Media Outreach

I read an article in my Time magazine this week titled “How to Save Your Newspaper.” As more and more news makers are making their papers and magazines available for free on the World Wide Web, there is a decline in the readership of hard copy newsprint.

What does this mean for newspapers?- They are losing money because fewer people are purchasing papers, because they can get immediate, mostly free, access with a few clicks of a mouse.

After studying journalism, I appreciate all the effort that goes into creating a piece of art called a newspaper. There’s something about holding a newspaper in your hands and hearing it crinkle that I enjoy. Granted, reading a paper online doesn’t give you black smudges on your fingers.

However, as more people move toward the trend of going online for news, this can only mean that people are more likely to notice you, if you’re online.

This is great if you have a catchy website that attracts people, but not so great if you aren’t using it effectively and aren’t updating content.

Personally, when I get a bulletin from church on Sunday mornings, it is usually left on the floor under my pew. Not because I don’t like the printed announcement, but because I can’t keep up with it.

• I like the convenience of popping onto my church’s website to see the announcements whenever I want.
• I like to know that I can register for events online, when I forget to take my checkbook to church.
• I like to know that I can listen to my pastor’s sermons online, in case I missed last Sunday’s service.

While hardcopy news is declining, online sources are soaring and the church should take advantage of that. Hop on the train, because it ain’t stoppin’.