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Communicators Examine Roles in a High-tech, Multicultural World

Episcopal News Service. June 23, 1993 [93125]

Sarah Moore, Free-lance Writer in the Diocese of Michigan.

A record number of Episcopal Communicators gathered for their 15th annual convention in New Orleans, June 9-12. They came not only to frolic in the French Quarter, but to explore the expanding complexity and vision of their role within the Episcopal Church.

Directed by group facilitator Maureen Connors of Washington, D.C., the 143 editors, writers, photographers and video producers from the local, diocesan and the national level explored new paradigms to "tell the story" in the next millennium, delved into personal and corporate vision statements, discussed technology, and held up new ways to report and connect in a multicultural world.

After watching a video on paradigm shifts, the group focused on the theme, "Communicating Possibilities, And All that Jazz," to discuss new ways to view and produce communication within the church.

Communicators told to 'be pioneers'

"People like you often have to be the pioneers -- to determine what shifts you might have to be prepared for, rather than be the settlers -- who wait to see what happens," Conners said.

Many of the communicators agreed that they need to look to the future and grapple with their roles. They asked: Are we just describing the chaos, or are we looking for the truth? Are we hostages to the maintenance of the institution? As we look at the structure, are we asking if this is the way, the truth and the life? Are people at the fringes the ones who are going to present the model for the church? Am I the preserver or the truth teller?

Throughout the conference people struggled with these issues, whether informally discussing how to cover stories of sexual misconduct or dealing openly with how budget cuts dictate diocesan communications strategy.

A marketplace of ideas

In one session that included an exercise known as "the Village Marketplace" participants identified concerns they might face in the next few years. Breaking into self-selected interest groups, communicators discussed such issues as ethics, money and how to encourage ongoing dialogue on human sexuality. They asked if they perceived themselves as evangelists or reporters; whether Episcopal Communicators might initiate a coordinated national communications strategy in the church; how the church might put its prophetic voices on television, radio and in major newspapers and magazines.

One group discussed whether the Episcopal Communicators should become a lobby for communications in the church, ready to challenge those who try to curb their professional freedom. In an example of this idea, the organization distributed copies of Communicating in Crisis, a guideline for Episcopal Communicators on how to deal with communication strategy around cases of sexual misconduct. The booklet was edited by Michael Barwell (Diocese of Southern Ohio) and served as a follow-up to the convention in Berkeley, California, last year. A copy of the booklet will be sent to each diocesan bishop and chancellor.

Professional workshops were offered on postal concerns, design, photography, communication in a multicultural world, electronic media and video production. Presentations were made on Episcopal Life, Episcopal News Service and Quest, a computer communications network.

Communicators reviewed results of a survey of diocesan editors that showed a wide variety of expertise among editors. The survey was designed to help dioceses examine the effectiveness of communications as well as to give guidelines for structure and budget. Nearly half of the respondents to the survey are only part-time employees and almost 50 percent of the respondents are required to carry out non-communication/editorial work. Diocesan editors reported a wide range of financial compensation for their work -- from $2,500 for one part-time person, to $52,000. The results also showed that dioceses vary widely in their communications budgets -- from $8,000 in one diocese to $180,000 in another. An analysis of the full survey will be published at a later date.

Polly Bond awards highlight top work last year

Outstanding religious journalism efforts were recognized with the Episcopal Communicators annual Polly Bond Awards, named in honor of former Episcopal communicator, the late Polly Bond of the Diocese of Ohio. A record 485 entries were received, according to chairperson Alix Dorr.

Winners of the coveted General Excellence awards for overall quality in print publications were:

• Newspaper, over 12,000 circulation: The Episcopal News, Diocese of Los Angeles, Ruth Nicastro, editor;
• Newspaper, under 12,000 circulation: The Record, Diocese of Michigan, Herb Gunn, editor;
• Newspaper for Corporate Parish/Cathedral/Agency/Institution: Episcopal Life, Jerry Hames, editor;
• Magazine, Agency level: The Witness, Jeannie Wylie-Kellermann, editor;
• Magazine under 12,000 circulation: The Nebraska Episcopalian, Anne McConney, editor.

In electronic media, the top awards included:

• Live event, Agency level: "Values in Vocation," Trinity Church in New York, Linda Hanick, producer; Jeff Weber, executive producer; Charles Cesaretti, executive producer;
• Live event, Parish/Diocese: "The Ordination and Consecration of Jane Holmes Dixon," Dan Crossland, producer, Frances Antonucci Beard, executive producer, Cinny Kennard, narrator;
• Documentary, Agency level: "Listening to America: The Good Society," Episcopal TV and Radio Foundation, the Rev. Skip Schueddig, executive producer;
• Documentary, Audio: "Sunday at Six," Diocese of Connecticut, the Rev. Christopher Rose, producer;
• Documentary, Parish/Diocese: "Together," Diocese of New York, the Rev. Richard Anderson, producer.

At the close of the Polly Bond awards, Ruth Nicastro, retiring after 19 years as editor and communications missioner in the Diocese of Los Angeles, was recognized by her peers with the Janette Pierce award of exceptional contribution to the ministry of communications, named for the former managing editor of the Episcopalian who died unexpectedly in 1988.

Elected for three year terms to the board of directors were Dan Crossland from the Diocese of Los Angeles, and Nanette Ross from the Diocese of Arizona.