MediaLit gave the opportunity to explore all these issues and more. Based in the wonderful setting of St John’s College, Durham,  MediaLit was a week long, intensive course – both hands on and theoretical – which brought together media practitioners, journalists, the Churches Media Council, those exploring how to use social media in relation to Christian faith, trainee ministers, vicars and other interested parties.”

Read the full reflection by Kate Bruce and indicate your interest in future MediaLit courses. Find Kate on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/johnschaplain

• Bex Lewis  – Email ; Twitter ; Blog
• Blended Learning Project Manager, ‘The Big Read 2011’

Bex has a background in history, completing her PhD in ‘British Home Front Propaganda Posters of the Second World War’in 2004 at the University of Winchester, where she’d done her first degree in History with Education Studies. Bex built her first website in 1997, has built many more, and has undertaken accessibility and usability projects. She, however, is more interested in people/ communication/ popular culture than programming, and therefore was delighted when social media took off, and she is the Director of ‘Digital Fingerprint’, a social media consultancy.

As well as a ‘digital resident’, Bex is a polymath – she is the social media consultant for ‘Super Fun Days Out’, and has promoted interdisciplinary research, undertaken the LICC Toolbox course, and written for Damaris Culturewatch. After 7 months travelling around the world (Asia, Australasia, South America), she worked a summer season as a Tour Leader with Oak Hall Expeditions in 2008. She continues to work at the University of Winchester, as a ‘Blended Learning Fellow’ (finding tools for teaching using an appropriate mix of technology and face-to-face) with Associate Lectureships in Media Studies (particularly digital literacy) and History, alongside funded projects in student-skills and change management.

Bex is working for CODEC for 50% of her time throughout the 2010/11 academic year to develop ‘The Big Read’ on from its successful launch in the North-East over Lent 2010. The project will look to use the best mix of tools from the online and the offline worlds to encourage more engagement with the Bible, and draws upon Tom Wright’s forthcoming book ‘Matthew for Lent’. The project is supported by The Methodist Church, Premier Radio and SPCK, and Bex can generally be found at the Premier Radio offices in Pimlico Tuesday/Wednesday.

Join the project on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bigbible.

MediaLit has now taken place, and Mouse wanted to bring it to your attention.  Below is a guest post from Dr Bex Lewis on what it was all about.  Bex has a PhD in Second World War posters (http://ww2poster.co.uk), teaches History & Media Studies, whilst working on Blended Learning projects for the Universities of Winchester & Durham.”

Read the full post here.

Video made as part of the #Medialit course. There were 3, but I’m not sure that everyone put them on YouTube.

Key Learning Points & Actions

• Should be important for all to take this, media is so central to our society.
• Is it OK for all to have wi-fi when many still don’t have water?
• If you can’t do something really well it’s better not to bother or pay others? If all that means is that noticeboard is smart, etc. and is all can manage, then go with that.
• Given more confidence to use technology, especially new media.
• Use simpler new media more effectively – use good values. Make own material that like – not just moan about Rob Bell, but make better.
• Is it my fault that in The Times that Christians look stupid – so stop blaming the media & engage with existing, and stand up for own thoughts.
• So many thoughts. Difficult to stay up to date & be savvy, and how naïve we are with broadcast radio/tv media. Would be good to have refreshers to keep people engaged. Need to step back from the computer screen & think what is this really showing/doing – the right tools!!
• There’s a role for lots of people in our congregations, particularly those who find it difficult to get involved in other areas.  What can others bring to it.
• Fun, creative & gets juices going. Much of the Church fairly joyless & hard work – how get some of this excitement across to congregations.
• Preaching, etc.? What connects everyone in this room? Creativity – given by God. Whatever use of media (or any other role in the world) – do it well. Take more risks, leave space to fail!
• So much creativity in the Christian community…  Politics of the Church tends to lock a lot of that down – so how do we find ways of releasing that?
• The media is not the Messiah or the Devil.
• Find different platforms for your own creativity.  All try – at least we’re going somewhere.

David Wilkinson

• Take more risks…
• Be honest about failure – breed confidence by honesty! When we get things wrong admit it & don’t try and involve the Holy Spirit as a justification!
• Find a network of people you can trust & work with on collaborative projects.
• Theology – so easy to get drawn into the mode of communication, and forget the theological basis for what you’re trying to achieve. Theological support or constraint you might have.  Remember the WHY and the HOW through a theological lens. Paul – justification for missionary movement moving on out..
• Bringing together media professionals & theologians v. important.
• What kind of support/encouragement, etc. are you going to offer to those e.g. making radio programmes on Sunday morning – and what are you going to learn from them. Theology & technology – keep it together.
• God is much bigger than our laptops & there are more questions that just how we interact with media. Every initiative needs to be critiqued through issue of justice. Work out strategically what’s important – accept compromises/balance, but keep asking questions.
• New Media – give access to information, etc. for both developed/developing nations. Africa – never be cabled, but mobile phone – making a huge difference!  What could you do that would serve the local community where you are? E.g. buying Wii for Friday night clubs, etc.
• Do we need to take this on the road as a 2-3 day course? Can we identify those who are passionate and can lead this?  General congregation can get involved, but identify those with particular passions.
• http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/divinity/research/projects/media-theology ?
• How do we see God involved in this? Is media a gift (community, communication, being fully human in community)? Can be a gift that can be corrupted by us so need theological understanding. Similar questions between science/faith – until see science as a gift can’t deal with it theologically.
• In our richness, how do we share in a way that isn’t patronising, but is liberating. JUSTICE issues… Divide between those who have access to free information, and those who  only have access to advertised information.

The Church and Media Network

• http://churchmedia.moonfruit.com/
• Media understand Christians better
• Help Christians understand the media better
• Support Christians working in the media (http://www.themedianet.org/)
• Pray for those working in the media?  If you hear them, pray for them – let them know you’re praying for them..

Questions

• Individualism vs community nature of the gospel
• Christian media vs Christians working in the media (Just say yes if asked to contribute. Sucks the talent out, and takes an “out” for mainstream media as “they have their own space” – mainstream – have to be GREAT to get it out there – so we should aim to be good enough to get on BBC1, rather than putting it on own channel; what about e.g. getting Delirious in the charts, what about e.g. Athlete – band happen to be Christians, but they’re not KNOWN as that. MAKE good TV (not  necessarily “Christian” TV) – maybe you’ll get asked further questions, maybe you won’t.  Do we have to know, do people have to wear a label?
• How support those who we want to take on roles in the congregation – not “oh, the vicar does it”.  Digitally enabled laity (those who are keen to use, enable them)
• Where to start in applying it. What are they ALREADY communicating through notice board/their physical presence, the people in it, etc..

You are the light of the world, not you might be.

Use the right TOOL for the job.

New Media vs Old Media – midweek that seemed to be the way… now that divide also seems not to be there…  Don’t be AFRAID, just experiment, take risks, think about the MESSAGE that you have.  Sharing and more COLLABORATIVE seems to be more of the mood that’s coming out..

http://www.dur.ac.uk/codec/about/

Ethical: Truth, privacy, exploitations, taste, popularity, fairness, hurt?

Is anyone concerned about ethics? 2 years ago lots of ethical debates, started with Richard & Judy (You Say We Pay) – viewers phone calls, but no one past first 10 minutes. Most of these programmes make their money from phone calls. Set off a big hoo-ha…  and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6449919.stm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-467754/Leibowitz-The-Queen-I-did-fall-BBC-tantrum-film.html – re-editing – changed the story (even though it wasn’t broadcast). Unleashed self-examination – with multiple scandals.

• These edits must happen all the time, so why does it matter that it’s the Queen.
• E.g. the whole of Big Brother – it tells the story you want..
• Is it all mis-representation – e.g. Songs of Praise Easter Service filmed at Christmas?
• Is it the celebration or the mediation?
• Does it need e.g. “30 women in our survey”, do we need to sacrifice some entertainment for honesty?
• Are we talking about levels of honesty?
• Emma Watson’s boobs get bigger in the IMAX version of Harry Potter – is this any different from other models? Is the first image “real”? What assumptions are there about values about e.g. what makes people feel attractive, etc?
• http://www.ohiohistory.org/capture/1971.html ; http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/farid/research/digitaltampering/kentstate1+2.jpg . I f take own photos try and take appropriately – so this is just like post-editing. Has it changed the meaning? Photo happened to catch a moment – so wasn’t set up? So does removing a fencepost from the image matter? What happens if we say one of the arguments is that students were unable to escape from the gunfire – the removal of the fencepost becomes significant?
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/apr/12/election2005.uk1 – image doctored and used on the electoral leaflet. Hadn’t asked Anne Widdecome’s permission – and she was mad.
• The Sun published a picture of Great White Shark (from Africa) – http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2182715.ece; http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article251024.ece – went national, who would check, and damages the tourist industry. Why did they publish if not tree – because it will sell newspapers.
• Is it OK that we see The Sun as entertainment, it doesn’t matter?!
• Churches are not immune, what kind of stories do we put forward?

If you’re a news editor – what would you do if this story landed on your desk?

• http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a12172/contestants-to-sue-sky-over-transvestite-show.html Are there people who are easily exploited? Values are coming from “don’t expect the media to be ethical”. What do we say about others who are being hounded by the media – is it problematic? The audience are complicit in exploitation.
• BNP included in local TV (material being produced nationally although includes local stories).  Issues of freedom of speech? Basis as a local channel. Did they stop producing the tapes? Open access community channel – would monitor more closely? Where is the dividing line?  Can’t show illegal but CAN be offensive.. e.g. local sermons can be offensive to some. Similar story: http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/forum/topics/revelation-tv-debate-nick
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6676345.stm This story? It’s right to deceive in who they are to get ‘the truth’.  There are legally appointed bodies that could deal with this – e.g. Trading Standards – so why did the BBC not work with them?! Is the question different (can you break the law to find a story “in the public interest”) for journalists than others? Journalists may lose their lives in pursuing “the truth”.
• Footballer, convicted of fraud, commits suicide in front of the group/cameras, etc. 30 minutes to air – would you air the story – with what audio/video. Convention  is that we don’t show the moment of death, but it isn’t illegal. At what point do you cut the pictures or the sound? Usually using a reporter on sight – he’s just seen a man commit suicide – is he going to be calm? Pastoral issues for the staff…  Why so many journalists are harsh – asking them to make sensitive decisions. Talking local press..
• http://tweetphoto.com/29015976. Thought wouldn’t mention that she’d died – tell story by omission until knew more about the hostage situation – would ask for exclusive from the Police. What about other media (TV/radio/internet) likely to run the story – where does that leave you?  “Our job is to tell the truth, and to tell something as fully as you can” – if divert – on a slippery slope…

Are there still good news stories in the papers, etc? Journalists are SO lazy it tends to get in…

When researcher asks you to sign a contract, it’s a “blood chit”.

How naïve are we?! Does Christianity inform us – we can’t agree, so what about journalists, many of whom have no Christian value. However have high values on ‘truth’ & entertainment!

“What is the Church of England?”: “A Christian presence in every community”.

What is the CofE today?

Video created (no sound, add your own) explaining what the CofE is:

and interested in developing this.

The organisation is professional , proactive, integrated, and mission-orientated

Communications Strategy

External context scanning – communicate externally.  (EPISTLE)

• Economic
• Political
• Informational
• Social
• Technological
• Legal
• Environmental

Once understand the issues that people are dealing with, can communicate more effectively.

The group had a discussion about what was the SWOT for the Church of England, and therefore how can it engage best?

6-7  million go to church regularly in the UK, of which 1 million CofE.

Website (Audience)

There’s both an internal (staff & regular churchgoers) and an external audience (including those looking for weddings/funerals, non-churchgoers and the press).  A very diverse audience, so it’s unlikely that people will agree with all.

Internally:

• Intranet
• http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/cofegazette
• “In Review” newspaper, 2 x year

Digital Engagement is key…  It used to be an extra optional layer, now it’s key, particularly for the external audience:

• http://www.cofe.anglican.org/ – 10000 pages, 2 million unique visitors, 150,000pm
• Top 10 (reverse order): Funeral Readings; Collects; News; History; Liturgy; Weddings; Daily Prayer; Worship; Podcast feed; RSS News feed
• http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7153347143
• Back To Church Sunday: http://www.backtochurch.co.uk/ (53,000 attended 2009, around 10,000 stayed)
• Say One for Me (prayer board for Lent,Bishops agreed to pray for all) : http://sayoneforme.org/
• Call Waiting (for those thinking about ordination): http://www.callwaiting.org.uk/
• Ready Steady Slow (advent calendar): http://www.whywearewaiting.com/
• The Church of England Wedding Project: http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/
• Shrinking the Footprint (reduce own carbon footprint of 80% by 2050): http://www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org/
• Church & 2012 Olympics: http://www.morethangold.org.uk/
• Matter of Life & Debt: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/debt/
• Fathers’ Day: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/fathersday/
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ArchbishopsCouncil
• A Church Near You: http://www.achurchnearyou.com/

Most of these projects started small in a single church, and then the momentum grows – it’s not about picking big projects.

The group discussed a great project with regards to encouraging people to have ‘staycations’ and engage with the local community.

• http://www.ucb.co.uk/
• http://www.god.tv/homepage?region=226
• http://www.god.tv/live

Funding? Very expensive business…

• Licence fees?
• Charitable appeals & broadcasters.
• Sky – 15 TV channels, 10 radio channels, promoting Christian media – more sophisticated – is big money
• Caveat – I am not a huge fan of Christian only TV – think we need those skills in mainstream media, although with so many niche channels, I think there’s a place for these channels, but PLEASE don’t suck all the skilled Christians into a Christian-media-bubble-niche – those who watch those kind of TV – already “preaching to the converted”! I have also seen a number of people who watch only e.g. The God Channel and consume it uncritically – TV is produced by humans, and we need to critique as much as with everything else.
• Advertising is key – have some mainstream audience, can be very targeted – especially with e.g. Spotify : http://www.spotify.com/uk ; webmail providers (browser history). Because of the internet – lots of media is converging – newspapers are only just getting involved with it. Masthead sponsorship have to watch before get to content.
• Having to identify new funding models…
  • Development of hi-speed broadband = worst nightmare.
  • Are so many options for video – doesn’t take much to get the lighting right/2 cameras not 2 – so look to make a decent video rather than slapping it up! There’s many novelists, but there’s only  one JK Rowling – put the effort in.
  • Games – big pressure on independents
  • God TV was ahead of the game…

Compression on TV through digital (including HD, clear on analogue TV) means, especially if move too fast, difficult to see.

• Labour intensive & expensive to film
• Satellite time & transponding – even MORE expensive!
• How do channels such The God Channel  survive in there?
  • Most Christian TV channels have ‘help fund us’ run across the base of programmes – helps  confirm the idea that most Christians are money-grubbing.
  • Yes, ‘http://www.god.tv/live’ the first thing that draws your eye is “Donate Now’ on a big red area…
  • Lots of rules regulate what is on TV. Overseas can get away with doing certain things, not covered by the same rules.
  • God TV – “anti” what The God Channel is doing…
    • Common tactic – need money to keep them on air… etc
    • We’re saying that God is a provider so why are we asking for money?
    • It wouldn’t happen if it didn’t work. The problem Andrew sees is the implication that if you GIVE God will bless you…
    • Need to accept that TV costs money (especially TV) and may have to ask for money, but ask honestly. Once can do it on the internet – take out satellite costs & that will help. S
    • Define a Christian Documentary. Tod Bentley & Lakeland business.  Likes http://www.stevehill.org/
    • Good news stories?
    • Positive news stories?
    • Some invest time/money  into producing their own content, etc.
    • What about e.g. Billy Graham always pointed people to local churches.
    • Here, UCB are the good guys – they will refer you to useful sources.

Most start in TV not to make money…

So what is an HONORABLE way to raise money for Christian TV? E.g. Church partnerships?

So SHOULD we even have Christian TV?

One of the impacts of American model – OFCOM has found there are certain things they can’t regulate as people will find other ways round them. So it’s becoming increasingly liberal, otherwise closing doors after horses have bolted! http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/religion/

Some secular funding comes because they think there’s some interesting stories in there…

Is the brand the product or is the packaging?

What are we trying to “sell” and should the label/what’s inside in the tin match? Are we ‘selling’ – what words should we use? How do you see the word ‘sell’ – maybe you’re giving people something they want… at a cost (to someone)?

How can we be enterprising at our level? Seek God first and pray…

Arun Arora: Local Comms (used to work for Archbishop John Sentamu)

How do you get a story out when you know what you want to say?

• God’s Rule
  • The media is something that can be redeemed by God’s Kingdom.
  • Traditionally in the church – relations with the media have been rocky, especially because the church can be quite anti “the media”.
    • OK if it’s The Times or The Telegraph, etc. but what about The Sun?!
• Redeeming stories
  • http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23491368-archbishop-sentamu-takes-12500ft-parachute-plunge-for-army-veterans.do
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04nv4DS9K4
  • Gets Sentamu in the press, and then can talk about deeper issues
• Fear Stories
  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/textlad/2252631472/
  • A Word on Digital Media
    • “Digital is not all it’s cracked up to be. I’m sick of seeing all this hi-def, hi-hi, super-hi… It just seems to be a trend. In reality we all want analogue experiences.” Kylie Minogue. Times 19/06/10.
      • There’s a relationship between “old” and “new” media – Twitter only works because you can link to greater understanding.
      • E.g. The Beatitudes – bit like Twitter without the bigger understanding.
      • “Which Media Do You Trust”. Photo (2 years ago) by The Newspaper Society
      • 80.4% of British adults read a regional newspaper, rather than 61% who read a national newspaper – are these figures out of date?
• New Media: The Power of Localism.  Clay Shirky “Here Comes Everybody”.
• The Potential & The Fear
• News-What is It?
  • Is it everything? Do people want to read about cereal?
  • Something that’s new?
  • Something unusual?
  • Not defined by the audience?
  • 5 categories
    • Events (something happens, e.g. 9/11) – in big stories may be all we hear about = “hard news”
    • Response (e.g. “The Today Programme”) – respond on behalf of community to what was hard news earlier (e.g. Cumbria shootings)
    • Piggy Back (commenting on comments, responding to response, especially fills a “slow news day”) – in many ways this is what we understand by blogs.
    • Calendar (specific known events)
    • Image (1972 – http://coffeeforclosers.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/napalm20girl.jpg – can’t see what has been cropped out of the image – other photographers & other soldiers)
• So, if you want to get in the press – you need to fit in one of these criteria – the often is in the Response/Piggy Back category.
• The role of the church as part of the event – e.g. repatriation of bodies, violent deaths, etc..
• Editorials – don’t tend to make news… occasionally it may become an event.
• Spot the Odd One Out
  • Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, Peppa Pig, Playboy Bunny: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1020689/Furious-vicar-clears-shelves-local-shop-Playboy-stationery-targeted-children.html
  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7415538.stm “review immediately” (THEY say, why is it stocked next to children’s stuff but what they produce is clearly only for kids). Damage limitation?
  • “Man goes in with 7 year old to buy pencil case.” “3 days later international porn movement says sorry.” Who comes out best – Playboy gets lots of coverage? But who sneers at it?!
  • Conceptual art etc – often designed for an inflammatory response? Is all news good news?
  • Next story from Tim Jones: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/4813836._It___s_okay_to_shoplift__says_York_priest/ He thought he knew where he was going with the story (sent by press response) – wasn’t prepared for the response!
    • http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/4815666.Supermarket_s_fury_over_priest___s_shoplifting_comments/
• Interesting response:
  • http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/284573
  • http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=86868
• Within full nuances, complex, hour’s lecture – it makes sense, but who actually reads the whole story…
• C of E = a voluntary organisation, not a company. Term “Broad Church” comes from here. So can say “Don’t talk to Press without talking to your Comms Office”, but doesn’t work that way – but each vicar needs to think “does this empower the Kingdom”.
• Assumption that this story is a bad thing… just because it got hot… Get 2 lots of coverage by putting out a statement & then the retraction.
• A Priestly Parable?
  • What can we learn from Fr Tim Jones?
    • Possible to use media effectively in highlighting issues of faith –esp prophetic
    • Good relationships can/do exist – usually in the form of individuals continuing relationship
    • The adrenaline of ’15 minutes’ in 24/7 media world can be addictive (the first story was good, the 2^nd a mistake)
    • Not all publicity is good publicity.
  • A Priestly Parable?
    • What can we learn from Fr Tim Jones?
      • Possible to use media effectively in highlighting issues of faith –esp prophetic
      • Good relationships can/do exist – usually in the form of individuals continuing relationship
      • The adrenaline of ’15 minutes’ in 24/7 media world can be addictive (the first story was good, the 2^nd a mistake): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_cross_controversy – pushed story too far, lost, now legally binding on all.
      • Not all publicity is good publicity.
        • AB John Sentamu – prayed through all stories, was seen as key. Secret to strong leadership – being led by the Holy Spirit & discerning through prayer.
  • What Would Hosea Do? http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=HOsea%201&version=NIV
  • http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=HOsea%201&version=NIV
    • How would you advise the prophet Hosea to use the media to proclaim his message?
      • The Sun or a gossip magazine could pick it up. But would this be positive?  Draw out the human story. Good news story – moving from prostitution to home?
    • What are the main issues that you face in getting across this message?
      • “God said to me…”
      • Not in CONTROL of exactly how the message will be portrayed – newspapers likely to promote negative image.
      • It’s NOT happened yet.
        • FACED
          • Culture – Theocracy v liberal democracy
          • Authority – God? Which? Whose?
          • Association – “God told me to do it”
          • Authenticity – Stunt v. Prophetic Act? (people are so CYNICAL)
          • People don’t buy into “God told me”, but if you say “it’s my story/it’s my faith” it works.
    • Think of a modern day Prophetic Act that media would cover positively.
      • Tony Campolo (lost the detail here)
    • Application
      • Be culturally relevant – know your pitch and know your audience. (Those who critique the church for reducing self to soundbites, need to see that Jesus often did this).
      • Authority – wide appeal
      • Association – nothing new under the sun. Dog bits man, man bits dog. (Understand the news values that operate)
      • Authenticity & Proclamations? As against Paul 1 Cor 19.22
      • NEVER be afraid to say I’ll ring you back (having taken the questions) – but do ring them back quickly!