Issues involving the Churches are also covered in programmes which are not produced by religious teams. Recent popular TV comedies have included The Vicar of Dibley and Father Ted. Ballykissangel was produced by the BBC's Drama Department and attracted an audience of up to 15 million in its first series. What might be termed 'moral' or social issues are also frequently addressed in science fiction programmes such as Red Dwarf or Star Trek. And the makers of the X-Files make no secret of the fact that they are looking at humanity's place in the universe as they constantly remind us that "the truth is out there". Soap operas continue to top the television ratings every week. EastEnders and Brookside in particular frequently include characters who are struggling to resolve moral questions within their own lives, such as an unwanted pregnancy, AIDS, euthanasia, abuse by a partner, or living together. Programme makers rarely make a moral judgement, and some people might consider that they sensationalise or sentimentalise, but soap operas do raise serious issues and present them in a way that viewers can and do relate to.

Films which have looked at religious or quasi-religious themes and become box office successes over recent years include Schindler's List, The Shawshank Redemption, Priest, Dead Man Walking and Sister Act. Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar attracted large audiences when it was revived in London's West End in the 1990s.

All of us are influenced by the media in our daily lives. There are obvious channels such as television, radio and newspapers. But advertising, music, posters, books, magazines, the theatre and cinema are all methods for reaching many people with lots of information and more. That is the meaning of 'media': it is the Latin plural of 'medium', meaning the means by which something is communicated.

How much TV do you watch? On average, people watch around four hours a day. The most popular channels are ITV and BBC1; BBC2 and Channel 4 are often called 'minority' or 'alternative' channels because they broadcast programmes which are outside of the mainstream. Channel 5 began transmitting in 1997 but as yet it has failed to attract a significant share of the audience.

The BBC is the largest UK-owned media organisation in the country, providing five national radio networks, 39 local radio stations and World Service (radio and television) in addition to its two TV services. Its main source of income is the licence fee, although it is having to become increasingly commercial, for instance through the sale of programmes, merchandise and technical resources.

Britain's other TV services (Channels 3, 4 & 5 and satellite/cable) rely financially on selling advertising space and sponsorship of programmes. So they aim to schedule popular programmes at peak time (6.00-10.30pm) to attract large audiences and so satisfy advertisers who want people to buy their products. Soap operas continue to be the most popular TV programmes, followed by drama or adventure series (eg. Casualty or The Bill). Lighthearted shows such as Blind Date and quizzes also attract large audiences.

However, the development of more single theme channels on satellite and cable (eg. films, news, life styles, music, sci-fi, nostalgia) means that viewers are more easily able to 'filter out' types of programmes which do not appeal to them. Even more TV channels will become available to British households over the coming years. And improved technology is leading to cable (community) and pay-to-view television being linked with phone lines, radio and the Internet.

Information from: The Catholic Media Office