Catholic Media Journal » Media

Short Form Video: “What’s Inside a Catholic Church”

Jim Coyle — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:15:39 +0000

As part of its multimedia publishing, Faith Magazine’s website features a growing series of videos about the Catholic Church, videos that share different aspects of the Church and her practices. One of the series is a 4-part explanation of the different things inside a Catholic church and their role in liturgy and practice. Fr. Charles Irvin is our guide in this series which informs Catholics and non-Catholic alike.

This is a good example of using short videos to answer questions people might not ask but which can enhance their understanding of the Church and add meaning to worship.

Faith Magazine’s home is the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. Since establishing the Diocese of Lansing’s publication in 1999, Faith Catholic has become a national publisher, now publishing magazines and other resources for a growing number of dioceses, archdioceses and Catholic organizations.

Faith Catholic publishes magazines and other Catholic resources for dioceses and Church organizations throughout the United States.

Jim Coyle

Church and New Media Resources

Jim Coyle — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:52:41 +0000

On the companion website for his book, The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet, Brandon Vogt has an excellent collection of links to resources for effective Church communication through new media. There’s a wealth of information here for persons interested in Church communication at all levels.

Jim Coyle

The Church and New Media: Snapshot, Road Map and Call

Jim Coyle — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:27:18 +0000

In his new book, The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet, Brandon Vogt has created an excellent blend of Church teaching and Papal documents about Communications with stories by people who are applying these principles in real-life through new media creation and distribution in a variety of settings. Brandon and the contributors to the book have captured our unique moment in the history of Communications in the Catholic Church and offer not only methods we can use – but even more importantly, inspiration and motivation for us to reach out to all the world and bring God’s message to people in dynamic, personal ways by using the new media tools God has given us. From worldwide evangelization to sharing God’s life and love in the local parish, we have new opportunities and resources at our disposal – and a call to use them.

Visit The Church and New Media website to learn not only about the author and the book, but the ministry that will be supported by sales of the book.

Jim Coyle

Future of the e-Book is Now

Jim Coyle — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:12:25 +0000

This new iPad app for Al Gore’s “book” raises the bar for what we should be doing in Church communications, catechesis and evangelization. Whatever your opinions are of Mr. Gore’s message, take a close look at the tool he’s using.

Al Gore’s Our Choice Guided Tour from Push Pop Press on Vimeo.

What’s our next step?

Jim Coyle

Social Media Revolution 2

Jim Coyle — Tue, 11 May 2010 02:49:20 +0000

While many people think of Social Media as a fad, those of us involved in religious communication – evangelization – and education have a critical mission to bring the Truth to people wherever they are. We need to be out in the marketplace, the town square. Here’s where we’ll find our people:

Are we out there?

Jim Coyle

The Lesson from a Communicator

Jim Coyle — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:19:02 +0000

This is an amazing video by Francis Gardler, a graduate student at Ohio University, which is meaningful on many levels, for all of us involved in communications and education. More than other media sources, the Church has the call and responsibility to share the human condition and respond to the very real needs in our world today. I need to watch this video again – and the other videos Gardler has produced – ponder and respond. This captures what we should be doing.

Dave LaBelle | The Lesson from Francis Gardler on Vimeo.

Jim Coyle

Catholic Church & Media: Young Adult Views

Jim Coyle — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:38:47 +0000

What do young adults think about the Catholic Church in the media – its roles and responsibilities and how it is portrayed by media producers? Compare their statements with Vatican documents about the Catholic Church in the media.

Catholic Church in the Media: Young Adult Views from Jim Coyle on Vimeo.

Credits: Produced and directed by Rachael Pope. Original music created by Eric Allen. Thanks to Jacob Popcak and Sarah Hartung for taking the time to be interviewed. Special thanks to Michelle Proffit for her advice and assistance along the way.

CatholicTV.com

Jim Coyle — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:10:45 +0000

“Your Catholic Broadband Network” – CatholicTV.com – is a leader in bringing Catholic television programming to online and now mobile media. From their website to an iPhone app, online players and presence on Twitter and Facebook, this ministry is going to the people, wherever they are.

About CatholicTV: CatholicTV provides family-friendly, religious, news, and educational programming 24 hours daily. Founded over 50 years ago, CatholicTV is available in selected areas on cable in the United States and Canada, via Sky Angel and online via a live stream anytime, everywhere at the station’s web site www.CatholicTV.com. Father Robert Reed, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, is the Director of CatholicTV. Click here to paste this into your browser to find out how to watch CatholicTV where you live: www.CatholicTV.org/schedule/where-to-watch.aspx

Jim Coyle

PBS Considering Striking ‘Sectarian’ Programming – Seeking Response Before June 12, 2009

Jim Coyle — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:11:01 +0000

We received word today about some programming policy changes that will be voted on by the PBS Board next week. These changes would have an impact on religious programming, and would particularly affect those PBS stations owned by Catholic entities. I encourage you to read this information, and if you can provide feedback to PBS, please do so before June 12, 2009.

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is poised to vote on June 14-15 on a revised programming policy for its affiliated television stations which, among other policies, would not permit them to air “sectarian” programs. Part of its decision will include a definition of “sectarian.” PBS’ proposed definition appears to include such programs as “The Face: Jesus in Art” and “Walking the Bible”, but excluding programs which consist of religious services (such as the Mass). In a meeting with USCCB staff, PBS spokespersons said that its upcoming decision will be an attempt to balance the need for its affiliates to meet their statutory requirement to meet local needs and interests with a desire to prevent the PBS “brand” from being associated with particular religious views and beliefs. PBS is a private corporation whose members are the television stations affiliated with PBS, and is not a government agency, so constitutional concerns and arguments are not germane to this proposed policy. Nevertheless, PBS’ decision can be influenced by the opinions not only of its member-stations, but of the affected communities.

The national PBS leadership is receiving comments on its proposed “no sectarian program” rule from its affiliates, which include several stations owned by religious entities. Those include WLAE, a New Orleans PBS affiliate owned by a lay Catholic organization, KMBH, a Brownsville PBS affiliate owned by the Diocese of Brownsville and KBYU, a PBS affiliate owned by a division of Brigham Young University. The Archdiocese of Washington already has been informed by WHUT in Washington, D.C. that its Mass for shut-ins, which had been aired for years on that station, will be dropped.

PBS staff has [said] that the decision-making committee would find community reaction helpful. If you or your staff have a reaction to this proposed decision, please send an email or fax to: Helen Osman, Secretary of Communications, USCCB at hosman@usccb.org or 202/541-3129 before June 12, 2009. We will forward these comments to PBS immediately.

More information on this topic can be found at http://www.current.org/pbs/pbs0907sectarian.shtml.

Jim Coyle

What’s the State of Catholic Newspapers and Magazines?

Jim Coyle — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:08:32 +0000

During the past three weeks we’ve seen that many commercial newspapers in major cities stop printing, with many more announcing cutbacks in the number days they’ll print their paper, hoping readers will turn to their websites. More announcements like these are expected.

Magazines are also cutting back their frequency of printing. A newsweekly I’ve read for years went to a biweekly print schedule, then monthly in less than a year.

Most commercial newspapers and magazines rely on advertising sales for most or all of their income. As readership has dropped, advertising sales have dropped, often significantly. And lately, even with circulation levels that were viable a few years ago, advertising sales have been sinking faster, often because of the economy.

How are Catholic print publications faring? The economics may often be different because of diocesan support for their Catholic newspaper, for example, resulting in somewhat less dependency on advertising sales. But few Catholic publications are immune from the financial problems we’re experiencing today.

If you’re involved in Catholic journalism, what are you seeing and experiencing regarding your newspapers and magazines? How do you expect Catholic news to reach your audience next year, 5 years from now?

As a reader of Catholic publications, are you seeing changes in these publications? And are you changing the way you get Catholic news?

Let us know what you’re experiencing. You can write a comment here, leave a voicemail at our comment line (1-740-314-1830), or send me a message on Twitter: I’m @iJimCoyle.

Jim Coyle