Why blog “The Word”?
By Andrew Grant-Adamson • Aug 28th, 2007 • Category: PersonalWordblog takes takes on a different meaning for this post which is about “The Word”: I have been asked to lead a blogging workshop at a conference of Church of England communications people in October and need help. I hope a few priests who blog will come across this and share their experiences with me.
Nick Clarke, the St Edmondsbury diocesan communications director, has emailed me with some questions he feels the participants might have. They are:
- Why should Bishops/Priests in the C of E Blog?
- Isn’t it just a passing fad?
- What sort of audiences do blogs reach that conventional communications (paper) don’t?
- What do I need to blog?
- Who should blog?
- What elements make up a good blog?
- How often do I need to blog?
- Where does blogging fit into a communications strategy for organisations like dioceses?
I can make a stab at providing answers, but if blogging is meant to be about harnessing the knowledge and experience of the community, I thought it would be a good idea to share the questions. I fear that there may be no bloggers on religion who read Wordblog, but perhaps my questions can ripple outwards.
Responses, as comments on this post, will be welcome from bloggers of all denominations and religions: the issues must be very similar.
Andrew Grant-Adamson is Andrew Grant-Adamson is a journalist who now teaches a new generation of writers, subs and editors at the University of Westminster.
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I can recommend Ben Gray’s blog for a Christian minister’s take on blogging:
http://openswitch.org/about
Dear Andrew Grant-Adamson,
I’m sorry to reply to a threat rather an emailing you - I am unable to get through via the address you supplied on this site.
I’m writing because we’re very interested to know what you think can be done to restore trust in news.
The Media Standards Trust is inviting informed comments on the issues raised by Paxman in his MacTaggart lecture and by the recent changes made by Five News and the BBC to their editorial guidelines. I was very interested to read your post about the issue of linking in blogs as a way of making journalists’ sources accountable - how could we employ an equivalent in broadcast news?
Do you think Five News’ changes have any impact? Are there other editorial changes you think could be made? Do you think Humphries and Sweeney are right to suggest scrapping BBCs 3&4 in favour of putting more money into news & current affairs?
I’d be very grateful if you can spare two minutes to make a contribution. The debate has just gone live on our website, http://www.mediastandardstrust.org. Or, if it’s easier to email me back a comment than post one on the site, I’d be happy to put it on there for you.
Thanks very much indeed and best wishes,
Zoe
The Media Standards Trust is a new, independent, campaigning think tank that aims to find ways to foster the highest standards of excellence in news journalism and ensure public trust in news is nurtured.