Our Public Service Broadcasting Highlighted at Top Media Conference

19 June 2009

Mary Colwell, the inspirational Cathedral parishioner and multi-award-winning audio producer, was at an important media event last week.  Mary attended fascinating talks and presentations and some led workshops as well. 

Mary is the producer of some of cliftondiocese.com’s outstanding podcasts which have won numerous awards. 

Mary’s told cliftondiocese.com: “Last week at the Churches Media Council conference Torin Douglas, media correspondent for the BBC, highlighted and played extracts from ‘The Budgerigar and the Prisoner’ and Brixton Prison’s Electric Radio.  Both won Sony Radio Academy Gold Awards this year.  He called them prime examples of public service broadcasting.  He described them as coming from places you might not expect - not from the BBC, but from but us, the Clifton Diocese; and a prison.  

“The internet has opened up many new possibilities for people to tell their stories about the world. No longer do we have to rely on the opinions of professional broadcasters, we can get our own voice heard.

“I was delighted Torin chose to use ‘The Budgerigar and the Prisoner’ as an example of public service broadcasting.  It’s a story well worth telling, but it would not have found a home on mainstream broadcasting channels.

“Many people came up to me at the conference, particularly after my break out sessions where I talked about my relationship with the Clifton Diocese, to say they were inspired to make their own programmes.  The democratisation of the media is well under way and I hope many people make the most of the opportunities now available.”

This highlighting of our podcasts comes soon after top comedian Frank Skinner and other high profile media figures praised Mary's productions as cliftondiocese.com reported last month.

The Churches Media Council conference was three busy days of informative, inspirational presentations and bustling social activities.  Along with our own Mary, other top speakers included Baroness Scotland, the Attorney General; Edward Stourton, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today; and writer and journalist John Lloyd.