The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev and Rt Hon Dr David Hope, is to chair the Central Religious Advisory Committee which advises the BBC, the Independent Television Commission (ITC) and the Radio Authority on religion, it was announced today.

Dr Hope has wide experience of broadcasting for both the BBC and independent television and welcomes the opportunity to take an active role in promoting a range of religious broadcasting in a changing society. "The future of quality religious broadcasting in a multi-media age has never been more important as a new millennium approaches and as the broadcasting world continues to diversify," says Dr Hope. "In building on the solid work of my predecessor, Bishop Roy Williamson, I am hopeful that the Committee will continue to carefully monitor the communication of faith matters in the broadcasting world."

For the first time a deputy chair of the Committee has also been appointed: the Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, the Rt Rev Peter Smith. "I look forward to working with Dr Hope and the other members of the committee in the vital work of observing and advising on the effectiveness of broadcasting and communicating religious issues in our society today," says Bishop Smith.

In a society where there is increasing cultural, social, ethnic and religious diversity, the Committee has endorsed a wide range of roles for religious broadcasting.

Its retiring Chairman, Bishop Roy Williams, says "The work of CRAC is both important and stimulating and it has been a great privilege to lead a group of people from around the nation and across the faiths who have been brought such expertise, perception and creativity to its task. It is important that religious broadcasting not only holds its own in a changing and competitive environment, but that it makes progress and continues its distinctive and necessary contribution towards the wholeness of our society. I am delighted at the appointments of the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of East Anglia."