reported?
our view of people - is it possible to find journalists who are fully committed to truth and integrity, and would people listen to them if they did exist?
our view of God - is God interested in issues to do with the media and current affairs, and how should our beliefs affect our opinions and practices in these areas?
Show the rest of the programme.
Deliver a short talk lifting off from the suggestion to look at biblical ideas of truth, integrity, and careful reporting of facts. You could look at Luke 1:1-4 and think about the importance of the gospels being reported in a historically accurate and reliable way, perhaps illustrating these ideas with contemporary quotes about the Bible, truth, and evidence (N.B. these links into the large collection of relevant Bible references and contemporary quotes are free to anyone with a subscription to Tools for Talks - non-subscribers can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
Background reading
Before using this programme you may find the following helpful:
Nick Pollard speaking on Is Jesus a Legend? (from the Good Question series)
