Media Development in Cities

Developing media engagement in your locality

 In 2001, Network, the Local Fellowship of the EA in Greater Manchester, offered me part-time employment to develop the media engagement in the city-region. At times, journalists would have contacted us but since we didn’t have someone dedicated to the task, we would miss out on media opportunities. Since then, we have been involved with circa 170 media representations per year: letters and newspaper articles, arranging interviews for radio and TV, drawing from an extensive range of quality spoke persons in the city’s Christian community, and Thoughts for the Week. I have worked closely with the EA, Tearfund, and Micah Challenge Press Offices in generating media coverage.

We also needed to develop in the Christian community a vision for media engagement and an excitement to see media as part of our mission. The one-day media course on engagement with the broadcast media by Christian trainers John Forrest and Andrew Graystone is a vital contribution to the development of a media strategy, equipping and envisioning Christians and contributing to a change in the church culture so that it becomes more suited to engage with the media.

The scripture that has inspired me is Jesus’ challenge to raise our light on a stand and let it shine before men so that people may see good work inspired by our faith, to the glory of God (Mt. 5:14-16). We are sitting on too many great stories. Testimonies given in church meetings are often also suitable to be narrated publicly. Furthermore, when we mix and mingle with the discussions in the public domain, i.e. the current affairs, we notice that a Christian perspective is not only needed but also welcomed. As the former bishop of Liverpool David Sheppard asserted, if we don’t engage in the public debate, that debate will go on without us. It is a joy to see gifted, passionate, and eloquent Christians engaging with the media. The Christian community is rich in vision, hope, stories, passion, conviction and creativity - salt of the earth and light of the world.

The aim is to:

• Bring good news stories into the local broadcast media and print press
• Give Christian perspectives on current affairs in local media channels
• Develop the media engagement skills of many key Christians through training
• Develop the media strategy/involvement of the Christian community (organisations/churches/individuals)

The way this is worked out:

• Write and send Press Releases on events to local (and regional) media.
• Uncover and release good news grass roots stories to local and regional media.
• Provide a contact point for the media in your locality: deal with media queries quickly and skilfully, aiming to provide quality spokespersons. Thus, you draw from the local Christian community, identifying those positioned best to answer.
• Have your ear to the ground on what the local media is talking about so that you may identify opportunities for the Christian community. i.e. If the local paper is talking about asylum, you can respond by drafting a letter for, or suggest a radio interview with, Christians who work with asylum seekers, so that their viewpoint will be heard in the ongoing debate.
• Develop good relations with the local radio producer and editors of the paper through which you serve their agenda by suggesting topics for interviews/articles. You are the ears and the eyes for those working in the studio/media office.
• Organise a media-training course and invite the relevant people to partake.
• Liaise with Press offices of some national organisations in providing local angles to wider issues. In turn, they can provide you with background information to current affairs so that you are well equipped
• Create a Press website for your locality in order to inform and inspire journalists and the church.

What is required?

• Someone dedicated on a part time basis (circa 7-10 hours / week)

The Christian community embodies and offers an alternative reality

The theologian Stanley Hauerwas considers that the role of the church is to be the kind of community that tells the story of Jesus. It is a good story. We need to live and tell it well. Telling that story publicly in a creative, gracious and engaging manner is part of the mission of the church.

Standing on a hill in Galilee, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount effected astonishment in the crowd (Mt.7:28f). Thus, the instruction to his disciples took place publicly, emphasising Matthew’s conviction that the community of believers is called to be a light for the world. Living according to the standards of the kingdom of God, the followers of Jesus embody an alternative reality and exemplify the character qualities of the Beatitudes. Telling testimonies, hopes and visions publicly through the media channels demonstrates that those who hunger for justice, those who are humble and merciful, who mourn or suffer for righteousness’ sake and those who make for peace are indeed blessed people.

There is a huge opportunity for Christians to engage with the media, an open door to communicate the good news, vision and values of the gospel in our communities.

Marijke Hoek

Are you interested in exploring how to develop this in your city, town, hamlet, or village?

Do contact us if you would like to explore the development of media engagement across your locality.

Marijke Hoek 07762 627568  m.hoek@eauk.org

Charis Gibson 020 7207 2117 / 2107 c.gibson@eauk.org