Communications

Communications is an important part of the work of the diocese, and we aim to promote clear, accurate information, and positive messages about the mission of the Church of England both within the diocese, and between the diocese and the wider world.

The Press and Communications Officer is Canon John Carter, a former BBC journalist and parish priest. A small team works with John, offering expertise and time. David Brighton is the design and layout editor of Together and has built and designed the new Diocesan website. He has also produced diocesan DVD’s as well as working on several diocesan publications. Other volunteers form the Communications Team which meets three times a year.

The work of Communications is read and seen by thousands of people every year and often achieves national coverage. The aim is to offer a high quality service to parishes, bishops, diocesan officers and departments.

For a fuller description of communications in the diocese click here
 

Parish support

1. Communications Courses for 2011

New courses for the summer and autumn of 2011 - click here for a PDF and book soon via John Carter

2. Press Office

There are sometimes occasions when an event provokes considerable media interest. The attentions of newspaper, online, radio and television journalists can present an opportunity for showing Christian ministry at work, but also a challenge for individuals engaged in ministry.

The press office is available to parishes, clergy and lay workers to advise and offer support at such times. John Carter can be contacted on (01423) 530369 or by email

john.carter@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk

Click here for the latest news releases

3. Parish Communication Audits

Good communications are vital for morale and for church growth. The Communications team are available to parishes to help develop specific areas of communication; this can start with an audit of all our 'communication' from noticeboards to media involvement.

Please contact John Carter if you would like to arrange for a Communicatioons Audit with your PCC, or communications group.

Click here to download a Parish Communications Audit sheet

4. Developing communications in your church

Whether its meeting with the PCC to look together at communications, talking to congregations, developing 'media literacy', or helping you look at web or magazine issues, John Carter is available to visit your church to raise awareness of communications and help your church communicate good news through local press and media, through publications and noticeboards and through developing a small communications team.

5. Parish Magazines and Websites

Support and training is provided for parish magazine editors, clergy and others involved in parish magazines and website.

Church Edit Websites

Church Edit is a very easy to use website builder used by several parishes in Ripon and Leeds and hundreds of churches around the UK. With Church Edit your parish can have an advanced parish website without needing any technical experience to create it.

There is a secure online website for managing the different areas of the site and different designs to choose from.
Features include:

• unlimited webpages
• photo albums
• calendar
• sermon space
• member only logins (optional)
• rota management
• discussion forums
• voting polls
• different designs/templates

Prices start at just £149+vat pa for Church Edit and this price includes web hosting. Technical support is also included so should you ever have any questions when updating the site then you can contact Church Edit for free.

To try Church Edit visit www.churchedit.co.uk and request a free 1 months trial site for your parish.
On the Church Edit website there is also a number of church website advice articles to help you create an affective website.
For more details visit www.churchedit.co.uk or call 0121 320 25 30.

Parish Pump - Resources for Parish Magazine editors

6. 'Together'

Together is produced monthly and 18,000 copies are distributed to parishes throughout the diocese. The cost of Together has remained consistently low (6p per issue) for the past nine years, and the aim is to reflect clearly and accurately news of interest not only to those within the church but others too. Many of the stories find their way into local or regional newspapers.

The A5 format has been retained so that it can be incorporated into parish magazines, the majority of which are also printed in A5 format.

If you think you have an article or item of interest please send details to johnc@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk. The deadline for articles is the final week or the second preceding month.. eg end of October for December.

For Together orders and changes please contact Julie Milbourne at the Diocesan Office - juliem@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk

7. Website

We are constantly striving to improve the website to make it as accessible as possible. New sections are continuously being developed, and videos and audio content is often included both in news stories and information sections.

The diocesan website has a local, national and international profile and attracts over 50,000 visits per month.  The site contains news, articles and information resources with the aim of supporting the mission of the diocese.

Contact David Brighton for information, website ideas, links etc. ripon_webmaster@yahoo.co.uk

8. Parish Communications Resources online

     Parish Communications Audit checklist

    Useful external sites

     Parish Pump - materials and ideas for parish magazines

     Get Your Church Noticed

Useful ideas for developing a church communications strategy, including buildings, noticeboards, logos, websites magazines, media and more