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Diocesan Newspaper:
Address Changes
Batched Copies
Copy Deadline
Editor
Issues
Subscriptions
Batched
Parishioners
Others
Online
Diocesan Website
Publicizing an Event
Press Releases
Reporting an Event
Tips on the Media
For more information,
contact the diocesan
Communications Officer
“Always ready to worship and serve.”
Communications & Publicity
The Church In Georgia Newspaper (CIGA)
Our newspaper is available in your mailbox and online here.
Parish Offices: Each fall, churches are sent a printout of names on the CIGA mailing list for your parish or mission. Please check it for errors, corrections, etc and return it to Chalker ASAP. While this is an annual check-up, you really should keep your parish list current by sending in changes at least monthly. This is done easily by emailing Publisher Roy Chalker or by regular mail to Chalker Publishing, P.O.B. 948, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (don’t forget to use your parish 2 digit ID code, which can be found on any label).
Don’t lose touch with your High School Grads, College Students & Seminarians! Add them to the list.
Batched Copies: If you’d like a batch of five copies for your church, let Roy Chalker know. Cost of first batch will be covered by the diocese. Each additional batch is $5, payable to The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. To be frugal and environmentally friendly, ask parishioners to bring their read copies to the church for visitors.
Parishioners in the Diocese of Georgia: To receive a printed copy at no charge or to change address information, please contact your church office. (The diocese pays your $15 subscription for you.)
Non-parishioners & those living outside the diocese: $15 per year, payable to The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. To receive a printed copy or to change address information, please contact the Communications Officer.
There is no subscription fee for the online version.
Copy deadline for upcoming events and BRIEF news items is normally 5 p.m. of the last day of the month for publication in the next month’s issue i.e. copy received by 30th November will be published in the December issue.
Copy deadline for longer articles is normally the 1st of each month for publication in the following month’s issue, i.e., copy received on or before January 1st will appear in February’s issue.
NOTE: The editor needs ready-to-print articles and prefers receiving them in the body of an e-mail (not as an attachment) or by fax. Photos may be sent as JPEG attachments. Copy and photos may, of course, be sent via regular mail where necessary.
The Editor
The Church in Georgia
2210 Twin Lakes Drive, Bainbridge, GA 39819
(229) 248-4636 voice & fax
ciga2@bellsouth.net
Issues of "The Church In Georgia" diocesan newspaper
May/June 2008 (Vol. 73, #4)
April 2008 (Vol. 73, #3)
Feb/March 2008 (Vol. 73, #2)
January 2008 (Vol. 73, #1)
December 2007 (Vol 72, #12)
November 2007 (Vol 72, #11)
October 2007 (Vol 72, #10)
September 2007 (Vol 72, #9)
August 2007 (Vol 72, #8)
July 2007 (Vol 72, #7)
June 2007 (Vol 72, #6)
May 2007 (Vol. 72, #5)
April 2007 (Vol. 72, #4)
March 2007 (Vol. 72, #3)
Post-Convention 2007 (Vol 72, #2)
Pre-Convention 2007 (Vol. 72, #1)
2006
November –December 2006 (Vol. 71, #10, Advent/Christmas)
September-October 2006 (vol. 71, #9, After Pentecost)
August-September 2006 (Vol. 71 #8, After Pentecost)
July-August 2006 (Vol. 71 #7, After Pentecost)
June-July 2006 (Vol. 71 #6, After Pentecost)
May-June 2006 (Vol. 71 #5, Easter)
April-May 2006, The Church in Georgia
Convention reports issue The Church in Georgia February 2006
Pre-convention issue The Church in Georgia January 2006
2005
August 2005 issue of the Church in Georgia
July 2005 issue of the Church in Georgia
June 2005 issue of the Church in Georgia
May 2005 issue of the Church in Georgia
page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4 page 5, page 6, page 7, page 8
April 2005 Issue of the Church in Georgia
page 1,page 2, page 3, page 4 page 5, page 6, page 7, page 8
Post-convention issue of the Church in Georgia
Pre-Convention issue of the Church in Georgia
January 2005 issue of the Church in Georgia
2004
December 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
November/December 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
October/November 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
September/October 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
August/September 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
July/August 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
June/July 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
May/June 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
March/April 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
Post-Convention issue of the Church in Georgia
January 2004 issue of the Church in Georgia
2003
December 2003 issue of the Church in Georgia
October 2003 issue of the Church in Georgia
September 2003 issue of the Church in Georgia
August 2003 issue of the Church in Georgia
July 2003 issue of the Church in Georgia (not currently available)
June 2003 issue of the Church in Georgia
page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4, page 5
page 6, page 7, page 8, page 9, page 10, page 11 (not available), page 12
Publicity
Remember that publicity and reporting are not a form of self-aggrandizement but a means of sharing the faith. So don’t be timid about communicating what you are doing, what’s coming up and how an event or project turned out.
Think about including your ECW, your parish and your community when planning events.
Publicizing an Upcoming Event
Just remember the Trinity and you can’t go wrong!
q Advertise events THREE times in THREE different ways beginning THREE months ahead.
q Create your flyer, bulletin release, announcement etc with your target audience in mind.
q Remember that people take in information and respond to it in basically three levels:
§ Level One – Headlines & subtitles; graphics & captions (80% of readers)
§ Level Two – Short copy; boxed information; charts etc. & captions (10-60% of readers)
§ Level Three – Body copy (1-10% of readers)
q Let the local newspapers and TV stations know about your event.
Reporting After the Event
q Plan ahead! When planning an event, designate one or two people to take photographs and write a report for your parish bulletin or newsletter, the diocesan newspaper and the local newspaper.
q Follow the same “Three Level” rule
q Identify what’s happening in a photo as well as the people. Action photos are good.
q Keep body copy brief
q Submit the article/photos in a timely fashion after the event
Send information via email to the Web Minister: JacquiBelcher@att.net
Writing a Press Release
Who? What? When? Whew? Why? How?
1. Use 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper, preferably bearing your church's or group's letterhead. If letterhead stationery is not available, use plain white paper Include your organization's name, address, phone and FAX number.
2. List your name or that of a designated individual as the contact person who is responsible for answering any questions a writer or editor may want to ask before, during or after your event.
3. Write a headline for your release; it should be a short phrase or sentence telling what the release is about.
4 Keep the release as short as possible - ideally, not more than a page or two.
5. Include only essential facts (who, what, where, why; when and how). Avoid adding extra details that are not Important or relevant to what you're writing about If someone calls to interview you or ask for more information, you can always provide more details, if necessary. NOTE: A press release is a way to convey factual information; if you are looking to express an opinion, give thanks, do a critique, enlist support or promote a worthy cause, the best way to do it is through a letter to the editor.
6. Always send out a professional looking release: it should he typewritten or word-processed, and double-spaced in format. Leave a sizable margin (also called white space) on the top and bottom of the page.
7. Proofread the release before photocopying and mailing, checking for spellings of names, reviewing phone numbers, addresses and dates. Check grammar and punctuation, too. If you find errors or misspellings, redo the release.
8. I£ your release is longer than one page, the word MORE should appear at the bottom of the first page. At the end of the release, place a “30” or a series of three number signs (###) to indicate there are no more pages to follow.
9. Mail or FAX the release to only one contact person at each newspaper, radio or TV station; be sure to send it far enough in advance of the event you've written about.
Tips On Dealing With the Media
1. Remember – you don’t have to speak with the media. To the police, probably, to the Bishop, certainly – but when the TV station or newspaper calls, you can always decline.
2. If you decide to speak to the media remember that the safest approach is to assume nothing you say is “off the record” even if you say “off the record.” If you say off the record AFTER you’ve said something it is definitely not off the record. Once again – assume anything you say is fair game.
3. Stay in your lane. While you are an Episcopalian, you do not speak for the Episcopal Church, or the Diocese or even your parish, unless you and your vestry are agreed on your position–you speak for yourself. It is important that the reporter be made aware of this and you should lead your answers with, “in my opinion,” or “I believe…”
4. Be succinct. The longer, more convoluted your answer, the greater likelihood you will be misunderstood. Rarely will you be misquoted even if you believe you have been. Usually the interviewee gets so carried away with him/herself that they say things they really didn’t mean to say and don’t remember saying.
5. Avoid speculation. Reporters want you to speculate. It makes for better (in their minds) stories. Words and phrases like, “Chances are…”, “There’s a good chance…”, “I think…”, “My guess is…” are the signs that what comes next is pure speculation.
6. Remember that, “I don’t know” is a perfectly acceptable response. It is better than making something up or guessing (see #5 above). Do not be afraid to refer the reporter to someone else. Let the Bishop speak for the Bishop, and other organizations, movements, clergy etc speak for themselves. If you refer someone to the Bishop (or his spokesperson) then call and give 611 a heads-up.