Closing date approaches for magazine, website and social media competition

Friday March 19th 2010

A reminder that Friday March 26 is the closing date for entries to the annual Church of Ireland Magazine, Website and Social Media Competition.

The annual competition is run by the Central Communications Board which is inviting entries in a number of categories (details below). Quality of design and layout, strength of editorial content and outreach potential are once again to be the standards of excellence against which entries will be judged.

Winners will be announced at the General Synod which takes place this year in Dublin from May 6-8.

Central Communications Board Chairman, the Rt Rev Trevor Williams, Bishop of Limerick, stated: “Among the unsung heroes of the Church of Ireland are those who assist our communications. Parish and diocesan magazines or newsletters have been around for a long time and the ‘print’ media still plays an indispensable role in helping us keep in touch with one another.

“Today we are living through a revolution which is changing not only how and what we communicate but changing the way we live. Increasingly websites are being created by parishes and dioceses and in previous competitions we have seen some fine examples.

“But ask the ‘young at heart’ and you’ll find they are constantly using texting, Bebo, Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with what is happening. This year, as well as the more traditional media, let’s see how the ‘new’ technologies can be used by the Church
This competition is to celebrate the old and new. We want to be inspired, to learn and progress.”

Bishop Williams concluded: “Communication is about creating community. And after all, that’s the Church’s core business. So get involved. Let’s learn from what you are doing.’

In the Magazine section entries are invited in three print media categories:

• Diocesan Magazines
• Parish Magazine/Newsletter
• Church of Ireland affiliated organisation Magazine/Newsletter

In the Website section entries are invited in three categories:

• Diocesan Website
• Parish Website
• Church of Ireland affiliated organisation Website

In the Social Media section:

• Most innovative use of Interactive Communication Technologies (ICT) or ‘social media’ over and beyond standard websites, eg: blogs, podcasts or social networking or content-sharing websites

Entries are welcome from any committee or group associated with the Church of Ireland.

An entry form can be downloaded here, or is available from the Church of Ireland Press Office (by email: press@ireland.anglican.org or phone: 028 9023 2909. Send entries as follows:

Magazines and newsletters – one recent copy – to Jenny Compston, Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61-67 Donegall St, Belfast, BT 1 2QH, Northern Ireland.

Websites, please supply an e-mail containing the URL to: press@ireland.anglican.org

Social Media, please send an example or link including a description of the technology, how applied and the objective of the initiative to Jenny Compston, Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61-67 Donegall St, Belfast, BT 1 2QH, Northern Ireland or to press@ireland.anglican.org.