Communicating the Good News in the Media

Salt and Light

Marijke Hoek September 2011

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither

do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.

Mt 5:14-16

Truth and the globalized media

We commit ourselves to a renewed critical and creative engagement with media and technology, as part of making the case for the truth of Christ in our media cultures. We must do so as God’s ambassadors of truth, grace, love, peace and justice.

• Media awareness• Media Presence• Media Ministries

Media awareness

• The media owns the public imagination. • The media has an agenda• Social media has reshaped our world• There is a need for hope in the media

Media Presence

To develop authentic and credible Christian role models and communicators for the news media and the entertainment media

Story telling

"Jesus was a story teller. He taught in parables. Many of the parables retold Israel's story in ways that seemed familiar when they began, but brought the listener to a conclusion they did not expect...

The purpose of parables was 'to convey a fresh possibility to the hearer, otherwise unknown to this world or his language. As such, the parables also invite the reader to participate in what is conveyed.’

“God's power was as much in action in the telling of parables as in the healing of the

sick. In the parables, the kingdom demands a

response. They are a call to discipleship. This was subversive engagement with

Israel's understanding of its story. We need to find similar, imaginative ways

to retell, subvert and challenge our nation's stories".

Graham Cray, Disciples and Citizens

Engaging in the public debate

“In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, 'That is mine!'”

Abraham Kuijper

‘Double Listening’

“Double listening is vital if we are ever to communicate the gospel,

to speak God’s Word to God’s world with a necessary combination of faithfulness and sensitivity.

Not of course that we listen to the Word and the world with an equal degree of respect.

We listen to God to believe and obey. We listen to the world rather in order to understand and

feel its predicament.”

John Stott

Letter writing

“Increasingly, the influence is not just found in MPs’ surgeries, local councils and ballot boxes, but… those who control the media.

Writing letters to newspapers…are avenues of potential influence that more and more of us can choose”

Ann Holt, Bible Society

• First Cannabis Café to open in capital

• Youth, the lost generation (gang culture)

• Far right opposes local asylum refuge

• Commend that which is good

• Constructively critique what can be better

• Creatively engage with current affairs

Criteria for your letters

• Communicate hope

• Avoid jargon

• Communicate graciously

Media ministries

• A citizen journalist initiative (WEA)• Local Media Hubs• Script writers, story tellers, etc.

Advocacy

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Defend the rights of the poor and needy

Prov. 31:8

Sign posting

Training

Media strategy is essential

• Training• Harmonizing of message• Financial investment• Disciple web generation of media makers• Lateral thinking

in a city

among organizations

Hope

“Always be prepared to give an answer to

everyone who asks you to give the

reason for the hope that you have”

1 Peter 3:15

Prophetic

We should be the social commentators in our days

Col. 4: 6 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Think…

• Education/Healthcare/Homeless Sunday• Mother’s Day• Easter• Election• National Refugee Week• National Marriage Week

Local Media

• Radio• Free Paper• Vocational paper (e.g. Police)• BBC regional website• Local Channel TV• ……

Prominent themes

• What is your locality speaking about?

• What is your message?

• Who would be good spokesperson?

• High teenage pregnancy• Youth crime• Fuel poverty elderly• Debt/ credit crunch• ….