Mayb2day

News from The Church and Media Network (of which I am a trustee):

What will you find at this year’s CHURCH AND MEDIA CONFERENCE?

Well, for a start there are some really significant names to lead our thinking. Distinguished journalist and broadcaster Roger Bolton will give a keynote “state of the industry” address and globe-trotting campaigner Tony Campolo will ask whether the media we’re making is damaging our culture.

Then there are plenary sessions looking at some big issues – like whether faith is being squeezed out of the public arena, how Muslims are portrayed in the media and whether local broadcasting has reached the end of the road or just the beginning.

To go straight to the booking site just click here.

As ever we’ve assembled a line-up of top speakers … like Caroline Diehl from the Media Trust,Andrew Copson of the British Humanist Association and the new chair of the Church and Media Network Elaine Storkey. And there’s a great deal more besides. If you take faith seriously and you care about the media it’s unmissable.

But probably the best reason to get to the Church and Media Conference is to network with friends and colleagues from across the industry.

The conference will take place from Monday 7th – Wednesday 9th June 2010 at the Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire. If you haven’t booked your place yet click here for more details about the conference and online booking. There are substantial discounts for early booking, so don’t delay.

Please would you help us get the word out by forwarding this email to anyone you know who may be interested in joining us.

Best Wishes

Andrew Graystone
Director, Churches’ Media Council

PS
Of course there will be plenty of time to network and relax. I’m delighted that award-winning comedian Jo Enright will be joining us for a Summer evening of fun.

There are two categories in the current series of Jerusalem Awards which are undersubscribed – and that means that your chance of winning is much higher!

“Internet TV” and “Made-for-Mobile” are critically important and there are many examples worldwide of creative Christian involvement. Why not tell Jerusalem Prosductions about what you are doing and inspire the judges?

What are they looking for? Internet TV could be something that you or your group have put on your own website or on YouTube. It will have a Christian theme or perspective. The judges will be less interested in slam-bang-in-your-face tele-preaching and much more interested in stories and pictures that hold the attention of a general audience. But messages can be clear and specific. And that’s it. Nothing more to it. And if the judges have a bias it is towards stuff that doesn’t just inform but entertains.

Made-for-Mobile is not too different. The judges are looking for still videos that have been specifically made to keep the rumour of God alive but for a general audience. Entries must be describable as “broadcasting”. The judges don’t want the holiday pics of Greek churches that you transmitted across Europe to Aunt Flo. But, if you, or your group, or your church are using mobile technology in a creative way, then please let Jerusalem Productions know and you may walk away with a hefty prize.

http://www.jerusalemawards.org.uk/

Soul II Soul 
Tuesday 02 December 1:30pm – 2:00pm BBC Radio 4
(Repeated Saturday 6th Decemeber 3.30pm Radio 4)

Normally my role at Premier Radio is to present the Big Breakfast on a Saturday morning with co-presenter, Dave Rose.  The tables were turned yesterday afternoon when I became the interviewee, rather than the interviewer.  I was the guest on Premier’s ‘Traveller’s Tales’ which was broadcast at 2.30pm in the afternoon.  Patrick Forbes asked me about my journey of faith and my ministry.  With special permission from Premier, this 26 minute programme is available below for you to listen to:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 You can listen to ‘Travellers Tales’ every Sunday afternoon at 2pm on Premier Christian Radio.

I often get asked where Christians/churches can get media training.  Well, there are many options, but I was reminded recently of one of these options when I received a message from Toby Scott  – Methodist Co-Head of Communication (Media Relations).  He was making people aware of  the Church of England’s Communications Training Unit.  I have benefitted in the past from their short and affordable traning days and recommend them.  From a glance at their web site, it looks as though they are building on the work and experience they have had over many years.  

I quote from Toby’s emai:

‘For a number of years we (Methodist Church) have used the Church of England Communications Training Unit because they offer great training at a good price. I am therefore delighted to pass on a link to their new online brochure and a brief blurb:

You know what you want to say, you know who you want to hear you, but how can you make sure this happens? Our communications training courses are tailor made to help you get your message across to your key audiences.  Whether it’s TV or radio interviews about a specific project, giving your public speaking an audit, harnessing the communications power of new media or raising the profile of your church within the local community, we have the insights that will help.

Full details of our courses are available at commstraining.cofe.anglican.org or call Suzanne Gray on 020 7898 1465 for a copy of the brochure.

Toby also recommends the Media Trust for communications training: mt.communitychannel.org

Have you seen the website called ‘China’s Millions’? It provides a host of information from a Christian perspective on this emerging superpower. This site covers history, culture, religion and people groups.  Another briefer source of information about China is the China section of OMF’s website.

I discovered this website through the regular briefing that is sent out by Christian Research. You can sign up for their free monthly Research Brief email.