PREMIER'S PRAYERS FOR OUR BROKEN NATION

A Prayer Vigil is being held this Saturday 13th August at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster in response to the current civil unrest.

A ‘LOVE BRITAIN’ initiative, the special guest event hosted by Premier Christian Radio, will include:

Peter Kerridge – CEO of Premier Christian Media
The Reverend Paul Martin - Regional Minister for the London Baptist Association
Steve Clifford - General Director of The Evangelical Alliance
The Reverend Martin Turner – Tem Leader and Superintendent Minister at Methodist Central Hall
The Reverend Jenny Impey - Chair of the Methodist Church London District
The Reverend Nims Obunge - Chief Executive of the Peace Alliance
Pastor Nigel Desborough – Street Pastors
Graham Kendrick – leading worship. Veteran worship leader and, and one of the founders of ‘March for Jesus’

Plus, many more guests and speakers are yet to be confirmed.

Peter Kerridge, CEO of Premier Christian Radio said, “Both Premier Christian Radio and Premier Gospel have been keeping listeners up to date with coverage on the riots as they’ve spread across London and the UK. We’ve heard from people on the front line as they’ve told of the devastation that’s ensued in their communities.

We’re urging Christians to pray following the violence. We need to see Christians uniting to pray for peace and end to the turmoil. And, with young people baring the brunt of the media wrath, we also want to send a message of hope to our youth.”

For more information, visit www.premier.org.uk or call Premier Response on 08456 52 52 52.

ENDS

Editor’s notes:

Premier Christian Radio broadcasts nationally on DAB
Plus...London: 1305, 1332 & 1413 MW
National: Sky Digital 0123 & Freeview 7252
Try the iPhone App! Now in the store and able to download
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/premier-christian-radio-gospel/id421357782?mt=8
Log onto premier.org.uk for more details
For more information on Premier Christian Media please contact: Sharon Molloy sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or Tel: 020 7316 1335

UK TO SHINE A LIGHT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

Premier Christian Radio is encouraging the UK to shine a light in their community after their evening Church services this Sunday 14th August.

In a bid for the UK to unite in reflecting the presence of God in every area of the land, churchgoers are being encouraged to take a torch to Church. Then, with friends and family walk through their neighbourhoods praying that the light of the Lord would shine brightly.

With communities massively effected by the appalling crimes perpetrated by a minority, Premier Christian Radio has been encouraged by stories of the unity of the Church to both help those injured by the riots, and join in the clean up operation.

Peter Kerridge, CEO of Premier Christian Media said, “Psalm 116 verse 6 says, 'When I was helpless he saved me’. Our country needs our Saviour. This symbolic act is a practical response to the issues of our day and we believe the Lord will honour our prayers. “

ENDS

Editor’s notes:

Premier Christian Radio broadcasts nationally on DAB
Plus...London: 1305, 1332 & 1413 MW
National: Sky Digital 0123 & Freeview 7252
Try the iPhone App! Now in the store and able to download
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/premier-christian-radio-gospel/id421357782?mt=8
Log onto premier.org.uk for more details
For more information on Premier Christian Media please contact: Sharon Molloy sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or Tel: 020 7316 1335

LATEST RAJAR RESULTS: MORE LISTENERS ARE TUNING INTO PREMIER CHRISTIAN RADIO THAN EVER BEFORE

More listeners than ever before* are tuning into Premier Christian Radio, and for longer. The latest London RAJAR results this week confirmed a jump in audience figures, and listener hours over the prior quarter.

Premier’s London weekly reach has escalated to a new high of 235,300 (up by 100,000 on last quarter) with average listening hours up to 9.9 hours per week (up from 6.0 last quarter).

Charmaine Noble-McLean, Director of Content at Premier said: "These new RAJAR figures are really encouraging. Our goal is to keep content fresh and relevant to our listeners, and to deliver the very best in Christian news and programming.

New shows from household names like Dana and regulars including Pam Rhodes prove to be popular with our listeners. We also make an effort to cover the issues that matter, with relationships, family and the financial crisis being top this last quarter.

Easter proved to be and exciting event this year with coverage of the Passion Experience; the Easter story tweeted and texted in real time. Plus, we had presenters at Spring Harvest broadcasting live.

We’ve had some great interviews with interesting figures including Rob Bell, Lulu, Martin Sheen, Amy Grant and Aled Jones.

We thank our listeners for their continued prayers and support for the work Premier is doing."

This year Premier celebrated sixteen years of broadcasting, having begun in London in 1995 and is now broadcast nationally on National DAB and Freeview

ENDS

For more information on Premier Christian Media please contact: Sharon Molloy sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or Tel: 020 7316 1335

Editors Notes:
*RAJAR format since 1999
Premier Christian Radio broadcasts nationally on DAB
Plus...London: 1305, 1332 & 1413 MW
National: Sky Digital 0123 & Freeview 7252.
Try the iPhone App! Now in the store and able to download
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/premier-christian-radio-gospel/id421357782?mt=8
Log onto www.premier.org.uk for more details

GOVERNMENT FINALLY GIVES HOPE TO 140,000 STRONG RE PETITION

Sir George Young announces new system enabling petitions with over 100,000 signatures to get House of Commons debate

During last year’s General Election, Prime Minister David Cameron made a promise that any petition, which receives over 100,000 signatures, will qualify for a House of Commons debate.

A 140,000 strong petition, organised by Premier Christian Media, calling on the Secretary of State for Education, Rt. Hon. Michael Gove MP, to include Religious Education (RE) in the Baccalaureate, aimed to achieve such a debate.

Sir George Young, leader of the House of Commons announced on the BBC’s Today programme last Friday, that it had now put in place a new system necessary to validate petitions with over 100,000 signatures. These signatures are to be electronically communicated through a specially created e-petition government website.

The RE.ACT campaign petition, has attracted widespread support from 116 MPs via an Early Day Motion, faith leaders and Christian celebrity supporters including children’s author MG Harris, Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe and Irish singer, Daniel O’ Donnell. Whilst it has received well over 140,000 signatures, 85% of them were paper petitions and do not satisfy the new electronic procedure.

Richard Smart, a Director at Premier Christian Media- primary organiser of the petition, said:

“We welcome the news that this system has finally been put in place and see no reason why a House of Commons debate on this issue can’t go ahead. Our petition was launched before the new rules came to pass but we hope that the government will honour’s it’s pre-election promise and not disenfranchise those who prefer to sign paper petitions.”

The controversy surrounding the English Baccalaureate, including the exclusion of RE, was the subject of a recent parliamentary Education Select Committee Inquiry. Last month, the cross party group including several senior MPs, stated the English Baccalaureate, hurriedly introduced earlier this year, to be deeply flawed.

Ends

For more information on Premier Christian Media please contact:

Sharon Molloy sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk Tel: 020 7316 1335 or, mobile: 07958 318 315

Kemi Bamgbose Kemi.Bamgbose@Premier.org.uk Tel: 0207 316 1462 or, mobile: 07904 855571

NOTES TO EDITORS:

To get involved in the RE.ACT campaign please visit www.reactcampaign.co.uk

The R.E ACT campaign was created by Premier Christian Media, the UK’s largest Christian Media organisation. www.Premier.org.uk

For a full list of those supporting the RE.ACT campaign, quotes or to speak with any of the names supporting RE.ACT- contact Sharon Molloy or Kemi Bamgbose at Premier Christian Media.

Over 140,000 people have signed the petition to ensure GCSE RE is included in the baccalaureate to date.

Early Day Motion 1375- Religious Education and the English Baccalaureate now has 115 signatories.

MPs Attending No.10 Downing Street:

• Fiona Bruce MP- Conservative Party
• Jim Shannon MP- DUP
• Andrew Selous MP- Conservative Party
• Rt. Hon. David Lammy MP- Labour Party
• Stephen Lloyd MP- Liberal Democrats
• John Glen MP- Conservative Party
• David Burrowes MP- Conservative Party
• Tony Cunningham MP - Labour Party

Supporters include:

• Rt. Revd John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford
• Professor Trevor Cooling, Canterbury Christ Church University
• Lat Blaylock, RE Adviser, RE Today Services and Editor, RE Today magazine
• John Fairhurst, President of the Association of School and College Leaders
• Bishop Dr. Joe Aldred, Former Chair of the Council of Black Led Churches and secretary of the Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs (MECA) for Churches Together in England
• Professor Brian Gates, Chair of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales
• Professor Bill Boyle, University of Manchester
• Canon Dr Ann Holt OBE, Director of Programme, Bible Society
• Martin Saunders, Editor of Youthwork Magazine
• Steve Clifford, General Director, Evangelical Alliance
• Nola Leach, Chief Executive, CARE
• Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West
• Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP
• Dr Hojjat Ramzy, Vice-Chairman of the Muslim Council of Britain's Education Committee and CWC
• David Amess MP for Southend West
• Stephen Lloyd MP for Eastbourne
• Ann Widdecombe, former Conservative MP
• Jim Dobbin, MP for Heywood and Middleton
• Karl McCartney, MP for Lincoln
• MG Harris, Author and School Governor
• GP Taylor, Author and Vicar
• Bharti Tailor, Secretary General, Hindu Forum of Britain
• Dr. Indarjit Singh, Director Network of Sikh Organisations UK
• Eric Thompson, Director, Deo Gloria Trust
• Simon Barrow Ekklesia

DR PATRICK DIXON ANNOUNCED AS SPEAKER AT CHRISTIAN NEW MEDIA CONFERENCE

TODAY: It was announced that Dr Patrick Dixon has joined the list of prestigious speakers at the Christian New Media Conference.

Dr Patrick Dixon (@patrickdixon) has been ranked as one of the 20 most influential business thinkers alive today *. He’s Chairman of Global Change Ltd, a growth strategy and forecasting company. He’s written 15 books of which titles include Futurewise, SustainAgility and Building a Better Business. Plus, he has 41,000 followers on Twitter, and his videos have raked in over 3.5 million YouTube views.

Dr Patrick Dixon said, “New media is by definition future pointing. Businesses and churches are faced with the challenge of taking hold of this future, or allowing the future to take over them.”

Now in its 2nd year, the conference aims to inspire delegates with a fresh look at new media, for business, church and personal lifestyle. It will seek to deliver the practical know-how on a plethora of hot topics including ‘Online Fundraising’, what we can learn from the Arab Spring, and ‘How can new media can enhance the Church community?’

Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned pro, the Conference will have sessions and talks that are just right for anyone.

Kevin Bennett, Marketing Manager and Conference Organiser commented, "Premier is committed to helping the Church be salt and light in the digital space. With internationally renowned speakers like Patrick Dixon this second Christian New Media Conference is shaping up to be a one of the most exciting events we've ever run. I'd encourage you bring a team to discover how you, your church or organisation can make a Kingdom impact online."

*Thinkers 50 – Global Survey 2005

Ends

Editor’s Notes:

1. For more information on Premier Christian Media please contact: Sharon Molloy sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or Tel: 020 7316 1335
2. The Christian New Media Awards and Conference is sponsored by micrositez
3. The Conference takes place at City University, on Saturday, 15 October 2011 from 9:30am until 5pm.
4. To find out more about the Christian New Media Awards and Conference visit www.christiannewmedia.com or follow @xiannewmedia on twitter.
5. Go to www.premier.org.uk for more details

PREMIER PROGESS REPORT

‘Faith in the Classroom’ Annual Review 2010

General Remarks:
As the sacred season of Christmas comes to an end and with the imminent return of children to schools this week, it seems as though faith in the classroom is in jeopardy.
Leading faith organisations have registered their concerns about the creeping eradication of the faith, particularly Christianity in the classroom in 2010.
Looking back at 2010, here is a selection of some of our high and low lights on faith’s role in the education system:

Lowlights:
Campaign to abolish morning assemblies: Last year, the National Secular Society (NSS) campaigned to abolish morning worship assemblies in schools. The NSS’s argument was that worship assemblies, infringes on young atheists and non-believers human rights. ‘Faith’ very nearly lost out but fortunately the Department For Education has promised not to abolish them.
Religious Education (RE) left off the new Baccalaureate: GCSE RE was absent from the list of core humanities subject in the English Baccalaureate, in the coalition government’s White Paper - ‘ The Importance of Teaching’ published in November 2010. There was widespread concern from a number of key faith organisations that RE is at risk of being marginalised. Faith was definitely in jeopardy at this point.

Highlights:
Faith Schools are thriving: A new report published December 14th reveals faith schools are outperforming their non-faith school counterparts. According to the Department for Education report, the new primary school league tables shows faith schools comprise over two thirds of schools with top SATs results, even though they account for 40% of primary schools.
RE popular amongst young people: Religious Education Council’s research in England and Wales surveyed 1,000 young people aged between 16 and 24 years. 80% of those surveyed thought studying RE could promote better understanding of different religions and beliefs. This rose to 83% amongst those who had studied RE at GCSE. There was support for the importance of RE in the classroom across all religions and beliefs, including 77% of those who considered themselves to be atheists. Separate figures from RE Today also reveal that the number of young people taking up the subject at GCSE has increased four times over the past fifteen years. Exploring faith in all her splendour is still as popular as ever.

Headmaster's Comments:
The Future of Faith in the Classroom
Faith has a lot of potential if it is left to flourish. It has to be careful not to get distracted by the disruptive atheists or sidelined by the apathetic. 2011 is a potentially important year for Faith in the classroom.

Recommendations:
Here are three events which will give faith the opportunity to shine.
• The National Society for Promoting Religious Education celebrates its 200th year anniversary of church schools in England.
• March 2011 will also be dedicated to the subject, with the Religious Education Council’s Celebrate RE initiative.
• 2011 also marks the 400th year anniversary of the King James Bible - providing a platform for the Christian faith to speak loud and proud about its role in British society.

Premier Media Group Launches Christmas Billboard Advertising Campaign A UK First for Christian Radio

UK Exclusive: In a first for Christian radio advertising, Premier Media Group (PMG) launches the first National billboard advertising campaign today, hitting the UK’s ten major cities to promote their Christmas programming this season.

In a drive to put Christ back into Christmas, billboards have been bought in key locations in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Southampton, Sheffield, Leeds, Cardiff and London.

Premier Christian Radio is the leading Christian radio station in the UK and broadcasts 24 hours a day offering a wide and varied range of entertaining and informative programming based on the beliefs and values of the Christian faith, with its aim being to reach Christians of all denominations.

PMG hopes to communicate the true meaning of the season to both Christian and non-Christian listeners, as well as appealing to those that have not yet heard about Premier Radio.

Peter Kerridge, CEO Premier Christian Media Group said: “This is a brave and innovative step for the Premier Media Group, we’re looking to buck the trend and be the first Christian organisation to advertise Nationally and extend the reach of both Premier Radio and Premier Gospel stations. Premier’s philosophy is to touch people and radically transform their lives and we can only do that if we reach out to Christians and non-Christians across the UK and tell them who we are!”

**ENDS**

For more information on Premier Christian Radio and Reaching the Unreachable appeal please contact: Sharon Molloy sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or Tel: 020 7316 1366

Notes to Editors:
• In 1995 Premier Radio starts broadcasting
• In 1996 Premier Radio establishes itself as major Christian voice in Greater London
• In 1999 we were among the first radio stations to broadcast over the internet
• In 2000 Premier launches on Sky digital network
• 2004 sees Premier become available on Freeview Service
• In 2006 Premier launches a TV on-demand service over a year before BBC iPlayer and 4OD
• In 2009 Premier Radio begins broadcasting on DAB digital radio
• On 1st February 2010, Premier Gospel is launched and begins broadcasting on DAB Digital Radio in London

PREMIER RADIO LISTENERS EXCEED RADIOTHON TARGET

“I think that for me as an elderly person, especially in cold weather, it feels as if I have friends in the house with me. It's really encouraging to me,” Muriel

Premier Christian Radio listeners responded to the Reaching the Unreachable Appeal with staggering enthusiasm last week to help raise over £519,000.

This essential on-air activity is at the heart of Premier Radio’s desire to remain a strong Christian voice across the Nation and highlights its commitment to reaching into the lives of those who are isolated and struggling amidst life’s many challenges.

Premier Radio listener, Phil said: “I have been a listener for 15 years and I see Premier as a huge umbrella from God to shelter every Christian. It gives hope. Premier is a real lifeline to me. God bless.”

Phones lines opened at 6am on Tuesday 23rd and ran for over 70 hours, with all of Premier’s on and off-air staff taking calls.. including a stint from Inspirational Breakfast host John Pantry!

“It was a blessing to hear the moving stories from the listeners. I’m always surprised at how generous they are.” Inspirational Breakfast host John Pantry

It costs Premier well in excess of £1m every year to broadcast Nationally on DAB. Through Reaching The Unreachable, Premier Christian Radio offered it's listeners, website visitors and magazine readers an opportunity to help make Premier that hopeful, powerful Christian voice for the marginalised, hurting and lonely; the housebound, young people and those that don't yet know Jesus.

“We praise God for his rich blessings on this year’s Radiothon Appeal. It has been a huge success and means that Premier Radio can continue to touch the lives of listeners, reaching the unreachable.” Peter Kerridge, Chief Executive, Premier Christian Radio.

Thursday 2nd December 2010

**ENDS**

For more information on Premier Christian Radio and Reaching the Unreachable appeal please contact: Sharon Molloy sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or Tel: 020 7316 1366

Premier Christian Radio is now broadcasting nationally on DAB

LEAP IN AUDIENCE FIGURES FOR CHRISTIAN RADIO IN LONDON

50 percent increase in London audience for Premier Christian Radio

According to the third quarter 2010 RAJAR results, Premier Christian Radio audience figures leapt to a new high in London. The station put this down to revived interest in subjects of Christian concern as a result of the recent papal visit.

Premier CEO Peter Kerridge said: “I am delighted at these latest results because they reflect the renewed interest in Christianity on the back of the recent Papal visit. We have seen a great uplift in our audience as a result and this is also helped by people finding it easy to access Premier Radio via DAB.”

For further information, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 30/2010

27 OCTOBER 2010

BILLY GRAHAM'S DAUGHTER TO HEADLINE PREMIER'S WOMEN'S CONFERENCE 2011

Anne Graham-Lotz, the daughter of famed evangelist Billy Graham and one of only two women to make a list of the top most influential preachers of the past 50 years, will speak at Premier Media Group’s Woman to Woman (W2W) conference next year.

The announcement came as more than 1,300 women from all over the UK gathered for this year’s W2W conference, which was held in London, on Saturday.

In the past two years over four thousand ladies countrywide have gathered at the W2W events which this year were held in Bath, London and Manchester.

The events attract a diverse group including Pentecostals, Catholics, teenagers and pensioners. The popularity of the conferences has attracted worldwide attention, resulting in award-winning and best-selling author Ms Graham-Lotz agreeing to join the gathering on 29 October 2011.

Speakers at Saturday’s event included former professional ballet dancer Julie Sheldon, who was hospitalised with a crippling disease before experiencing healing through prayer.

Maria Toth, W2W host, said: "Billy Graham's visit to the UK marked a key moment in our country's religious history, inspiring many people to find a place for God in their lives, but now the baton for sharing that message has been passed on to his daughter. We are excited that Anne Graham-Lotz will be flying in to speak at the Woman to Woman conference next year. We look forward to her providing spiritual inspiration and comfort in a time when many are looking for a way through the current economic crisis."

For further information, images or conference clips, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 28/2010

25 OCTOBER 2010

CHURCH MUST DEFEND THE POOR AND BE THE CONSCIENCE OF GOVERNMENT, SAYS REV JESSE JACKSON

In an interview with Premier Gospel radio, US civil rights activist Rev Jesse Jackson said it was up to the church to expose the scandal of global poverty.

He said: “The work of the church is to defend the poor and deliver the needy and to set the captives free and that is what is so great about this movement. I’m so delighted to be a part of the Christian Aid movement, an authentic way of preaching and delivering the gospel of good news.”

Rev Jackson, who was a guest speaker at a Christian Aid supporters day and lobby of Parliament yesterday in support of the world’s poor, told Premier Gospel presenter Nage that the church should be the conscience of the secular government and country.

“It is the challenge of the church to be the conscience, and the challenge to government is Christians also have the right to vote, to vote for the politicians whose priority it is to feed the hungry.

“They have a right to protest and protest at the hungry not being fed, to protest policies that neglect the poor when the government puts more money in military budget and research finding exotic ways to kill, and more protection for the wealthy than those in public education and public housing.”

He added that Christians must then fight: “And that means fighting structures of injustice, structures of insensitivity so as we fight for universal healthcare for all people based upon need, as we fight to wrap up malnutrition, we need governments that respond to people’s real needs.”

Rev Jackson, who founded the social change Rainbow PUSH coalition in the US, supported the lobby of Parliament using a combination of litigation, legislation, demonstration: “We must not die silently for lack of fighting. And when you fight you win. We’ve never lost a battle we’ve fought, and never won a battle unless we fought. When you fight to feed the hungry first of all you help the farmer, you help the store, you help the hungry. When people are nourished they’re likely to go to school, as opposed to dropping out. They’re likely to have better healthcare because people who are malnourished are vulnerable to diseases and less likely to be productive citizens. So it’s in everybody’s moral and political interest to make as a goal, no matter what the cuts are, to protect those at the bottom.”

ENDS

For more information or recording clips or a transcript, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

Premier Gospel is on London DAB and at www.premiergospel.org.uk

RS/sah PG 006/2010

21 OCTOBER 2010

PREMIER CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEX TRAFFICKING SEES SUCCESS

A Premier Radio campaign against sex trafficking is seeing success as police announce sex-ads editors could face court action

Two years after Premier’s 2008 Not For Sale campaign, which saw 25,000 people respond, the Metropolitan Police has said it is willing to charge editors and publishers with aiding and abetting sex trafficking and money laundering if they continue to publish sex adverts, which typically promote massage parlours and escort services but are often fronts for brothels.

In 2008, to encourage MPs to tackle the issue of trafficking and in response to a move by the Church of England to back plans to put pressure on the Government over sex trafficking, Premier launched the Not For Sale campaign. The campaign urged listeners to encourage newspapers to pull the advertisements that fuel the demand for the sexual slavery of women. Almost 16,000 people responded, and a petition was sent to the Newspaper Society asking for action against newspapers running ads for adult services. Another 9,000 signed a second Premier petition raising the issue with their MPs.

The latest police move has come after sustained lobbying by anti-trafficking charity Croydon Community Against Trafficking (CCAT), which has protested about the use of trafficked women in the borough’s illegal massage parlours for more than five years.

Rachel Davies, Prostitution and Trafficking Policy Officer at social policy charity CARE said: “In 2008 the Government Equalities Office estimated that £44 million is made annually from adult entertainment advertisements. Research from the Child & Women Abuse studies Unit shows that these adverts are the main route to services for those who use them.

“Due to the very nature of the issue, it is difficult to know exactly how many women are being exploited through the sex industry in the UK. What we do know is that more than half of women in UK prostitution have been raped and/or seriously sexually assaulted. At least three quarters have been physically assaulted. A recent report by ACPO showed that the majority of migrant women in prostitution have either been internationally trafficked or are ‘considered to be vulnerable’.“

Although the Newspaper Society has tightened its guidance on taking such ads, some newspapers such as the Croydon Advertiser (owned by Daily Mail mand General Trust), Archant and NWN Media, Croydon Post, Midweek Advertiser and the South London Press (Tindle Newspapers), still publish such adverts.

For further information, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 26/2010

Notes to editors:
Premier’s Not For Sale campaign included a short film, ‘Not For Sale,’ together with campaign posters that were distributed to churches.

20 OCTOBER 2010

WOMEN'S WEBSITE WINS CHRISTIAN 'BLOGGIES' NEW MEDIA PRIZE

An online women’s blog scooped first prize at Premier Radio’s Christian New Media Awards – nicknamed ‘the bloggies’ - tonight (15th October).

The Sophia Network, a women’s blog which connects women in youth work ministry, was one of a handful of winners at this year’s awards which celebrate the best online Christian websites. The Bishop of London Richard Chartres gave the opening address at the black tie event at the prestigious St Stephen’s Church in the City of London.

The star blog, http://blog.sophianetwork.org.uk, which connects women in youth work and ministry, was chosen from a shortlist of five blogs. It focuses on Christian partnership, relationships and facilitating working relationships between youth workers and providing a voice for women in youth work and training.

Sophia Network founder Jenny Baker battled it out for first place against her husband Jonny Baker (http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/) and Dave Walker (http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/), who were joint runners up.

The blog award recognises freedom of expression, alongside freshness and originality in the re-telling of the Christian message, and blogs were judged for aesthetics, originality, creativity, quality and relevance of content.

Accepting her award and prize of an Acer Notebook laptop, Mrs Baker said: “I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf of the Sophia Network. We encourage and equip women within the church, largely youth workers but any woman. It’s a great showcase for women writing about many issues.”

Winner of the Leadership blog category was Dave Gilpin, senior pastor of Hope City Church in Sheffield, who walked away with a 3G Kindle. His site davegilpin.com features online resources for leaders such as podcasts and Mind Map bible studies. Rev Gilpin said: “I just think Premier Radio is brilliant. The ethos is so down to earth and spiritual but not super spiritual. I absolutely love Premier Radio and everything it does.”

Judges this year included author and Cambridge University chaplain Maggi Dawn. Ms Dawn said: “It was great fun. It was quite hard because they were all excellent. They were all different. I was asked because I have had a successful blog for eight years.”

Premier’s chief executive Peter Kerridge told the finalists theirs was a crucial work: “You are setting the foundation for how the world communicates. You are really, really important. We are trying to create an environment where you flourish. You are creative, you are making a difference. You are prophetic in how the church makes a difference in the world.”

Author and speaker Steve Chalke MBE hosted the event alongside Premier Christian Radio's popular presenter Maria Toth.

Hard on the heels of the awards, the Christian New Media Conference will take place tomorrow (Saturday 16 October) at City University, London. Expert practitioners will share the skills and knowledge that churches need to make an impact in the digital world.

For further information, interviews with winners or award ceremony clips, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 25/2010

Notes to editors:
*The Christian New Media Awards and Conference 2010 are the only exclusively Christian awards for bloggers and web designers in the UK and is an annual event that equips people to have a greater impact in the world of new media.
* Now in their fourth year, the awards were established in 2007 by Premier Christian Media to recognise and reward Christian achievements on the internet.
* The awards also feature a new media section to recognise a wider range of Christian achievements in technology, from iPhone applications to VJ to flash games.
* List of Christian New Media Awards 2010 winners:
Christian Blog - Winner, Sophia Network; Runner Up, Jonny Baker & Dave Walker (Joint)
Leadership Blog - Winner, Dave Gilpin; Runner Up, Richard Littledale
Under-25s - Winner, Dan Blythe; Runner Up, Purposeful Purity
Newcomer - Winner, James Poulter; Runner Up, Itia Blog
Small Church - Winner, New Life; Runner Up, Ribble Valley
Large Church - Winner, Hope City Church; Runner Up, Jesus House
Organisation - Winner, Energize and Christian Medical Fellowship (Joint); Runner Up, Church Army
Worship - Winner, Worship Central; Runner Up, Musicademy
Christian Project - Winner, Test of Faith (Faraday Institute) and Story 4 All (Joint); Runner Up, Bristol Noise
Campaign - Winner, Relive Resources; Runner Up, Make Jesus Famous
Rich Media - Winner, Kore; Runner Up, Lost in Wonder

15 OCTOBER 2010

PREMIER CHRISTIAN RADIO AND CANCER RESEARCH UK TEAM UP FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Former Eastenders actress Martine McCutcheon will appear on Premier Christian Radio's Men @ Work show tomorrow (Saturday) to highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Men @ Work has decided to put on a frock and discuss the issues around breast cancer and what can be done to help prevent it, as well as what treatments are now available.

Joining host Nick Battle is the cancer charity’s patron Martine McCutcheon, Science Information Manager at Cancer Research UK Dr Kat Arne, and Premier presenter Maria Toth who presents Premier’s daily Woman to Woman show.

Ms McCutcheon is no stranger to the effects of cancer, with many of her family members and close friends diagnosed with the disease. She said: “Prevention is better than cure and that’s why I just want to do as much as I can to raise awareness.”

Host Nick Battle also has first hand experience of the disease after his wife suffered and fought the symptoms for 10 years. Nick now runs his own charity, The Gravel Road Trust, which specialises in supporting carers, families and sufferers.

The show aims to highlight the symptoms of cancer and what can be done to try and prevent it, as well as raising the profile and work of Cancer Research UK and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This is the first time Premier Christian Radio has been involved with Cancer Research UK and highlighting the issues to Christians with a no-nonsense approach.

The interview can be heard tomorrow Saturday 16 October at 8pm and will be available online at www.premier.org.uk/menatwork shortly afterwards.

ENDS

For further information contact producer chris.byland@premier.org.uk.

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

PK/sah PCR 24/2010

Note to editors: Men @ Work is broadcast every Saturday at 8pm. The show deals with issues affecting male spirituality and frequently features high profile guests and experts.

15 OCTOBER 2010

PRESIDENTIAL CHAPLAIN SAYS MINERS AND CHILE GRIPPED BY FAITH AND URGES BRITAIN TO FOLLOW SUIT

In an extended interview with Premier Christian Radio today, Alfredo Cooper, chaplain to Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, said Chile was gripped by spiritual fervour in the aftermath of the miners’ rescue and he urged Britain to throw off its ‘perverse unbelief’ and turn to God.

Cooper, who was one of very few to see the miners after their release, said all 33 miners emerged from the mine where they were trapped for 69 days with either a new or renewed faith in God.

He said: “Many were Catholics, but many went down without any faith at all, many were nominal in their faith. And they all say this: ‘We were not 33, we were 34 because Jesus Christ was with us down there.’ ”

He added: “Spiritually they had been praying daily for deliverance so they will testify had it not been for God we would not be here. There was a flag up in the plaza yesterday saying, ‘Only God did this, so they will testify to a man, this is the extraordinary thing, they have all come up professing faith.”

Cooper’s message for Britain was: “There’s a perverse unbelief there that is totally unwarranted. Even people like Stephen Hawking say its quite possible to have faith. It’s reasonable to have faith if you wish to and I understand he’s sneaking into churches now and again. There’s no reason scientifically why you can’t have faith, so believe.”

Cooper was cheered again and again while on stage during an all-night, non-stop party in Copiapo yesterday, with “the ingredient of faith, miracle and prayer…at the centre of it all.”

He told Premier presenter Marcus Jones that faith and prayer were central to how President Pinera handled the crisis: “When they first vanished, we didn’t know whether they were alive or dead. So outside of the mine the role of faith and prayer was central. The President called for an emergency prayer meeting. We prayed in the presidential palace. We left their photos on the altar in the chapel in the palace. That prayer meeting was attended by all the ministers and two weeks later they were found.”

ENDS

For further information, interview clip and/or transcript, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 23(s)/2010

14 OCTOBER 2010

HUSBAND AND WIFE BATTLE IT OUT IN CHRISTIAN NEW MEDIA AWARDS

A husband and wife are both among the shortlisted finalists in this year’s Christian New Media Awards.

Jenny Baker, who runs blog.sophianetwork.org.uk, and Jonny Baker, who runs jonnybaker.blogs.com, will fight it out with other finalists in the Christian blog category. These include the Church Mouse, churchmousepublishing.blogspot.com, who lives in an Anglican church and comes out to play on the church computer when the vicar and choir have left.

Shortlisted for the under-25 category is website danblythe.com by Daniel Blythe a youth director from Canterbury. The site includes YouTube highlights of his wedding day and honeymoon in Kho Phi Phi, Thailand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiLnR0HuAEU&feature=player_embedded)

The Christian New Media Awards and Conference 2010, sponsored by Premier Media Group, are the first ever exclusively Christian awards for bloggers and web designers in the UK and is an annual event that equips people to have a greater impact in the world of new media.

Premier’s chief executive Peter Kerridge said the quality of entries had improved greatly since the inception of the awards: “The quality of entrants has gone through the roof and even the judges have commented on this. This is exactly why we started the awards.”

The black tie awards ceremony will take place in the beautiful surrounds of St Stephen's Church, Walbrook (EC4N 8BN), London, on Friday 15 October 2010. Well-known author and speaker Steve Chalke MBE will host the event alongside Premier Christian Radio's popular presenter Maria Toth.

The Christian New Media Conference takes place the next day on Saturday 16 October at City University, London. Expert practitioners will share the skills and knowledge that churches need to make an impact in the digital world.

For further information, interviews, conference clips or media passes (limited number available for awards), please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 021/2010

Notes to editors:
* The Christian New Media awards, now in their fourth year, were established in 2007 by Premier Christian Media to recognise and reward Christian achievements on the internet.
* The awards also feature a new media section to recognise a wider range of Christian achievements in technology, from iPhone applications to VJ to flash games.
* The range of prizes includes £1000 for Best Small Church Website.

6 OCTOBER 2010

NEW EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION MAKES NEXT WEEK'S CONFERENCE ON DISABILITY A MUST FOR CHURCHES

Today’s changes in employment law in relation to disabled people will impact on every church/employer, but a London conference on disability organised by Premier Christian Radio next week will help church leaders make their churches more welcoming to disabled people.

Government advisor on faith and identity Malcolm Duncan, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Langrish, Diocesan Bishop of Exeter, and popular US Christian speaker Joni Eareckson Tada will be among the great and the good of the Christian world who will speak at the Enabling Church conference at Friends Meeting House on Thursday 7 October.

It is hoped the all-day event will broaden and deepen thinking about disability and the engagement of disabled people with church life, and will equip those who have an interest in or involvement with disability and disabled people to make a difference in their church situation.

It is for church leaders, anyone involved in shaping any aspect of church life and anyone with an interest in, or involvement, with disability and disabled people.

Registration is £25. Bookings can be made at www.premier.org.uk/enablingchurch or by calling the Premier Ticketing line on 020 7316 1313 or 08456 52 52 52.

For further information, interviews, conference clips or media passes, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 019/2010

Notes to editors:
Main conference sessions include:
Thinking disability: Christian viewpoints on disability
A Church for All: Pastoral perspective
Thinking differently: Disabled people in your church and community

Seminars include:
Theology of disability: Towards a new paradigm
Learning Disabilities: Ignored or included?
Children at church: Engaging with disabled children
Spirituality and disability

The Enabling Church conference is organised by Premier Christian Radio in association with Churches for All, Through the Roof, Livability, ASNA, Go! Sign, Torch Trust, Causeway Prospects, Children Worldwide, Evangelical Alliance, Faithworks, Scripture Union and Mind & Soul.

1 OCTOBER 2010

SIR ROGER PENROSE ATTACKS HAWKING'S M-THEORY

Famed mathematical physicist Sir Roger Penrose, who worked alongside Stephen Hawking for many years developing Big Bang theory, has debunked Hawking’s “no-God-needed” theory of the universe as “hardly science” and “not even a theory” on Premier Christian Radio.

Speaking on the station's weekly faith debate programme Unbelievable? on Saturday 25 September, Penrose described Hawking’s new book The Grand Design as “misleading” adding that M-theory, which Hawking claims has made God redundant as a cause of the universe, was “not even a theory” and “hardly science” but instead “a collection of hopes, ideas and aspirations.”

Penrose was in dialogue on the programme with Alister McGrath, professor of theology at Kings College London. The two men joined host Justin Brierley to respond to the question of whether Hawking’s new theory had made God redundant as a potential explanation of the origin of the universe.

Criticising M-theory, Penrose said: “It’s a collection of ideas, hopes, aspirations. The book is a bit misleading. It gives you this impression of a theory that is going to explain everything; it’s nothing of the sort. It’s not even a theory.”

Universe has not been shown to “create itself from nothing”

Asked whether science shows that the universe could “create itself from nothing” as claimed in the book, Penrose was strong in his condemnation of the ‘string’ theory that lies behind Hawking’s statement: “It’s certainly not doing it yet. I think the book suffers rather more strongly than many. It’s not an uncommon thing in popular descriptions of science to latch onto an idea, particularly things to do with string theory, which have absolutely no support from observation. They are just nice ideas.” He added that such ideas are “”very far from any testability. They are hardly science.”

As a former colleague who worked closely alongside Hawking in developing gravitational singularity theorems, Penrose is perhaps the most high profile scientist yet to dismiss Hawking’s views.

“Multi-verse” has not superseded God

He also responded to the so-called “multi-verse” hypothesis that Hawking’s theory also posits. Christians, including Professor McGrath, have pointed towards the fact that our universe is incredibly “fine-tuned” for life to come into existence, thus providing evidence of a transcendent designer. Hawking’s “multi-verse” hypothesis is a form of the ‘anthropic principle’: since ours is one in an array of universes, we inevitably only observe a universe with the correct ‘settings’ that support conscious life.

Responding to the ‘multi-verse’ hypothesis, Penrose, a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association who describes himself as having “no religious beliefs” said: “Its overused, and this is place where it overused. It’s an excuse for not having a good theory”.

Premier presenter Justin Brierley said: “What’s interesting is that Penrose’s criticisms of Hawking are not driven by any faith position. Instead he simply recognises that the science does not justify making statements about God’s non-existence, which is a much more honest position than other well-known scientists, such as Dawkins, who want to equate science with atheism.”

Penrose’s own alternative view of the universe is detailed in his new book “Cycles of Time” published by The Bodley Head.

Clips of the discussion can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg_95wZZFr4

To hear the full programme visit: http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable

ENDS

For further information, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 017/2010

29 SEPTEMBER 2010

POP STAR AND BROADCASTER TURNED ANGLICAN PREST BIDS FAREWELL TO PREMIER RADIO

Premier Radio broadcaster and presenter Cindy Kent is leaving the station today to take up a post as a Church of England priest, the next step in a remarkable career spanning five decades in which she has gone from pop star to songwriter and broadcaster, before becoming ordained.

Cindy started as a singer with pop group the Settlers in the early 1960s, often with Cliff Richard (now Sir Cliff). She also enjoyed a hit record called The Lightning Tree, the theme tune for the hit TV series Follyfoot.

A change of career to broadcasting saw Cindy presenting features on BBC Radio 4’s religious Sunday Programme, before going on to BBC Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday and then Radio 1’s Talkabout show.

After helping to pioneer religious broadcasting at LBC and Capital Radio in London, Cindy moved north to present a late-night programme at Radio Hallam, a commercial station in Sheffield.

She also presented programmes on Tyne Tees Television in Tyneside, writing 25 tunes, with lyrics by David Winter, the former head of BBC radio religious broadcasting, for the Tees TV series Life With Johnny.

In 1995 after Premier finally obtained a broadcasting license and hit London’s airwaves, Cindy was the first presenter the station signed up. She has presented many different programmes including currently Premier Tonight with Cindy Kent from 11 pm to 1 am.

One memorable experience for her was being at the station on 9/11. Normal programming was abandoned. She said: “As I was on the air, I got an e-mail from a lady in the US who had been listening to us and was grateful that I’d got some of our guests to pray as she said she didn’t feel able to do so.

“I can also remember waking up early on Sunday, August 31 1997 to hear the sad news that Princess Diana had died. I rushed into the studio to help co-ordinate a response and was on-air for about six hours straight! As I drove home, I cried all the way in the car as the news sunk in.”

Premier’s CEO Peter Kerridge paid tribute to Cindy: “Cindy is a real pioneer. She has been so instrumental in shaping religious broadcasting here in the UK. She will be greatly missed but this new chapter in her life promises to be just as exciting as all that’s gone before!”

Cindy was ordained as a priest in 2008 and since then has been a non-stipendiary Assistant Curate at St John the Apostle church in Whetstone, north London, combining this with her Premier presenting work.

She told Assist News Service: “I help with Sunday services, both preaching and celebrating the Eucharist and I am part of the multi-faith chaplaincy team at the local hospice. I also help in other ways in the Parish.

“I am sad to be leaving Premier after all these years. It’s been great to have been part of a ‘trailblazing’ organisation, but I feel this is right.”

She added: “In God's economy, nothing is wasted and I feel that all that I'm doing now is a fulfilment of all I've done in the past.”

The Reverend Cindy Kent is writing a book about her life.

ENDS

For further information or an interview with Cindy, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

PK/sah PCR 015/2010

22 SEPTEMBER 2010

CROSS-DRESSING, HAMSTER-EATING AND WAYNE ROONEY - MAX CLIFFORD TALKS TO PREMIER RADIO

In an interview with Premier Radio, PR supremo Max Clifford revealed some of the secrets behind his success.

He told the station’s Men@Work programme that PR was like a game of chess: “PR is never straightforward. It’s a bit like a game of chess and as long as you don’t take it seriously, it’s a wonderful living.”

It all started for him in 1962 when as a 19-year-old journalist/record columnist, he was headhunted by EMI: “I was very lucky. It was the right time, the right place. Within a few weeks of joining I was given an unknown band to help launch, called the Beatles, that did quite well.” EMI also then launched Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy and record label Tamla Motown.

Asked by Premier presenter Nick Battle about his naughtiest stunt, he said: “Well, there’s an awful lot of naughty things I certainly couldn’t tell you about because fortunately for me no one knows.”

However he did reveal that, with the help of Freddie Starr, he convinced colleagues of a well-known Thames TV producer that he was a secret cross-dresser: “The entire attitude to him changed during that time and at dinner one evening he said to me, ‘I just can’t understand it. In the last few months, the attitude, the way people look at me, I’m getting the strangest looks everywhere I go and, would you believe it, the kind of remarks like ‘What do you think about this dress, Brian, what do you think about that dress, as someone who would appreciate it?’ We did then tell him what we’d been doing. It was a small part of it. There were also one or national newspapers and interviews that inferred there was something quite strange about him. But he took it in good humour, I’m glad to say. There’s been loads and loads of stuff like that.”

He also spoke about the infamous Freddie Starr hamster-eating legend. After Starr, a client, was accused of eating a hamster Clifford encouraged the story: “’Course we denied it. I said, ‘Look, I’ve seen Freddie put some very strange things in his mouth but never a hamster, so to my knowledge he’s never eaten one.’ Apart from the first front page, we then did a follow-up story with a photo of his pet hamster, which we called Sandwich, on his shoulder, and the Freddie Starr hamster legend was launched. He made millions of pounds out of it and properly worked out of that hamster headline for years and years.”

His biggest media awareness stunt was encouraging the relationship between David Copperfield and Claudia Schiffer, which achieved hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of coverage for Copperfield, he said.

Asked how he felt about God, he said: “I’ve always had the same thought, I hope He exists, I don’t know. You need faith. I hope He does but my attitude to Him and to Christianity is basically that I think Christianity is about treating people the way you want to be treated. It’s about helping putting back and doing whatever you can to improve the quality of life obviously for yourself and your loved ones but also people that you meet and get to know and come to you for help.”

A non-smoker and non-drinker who doesn’t take drugs, instead swimming every day and playing football and water polo, Clifford’s grandmother was an active Salvationist and he was brought up to respect such values.

Asked who he would like to promote next, Clifford says it would be the English football team (“because football is at the heart of the nation, hugely influential”): “So someone like Wayne Rooney, for the sake of conversation, could do so much good and help to put straight so many youngsters if he knew and wanted to do that.”

ENDS

For further information, a transcript or interview clips, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

PK/sah PCR 014/2010

Notes to editors:
More information from www.premier.org.uk/menatwork
Men@Work, which is produced by Premier's Chris Byland and is designed to appeal to men, though not exclusively, broadcasts on Premier on Saturdays at 8pm. Upcoming guests are Telegraph journalist George Pitcher on 2 October and Elvis songwriter Guy Fletcher on 9 October.

21 SEPTEMBER 2010

PAPAL CROWDS MOB DISTRIBUTORS FOR FREE PAPAL VISIT NEWSPAPER

To celebrate the UK visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Premier Radio and Catholic communications agency CathCom have collaborated to produce a free newspaper.

The first 50,000 copies of the12-page, full-colour, tabloid-size paper The Papal Visit were distributed at Bellahouston Park Mass celebrated by the Pope in Glasgow yesterday.

CathCom director Nick Layton, who helped hand out the paper, said: “The atmosphere at the event was electric and people have been overwhelmed by the gift of a free paper. At times we have been mobbed by people wanting to get a copy.”

A total of 200,000 copies will go out during the Pope’s four-day visit to Britain, with the last edition being distributed on Sunday in Birmingham.

Yesterday’s first edition included a message by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, along with articles about the Pope’s arrival in Edinburgh on Alitalia flight Shepherd One, the St Ninian’s Day parade, a new Scottish Tartan designed to mark the papal visit and an interview with Glasgow designer Niamh Quail who, along with the University of Strathclyde’s “Rapid Prototyping Unit,” designed Pope Benedict’s altar, chair and lectern.

Today’s edition includes a look at a glittering new gold mosaic of St David, which the Pope will bless when he celebrates mass at Westminster Cathedral tomorrow.

The paper includes next day’s itinerary, detailed maps of the venue and information on toilet facilities, First Aid points and lost property.

An online version of the paper can be seen at www.papalvisitpaper.co.uk

ENDS

For further information please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

17 SEPTEMBER 2010

PREMIER RADIO ECHOES POPE'S CALL FOR RESPECT FOR CHRISTIANITY WITH ITS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CAMPAIGN

As His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI prepares to tell Britain’s MPs tomorrow to show more respect for Christianity, Premier Radio renews calls for support for its Freedom of the Cross campaign which seeks to defend Christian freedom of speech in the UK.

Premier has undertaken substantial research with ComRes, a reputable UK based polling organisation over the last two years which indicates how Christians feel increasingly marginalised. This showed that 60% of Christians consider they are being increasingly marginalised at work and 66% say there was more negative discrimination against Christians than people of other faiths. Seventy-five per cent also think the risk of persecution of Christians in the UK had increased over the last five years.

On 21 July, Premier took the unprecedented step of issuing legal proceedings against the Government in the High Court after the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre rejected its advert designed to explore the marginalisation of Christians.

Now, thanks to Pope Benedict’s call for 'an open and positive attitude towards religious faith,' Premier is urging Christians again to get involved in the campaign.

Premier presenter Maria Toth, who discussed the issue on her Woman to Woman show today, said: “We have seen numerous situations of late where people have experienced persecution in their workplace due to expressions of their faith which, among other things, has resulted in a fear of offering to pray for people.”

One caller said: “I come from a country which is over 70% Muslim. Having lived in Britain for 11 years I very often think that my Christian faith is much more respected in Albania than it is in Britain. People of Christian faith are afraid to talk about their faith at work because the next thing they know, they will be fired.”

ENDS

More information on Premier’s campaign can be found at www.freedomofthecross.com

For further information or a recording clip please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

PK/sah PCR 011/2010

16 SEPTEMBER 2010

PREMIER GOSPEL NEGOTIATES NEW GOSPEL MUSIC CATEGORY IN 02 AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS

Premier Gospel, part of the Premier Media Group, has successfully negotiated a new Gospel/Religious Song category in the hugely popular O2 African Music Awards (AMAs) 2010.

A musical extravaganza of African music and culture, the AMAs are set to take London's Wembley Arena by storm on 15 October.

Alongside categories such as African Song of the Year, Artist of the Year and various African regional artists will now be Best Gospel/Religious Song.

Nominees for the new category are Nigerian-born Muyiwa & Riversongz (for God of Miracle); Igwe, from Nigeria (for Midnight Crew); Wilson Bugembe from Uganda (for his song Kani); and Sonnie Badu from Ghana.

Charmaine Noble-McLean, Premier's director of content, said: "We're really pleased that the O2 AMAs have agreed to include a gospel music category in this year's awards. There is so much in the way of great gospel music coming out of the continent and from the African Diaspora worldwide. We at Premier Gospel regard it as a privilege to support music with a 'good news' message at such an important event."

Eric McKaiser Adu, the AMAs' founder and organiser, said: "Music industry experts have tipped African music to 'explode' into the UK market and the AMAs with its partners like Premier Radio are there to provide a platform that will recognise their achievements annually. We want to change the perception of African music, including gospel, as a niche into entertainment that will appeal to the masses."

Listeners to Premier Gospel will be able to vote for their favourite song via web link: http://funsahara.co.uk

Performers at the awards will include the UK's second most popular hip hop star Tinchy Stryder, Michael Jackson's sister Rebbie Jackson, and Somali-born K'Naan. Presenters include Akon, Jermaine Jackson, Lemar, Jamelia and Diane Louise Jordan.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

Premier Gospel is on London DAB and at www.premierradio.org.uk/gospel.

PK/sah PG 005/2010

14 SEPTEMBER 2010

THE MUSLIM COUNCIL OF BRITAIN PRAISES CHRISTIANS AS KORAN-BURNING STUNT IS CALLED OFF

In an interview on Premier Radio’s Big Issue today, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) praised Christians in the UK and around the world over their tolerance and understanding in the face of plans to burn the Koran.

Ibrahim Mogra, chair of inter-faith relations at the MCB, told Premier’s Dave Rose and Bridgitte Tetteh that Christians around the world made up for the “un-Christian” behaviour of Florida pastor Terry Jones who only today called off his church’s plans to burn copies of the Koran tomorrow, the anniversary of 9/11.

Mr Mogra said: “Christians should hold their heads high and rejoice in the fact that worldwide Christianity including your very prominent leader have been against this and have displayed the true teachings of Christianity, so I think that rather than hang our heads in shame I think that decent human beings around the world should celebrate the fact that we have all together condemned this unacceptable behaviour.

For further information or interview clips please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 010/2010

10 SEPTEMBER 2010

FROM STRIPPER AND POLE DANCER TO COMMITTED CHRISTIAN, AUTHOR AND CHARITY DIRECTOR – HOW A WOMAN TURNED HER LIFE AROUND, AS TOLD TO PREMIER RADIO

Harmony Dust’s earliest memory, aged three, was being exposed to pornography by a male relative. She experienced sexual abuse her whole life starting at age five and was raped as a teenager. With a cocaine addict mother and an alcoholic father who abandoned Harmony before she was one year old, her life was full of shame and she had a deep sense of pain and being unloved.

Aged 13, she and her brother, 8, were abandoned by her mother and boyfriend. She was eventually pimped by a man who looked after her and, desperate for money and with debts of up to $35,000, she became a stripper in a club. She told Premier that at the audition she danced in a room to Prince’s Purple Rain watched by a manager: “They just said go back behind the curtain and come out without your clothes on. I was terrified. I felt like I couldn’t even stand up straight. I was closing my eyes, I just felt like I was going to faint any moment. I was certain that I did not get the job. I was hoping that I did not get the job but, you know, they hired me.”

Asked by Premier presenter Maria Toth if victims of child abuse experience sexual activation which results in unwanted attention, Harmony said: “Completely. I was sexualised from as early as I can remember. That’s definitely a part of it. It just like opens Pandora’s Box. I was exposed to things I shouldn’t have been, I saw things I shouldn’t have seen.”

Harmony’s life changed forever after someone invited her to church: “It was a totally new, new arena for me but I just found myself falling in love with God and just being absolutely amazed at who He is and what He says about me and that I’m loved and that nothing can separate me from His love, that He offers forgiveness, and He’s merciful.”

She has since finished her Masters, written a book about her experiences and started an organisation called Treasures, reaching out to and supporting women in the sex industry, including handing out goody bags: “Its so rewarding and so exciting that there so many women out there who are in the industry and are still trapped and want to get out or maybe want to start dealing with some of the issues and some of the pain in their past or even their current circumstances. That’s an honour to be able to be there with them and to walk them through that.”

For further information or interview clips please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 009/2010

10 SEPTEMBER 2010

CONFERENCE WILL HELP REVERSE SOCIAL OSTRACISM OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN CHURCHES

“A disabled person’s biggest problem with church life is the social life” – that’s the damning indictment of a disability expert interviewed on Premier Christian Radio this week.

Dr Gordon Temple, Chief Executive of Torch Trust and Executive Officer of Churches for All, which supports disabled people, told Premier’s Andy Walton that he regularly receives texts from disabled people to say they’ve had enough: “They say, ‘I’m not sure I can cope with church anymore because I’ve been there, I sat at the table and nobody spoke to me.’

“When coffee’s served afterwards, yes, somebody will go fetch them a cup of coffee but then they go off and talk to somebody else and leave them like a lemon standing in a room full of people who are having a happy conversation in which they’re not included.”

In a four-page spread the Independent on Sunday flagged up Britons’ attitudes to disabled people with the headline, ‘The well-meaning Brits who shun disabled people.'

But Dr Temple said such attitudes to disabled people shouldn’t apply in churches: “What opportunity we have in church to model something quite different that recognises the intrinsic value in everyone that God made and to treat them in a way that we would treat anybody else, and welcome and embrace them in the life of the church. If we fail to do that then we not only miss an opportunity but we really undermine the Gospel message which is the love of Christ.

Dr Mike Townsend (Chair of national pan-disability Christian ministry Through the Roof and a trustee of Torch Trust, RNIB and Guide Dogs) whose guide dog, Tom, has elicited horror on appearing in churches, said: "All disabled people should have that option of enjoying church and being part of the Christian and spiritual experience."

Kay Morgan-Gurr, an adviser on disability, told Premier there were a lot of practical hurdles: “Actually making it happen is a lot more hard work and a lot of creative thinking.”

The Enabling Church conference is for church leaders, anyone involved in shaping any aspect of church life and anyone with an interest in or involvement with disability and disabled people. It is at Friends Meeting House in London on 7th October. Registration is £25. To book, visit www.premier.org.uk/enablingchurch or call 020 7316 1313.

For further information or interview clips please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

ENDS

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 008/2010

8 SEPTEMBER 2010

THE FUTURE OF CHRISTIANITY IS ONLINE AND CHURCHES SHOULD EMBRACE IT: BLOGGING BISHOP'S MESSAGE TO UK'S FIRST CHURCH NEW MEDIA CONFERENCE

The worldwide web is here to stay and churches should get on board: that’s the message of the Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, to the UK’s first New Media conference for churches next month, organised by Premier Christian Radio and CODEC.

Bishop Alan, who also writes for the Guardian's Comment is Free website, has maintained a blog since 2007, which receives up to 400 hits a day. One entry states that he would rather contemplate a tank full of ‘chuntering’ tropical fish than view 600-odd TV channels next door.

Bishop Alan, who In an interview with influential political blogger Norman Geras admitted to having been a teenage atheist, told Premier it was crucial for the church to communicate effectively: "We're living in a society where the vast majority are communicating in many different ways. Christianity is about communicating good news and we're involved as Christians in communication. It's about communicating who we are to people in an authentic way. There are lots of great possibilities in New Media. Our problem is we've lost our world communication and regaining it is something we can bring to the New Media stage."

Bishop Alan is one of more than 20 experts with practical experience in the fields of New Media, church leadership and theology, who will share their skills and knowledge at the London conference on 16 October.

Urging church leaders to embrace the New Media revolution, Rev Steve Chalke MBE, founder of the Oasis Trust, said the church’s task was to make itself known and its message clear, and that meant embracing New Media. He urged churches to sign up to the conference: “The church should always be using the resources of the society around it, and using it well. It’s a bit like the vicar who refused to get a car or a phone. Not being interested in publicity and image is not the way out.”

For further information, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

7 SEPTEMBER 2010

ENDS

Information on the Reaching out in the Digital Age conference, which is sponsored by micrositez, can be found at www.christiannewmedia.com. Early Bird prices start at £25.

Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

Note to editors:
Bishop Alan’s blog is at: http://bishopalan.blogspot.com/
CODEC is a research centre at St John’s College, Durham, which explores the realities and possibilities of new communications media.

RS/sah PCR 007/2010

NATIONAL SECULAR SOCIETY SAYS HAWKING BOOK DEBATE - PUTS GOD BACK ON THE AGENDA

The debate over Professor Stephen Hawking's new book places God squarely back on the agenda - that is the consensus between representatives of the National Secular Society (NSS) and Cambridge University's Faraday Institute for Science and Religion (FISR) during a debate on Premier Christian Radio yesterday.

Rev Dr Rodney Holder from the FISR said Professor Hawking, like Richard Dawkins, raises the issue of God and that could only be good: "It puts God back on the agenda in many ways. Richard Dawkins does the same thing actually, far more militantly than Stephen Hawking. He's put God back on the agenda as a debating point in the pubs, clubs and radio programmes up and down the country and there's a lot of merit in that."

Nikolai Segora, physicist and member of the NSS, agreed it was a good thing: "It puts God back on the agenda and it puts the debate back on the agenda."

But he criticised Hawking and Dawkins for mixing religion, philosophy and science: "People like Richard Dawkins always, sometimes rather willy-nilly, mix their philosophy and their metaphysics and their religion with science and that's actually just as dangerous as the other way around, a creationist mixing their religion with science, as a scientist mixing their science with religion.

"Its very, very important for scientists to understand that the way they communicate these things and these opinions on God and on the cosmological argument and such like, that they are very, very careful to state them in way which makes it clear that these are personal opinions that they hold, that they are not the opinion of science and that they are not really even in the business of science."

Professor Stephen Hawking, Britain's most eminent scientist, rejects divine intervention in his new book, The Grand Design, published on September 9, maintaining that God didn't create the universe and that we existed thanks to spontaneous creation. He wrote: "It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the Universe going."

But Holder said the idea that the universe could create itself from nothing was "deeply paradoxical": "Generally when physicists talk about the universe creating itself from nothing they're not really talking about absolutely nothing, they're talking about quantum fields acting on some kind of space time, quantum fluctuations, whatever it might be, the latest version of String theory...very complicated things, so its never really creating out of nothing, and the idea that gravity creates the universe, as Hawkins seems to say, or spontaneous creation out of nothing, does seem to me to be self-contradictory."

Segora added: "I don't think that stating that there is no God involved or no need for a God involved in the creation of the universe, is a view that science can have, far less a view that science does have, as an institution, so scientists need to be very, very careful about stating views outside of science lest they be reported as a scientific view."

For further information, a transcript or an audio clip, please contact Sharon Molloy at sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

3 SEPTEMBER 2010

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Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 006/2010

ANGIE LE MAR SPEAKS TO PREMIER GOSPEL ABOUT 25 YEARS IN ENTERTAINMENT

Award-winning comedienne and broadcaster Angie Le Mar will appear on Premier Gospel this Sunday 5 September.

The station’s Dave P & Helen Le Paul will interview Angie between 8-10am about her life and faith on Premier Gospel’s Arise N Shine programme.

Presenter Dave P said Angie was inspirational and a great ambassador for sisters: “All I'm saying prepare yourself for a good laugh on Sunday morning. Angie is one of the funniest women I’ve ever met. She is one awesome lady.”

The UK's first black female stand-up, Angie combines comedy with acting, playwriting and broadcasting and is celebrating 25 years of comedy showbiz with a show at the Barbican on 10 September.

Founder of Straight to Audience Productions, Angie has won numerous awards such as the BECA Best Stand Up Female 2000, and starred in shows such as BBC's The Real McCoy, Get Up Stand Up for Channel 4. Angie's is well known for the popular show she presented on London's Choice FM.

In 1994, Angie wrote, directed and starred in the groundbreaking sketch show Funny Black Women on the Edge which was one of the major hits of the Edinburgh Festival. She sold out the Hackney Empire on more than one occasion with her plays, Forty and The Brothers.

Further information from sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462. A recording of the interview will be available on Monday 6 September.

2 SEPTEMBER 2010

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RS/sah PG 004/2010

Premier Gospel is on London DAB and at www.premierradio.org.uk/gospel.

MINISTER OF EVICTED CHURCH TO SPEAK AT PREMIER CHARITY EVENT

A church minister who hit the headlines helping to fight her church's eviction from its premises will entertain guests at a Premier Radio charity event next month.

Julie Anderson, with her husband Rod and supported by the Save St Mark’s Action Group, has held productive discussions about the future of the Commonwealth Christian Fellowship after being evicted by the Diocese of London from St Marks in Audley Street, Mayfair, last year.

She told Premier: “The church is moving back into St Marks after productive discussions about the future of the building. At the moment we are looking for a facility for the children’s work, crèche and youth work.”

Co-founder and director of the Prayer Foundation, she is used to being in the limelight, having been one of Brian Epstein's secretaries during the height of the Beatles’ popularity, and having worked for London's top 60s TV chat show host Simon Dee. She later lived amongst the Rolling Stones in the South of France.

Next month Julie will be turning her attention to helping raise funds for World Vision during an evening in London with Rob & Dianne Parsons from Care for the Family which supports family life.

Other guests include worship leader Dave Bilbrough, Premier presenter John Pantry and contemporary worship leader Nick J Drake from St Paul’s Hammersmith.

An Evening with Rob & Dianne Parsons is at the Emmanuel Christian Centre on 18 September. For more information visit www.premier.org.uk/robparsons

Further information or interview requests from sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

1 SEPTEMBER 2010

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Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

RS/sah PCR 004/2010

PREMIER GOSPEL BROADCASTING FROM CARNIVAL ON BANK HOLIDAY

Premier Gospel’s Dave P and Nage will be broadcasting live from the Notting Hill carnival on Bank Holiday Monday.

The presenters will be joined will be joined by popular hip hop artist Jahaziel from Kensington Temple. The award-winning Christian rapper has just released his debut album.

Richard Smart, Premier’s director, said: “Celebrating cultural diversity on the streets of London with a distinctive Caribbean flavour, the Notting Hill carnival hits the streets this weekend, promising the biggest street party of the year. And Premier Gospel will be there to keep the gospel message loud and clear.”

Other guests on the programme will include DJ Fitz, Tough Talk and Tommy Baker.

For all the gospel action at carnival, tune into Premier Gospel between 1.30 and 3pm.

RS/sah PG 003/2010

27 AUGUST 2010

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Premier Gospel is on London DAB and at www.premierradio.org.uk/gospel.

Further information from sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

TATCHELL IN RADIO CLASH WITH CHURCH LEADER OVER GAY RIGHTS IN AFRICA

Accusations flew fast and furious between gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and Dr Lisa Nolland, a consultant with conservative group Anglican Mainstream, on Premier Christian Radio yesterday.

Diametrically opposed to each other's viewpoints, Tatchell and Nolland clashed repeatedly over Tatchell's controversial invitation to speak at Greenbelt, the Christian festival which starts on Friday, and the treatment of homosexuals in Africa.

Asked by Premier's Big Issue presenter Dave Rose why Greenbelt shouldn't have gay speakers, Nolland accused Tatchell of claiming that porn was good for you and that all sexualities were equally valid, and of contributing to a book advocating inter-generational sex and paedophilia.

Tatchell hit back, claiming Nolland was distorting his views: "It's quite outrageous for Dr Nolland to insinuate that I support paedophilia and sex with children. I do not and I made that very clear...Much of my writing is about ideas and strategies to give greater protection to young people against sexual abuse, and I find it really strange and quite disturbing that a so-called Christian can so distort and misrepresent what I've said and why I've said it."

Tatchell added that Nolland failed to mention his sexual ethic, that all sexual behaviour should be based on mutual consent, respect, fulfilment, and care for the other person. He said: "I would ask Lisa and Anglican Mainstream to re-read their ten commandments where it talks about not bearing false witness."

The organisation opposes Tatchell's speaking at Greenbelt and has accused the organisers of undermining traditional Christian values by inviting him, but Tatchell insisted that he would not be speaking about sexuality but human rights, and that Greenbelt encouraged "ideas, thinking and debate."

He also labelled the church’s treatment of gays in some parts of Africa a "massive departure from Christ's gospel of love and compassion" and said the church in the west needed to wake up to this. Nolland said this was a "huge" misrepresentation of the stance of the Archbishop of Uganda, the Most Revd Henry Orombi, and said that African bishops defended biblical basics and sexual morality. Bishop Orombi has condemned homosexual acts as un-biblical but has not taken a stand on Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill, which targets lesbian and gay Ugandans.

Further information, a transcript or an audio clip from sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

RS/sah PCR 003/2010

26 AUGUST 2010

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Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

PREMIER CHRISTIAN RADIO IS ONE OF THE CAPITAL’S TOP THREE LISTENING SPOTS FOR THE AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY

The latest RAJAR listening figures show that Premier Christian Radio, KISS FM and Choice FM are fighting it out for London’s African-Caribbean listenership. This is because 40 per cent of churchgoers in central London are from the black majority church community.

Premier Media Group has increased its appeal to black Britons by launching Premier Gospel, its dedicated gospel music station broadcasting on DAB digital radio across London. Premier’s flagship night-time gospel show, Gospel Tonight, presented by singer and presenter Muyiwa Olarewaju, can now be heard nightly on both stations.

A highlight on Premier Gospel last week was Eddie Kadi, the ‘clean’ comedian performing at London’s O2 arena next month. Eddie, a Christian, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and has won a number of comedy awards.

Premier Christian Radio itself has welcomed some star guests recently including former Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill and PR guru Max Clifford. This week Cold Feet star Fay Ripley will reveal a campaign to reward those unsung heroes in our lives.

RS/sah PCR 002/2010 (S)

23 August 2010

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Premier Gospel is on London DAB and at www.premierradio.org.uk/gospel.

For further information, interviews and/or photos please email sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

CHURCH LEADERS SHOULD RE-THINK THEIR THEOLOGY TO ENCOMPASS DISABLED PEOPLE, SAYS PREMIER CHRISTIAN RADIO

It could happen to you – that's the hard-hitting message to church leaders to encourage them to attend a ground-breaking conference on disability, wholeness and Christian theology. Too few church leaders have so far signed up.

Christian GP Trevor Stammers, who has been treating patients for 30 years, experienced disability earlier this year after he went blind. He told Premier he found it very difficult being treated like the village idiot: “Until something happens to you, you just have no idea how immediately you can’t function as a normal person. I’ve referred to people treating me as the village idiot, and they do.”

To help reverse this trend, Churches for All, a partnership of Christian disability organisations, and Premier Christian Radio have jointly produced Enabling Church, a conference with top quality speakers who will share their insight into disability and offer biblical reflections. The conference hopes to stimulate a conversation concerning a Christian response to disability and disabled people, and their inclusion and involvement in all aspects of church life.

Gordon Temple, executive officer of Churches for All, says it’s tragic when disabled people feel out of place in a church: “Jesus, the one whom we follow, gave quality time to those who found themselves marginalised in the society of His day. It wasn’t just about healing. He welcomed them and treated them with dignity.”

Dr Temple pointed out that the Apostle Paul described the church as a body in which everyone had a vital part to play: “In I Corinthians 12 St Paul writes that ‘Those parts that seem to be weaker are indispensable.’ So why is it we so often hear from disabled people that they feel unwanted in church?”

Information on the Enabling Church conference in London on 7th October can be found at: www.premier.org.uk/enablingchurch

RS/sah PCR 001/2010

19 August 2010

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Premier broadcasts nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

For further information, interviews and/or photos please email sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

EXCLUSIVE: JANET JACKSON AND TYLER PERRY TALK FRANKLY TO PREMIER GOSPEL ABOUT THEIR LATEST FILM TOGETHER

Referring to her role in Why Did I Get Married Too? and the violent scenes she was asked to perform, Janet Jackson said: "When I actually read the script I was really shocked and very excited because its something that I'd never done in any film before."

American film-maker Tyler Perry told Premier Gospel he was worried Jackson would injure herself during filming: "She was so in the moment. I was really worried about her breaking the dining table."

The film, a comedy-drama about four couples who gather in the Bahamas to mend their marriages, is set to hit the UK on September 3rd. It is the latest venture by Perry, whose films have taken black church-going, movie-watching America by storm and grossed $400 million worldwide as at July 2009.

Premier Gospel presenter NAge said Perry and Jackson were a "picture of beauty" in appearance and speech: "Tyler was a real gentleman. Janet was so genuine, speaking about her experience of playing the role of a character who was very troubled and drawing upon life experiences to pull in the emotions. If you want to laugh, cry, gasp and cheer, you must watch this film."

Perry revealed that Will Smith helped him overcome barriers in bringing the film to the UK: "In the States we as African American people are taught often that there is no market for us overseas, so for Will Smith to take the time to bring me over and say, 'They're wrong, there is a market' is really great."

Jackson co-wrote and performed the film soundtrack's lead single, Nothing, which made the American Gospel charts. Asked in a recent interview what gave her life the greatest meaning, she responded: "It would have to be God."

RS/sah PG 001/2010

19 August 2010

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Premier Gospel is on London DAB and at www.premierradio.org.uk/gospel.

For further information, interviews with Muyiwa and other presenters and/or photos please email sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

PREMIER GOSPEL ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF MUYIWA OLAREWAJU AS STATION DIRECTOR

Premier Gospel today announced the appointment of Muyiwa Olarewaju as the station's director. The hugely popular singer and presenter, who has presented Premier Christian Radio's successful show Gospel Tonight since 2003, will take the helm of Premier Gospel, part of the Premier Media Group, which hit the airwaves on February 1st 2010.

Muyiwa said: "People of all races have been asking me why the gospel show is at night. My hope is that Premier Gospel will quench the thirst of the masses who want it and feed the demand for gospel music outside the church."

Muyiwa recently appeared as a guest presenter on BBC Radio 4's ethical and religious programme Something Understood in which he explored gospel music and his own personal journey. The station was later inundated with feedback from all over the UK and the world, including the US and South Africa: "It was a huge success in terms of letters that came in. The station was so shocked that it had to send me some of the letters and emails. One man who had been out of touch, after hearing a gospel song I played, Safe in His Hands, sent the web link for the programme to his kids. Here was someone who felt moved to start a journey of repairing relationships as he heard a gospel song. I hope that will happen on Premier Gospel."

Premier Gospel broadcasts 24 hours a day, with contemporary and traditional gospel music, and other genres like R&B; Jazz; Reggae; Urban; Latin; African; House, and more from the UK and around the world. Presenters include husband and wife team Dave P & Helen Le Paul, Lee Grant, Yinka, NAge, Brigitte Tetteh, Loretta Fenton and guest presenter Kym Mazelle.

18 August 2010

RS/sah PG 002/2010

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Premier Gospel is on London DAB and at www.premierradio.org.uk/gospel.

For further information, interviews with Muyiwa and other presenters and/or photos please email sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1462.

PREMIER CHRISTIAN RADIO CELEBRATES GROWING AUDIENCE

London Audience Growth is confirmed by latest RAJAR figures

Premier Christian Radio received it latest London RAJAR results which confirmed a steadily growing audience with hours listened increasing by 17% over the prior quarter. This is due to both more listeners but also an increase in intensity of listenership.

Premier's commitment to DAB digital radio both in London and Nationally has meant that its audience has benefited from clear reception and convenience of listening.

Charmaine Noble-McLean, Director of Content at Premier, was pleased by the latest data said:

"We are really encouraged by our recent figures and can see that changes to some of our programming are being well received. For example, Premier Drive broadcast on weekdays between 3 and 6 p.m. focusing on the best of Christian music. We're getting really positive feedback from our new national audience who are now able to receive some of the best Christian programmes in the UK on DAB. We thank our listeners for their continued prayers and support for the work Premier is trying to do!"

This year Premier celebrated its fifteenth year of broadcasting having begun in London in 1995 and now nationally on Sky digital, Freeview and National DAB.

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Source: RAJAR Premier Christian Radio London TSA Q 2 2010 v Q1 2010

For further information please contact sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1366

REV REVS UP OVER SWEARING REPORTS

Rev Michael Land denies encouraging swearing

The Reverend Michael Land interviewed on Premier Christian Radio denied reports in the Telegraph, Mail and Express that he encouraged his congregation from the pulpit to swear.

Bridgitte Tetteh on ‘Premier Drive’ asked are you encouraging from the pulpit your congregation to swear? Michael insisted, “Of course not, it is complete rubbish. I don’t know where the stories came from or who made them up. Obviously someone with a fertile imagination. Can you imagine to stand in a pulpit, with all ages in a congregation, telling people to swear more. It is just ridiculous isn’t it.”

Despite saying it was not OK to swear, he said he had done so at a road rage incident over 20 years ago. “...overall there is no need for it. I think sometimes it does emphasis a point but if you constantly use it in every other sentence it loses all potency.”

In a recent letter to the Guardian he explained that swearing was something that is part of his former East End parish life but not something he encouraged. He explained that Jesus was some one who used rhetorical exaggeration to make his own point such as “take the mote out of your own eye before the speck(out) of your brother’s”(1,2). He felt this letter to the Guardian had been taken out of context.

He considered that many of the incidents in the REV BBC TV comedy drama had parallels in his experience of ministry in the East End of London even to the point of being physically attacked on his vicarage doorstep. This he considered to be all part of parish life in “it is real it is gritty”.

ENDS

1. How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3-5 (in Context) Matthew 7 (Whole Chapter)

2. How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Luke 6:41-43 (in Context) Luke 6 (Whole Chapter)

For further information please contact sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or call 020 7316 1366