The Churches' Media Conference, the only conference of its kind will take place at the beginning of next week from Monday to Wednesday with the topic "Message & Messengers: Media, Theology and Religion today" believed to be fitting for today's society.

The conference is designed for all Christians involved in media work, and the production and presentation of religious materials. The conference will include the Andrew Cross Awards Presentation, The Churches Media Exhibition and The Young Persons Media Training Project.

The Andrew Cross Awards Presentation Ceremony is dedicated to the recognition of the best going on in religious media and is to present the encouragement, progression and development. Awards will be given in four main categories: Radio, Television & Video, Internet & Press and Personalities Awards.

During the five plenaries topics concerning religion and faith in media will be discussed. Organisers hope to provide the answers to questions on the place of faith messages in the commercial environment, and their involvement of celebrities vs. church spokesmen in the religious programmes, balance between freedom of speech and censorship (in the context of Jerry Springer - the Opera issue) and more.

Contributors to the plenaries includes Francis Goodwin, founder/director of the Churches' Advertising Network and Christians in Media, Rev Denis Blackledge SJ, BBC Radio Lancashire and My Favourite Hymns, Peter Blackman, Director of the Churches' Media Council, Keith Ewing, Media Manager, Tear Fund, Ruth Gledhill, Journalist, The Times among many others.

The Young Persons Media Training Project will also provide high quality training for 12 applicants in four sections: Radio (Speech and Music), Television, Internet and Journalism (reporting, editing, etc).

The conference will include an address by Rev. Joel Edwards from the Evangelical Alliance, exploring how we can successfully convey a First Century Message in a 21st Century World.