Global Media, Global Religion: Research on Popular Media and the Remaking of Religions

As we move further into the 21st Century, the media are playing an ever more important role in religion and spirituality. The issue is larger than how religion is covered by journalism, or how religions are represented in television and films, as important as those things are. (more »)

Stewart M. Hoover and

Nabil Echchaibi

April 07 (Wed.)

12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

1A

Using Works to Further Your Message: How Copyright Law Applies to Communities of Faith

This workshop will explain the structure of copyright law and how it applies to the religious community. (more »)

Kevin Keener

April 08 (Thur.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

1B

Religion in the News Media: Going, going, gone?

How do communicators effectively reach religion reporters now that many U.S. daily newspapers have cut their religion sections and in some cases, their religion reporters – while technology and economics transform the industry. (more »)

Debra L. Mason

April 08 (Thur.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

1C

Communication Rights and the Millennium Development Goals

Communication lies at the heart of change. Living together in peace, advancing sustainable development, harnessing today’s technologies for good, and living one’s faith all demand communication that creates community, strengthens participation, increases freedoms, develops cultures, and is a voice for justice.

Philip Lee

April 08 (Thur.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

1D

Social Media With a Strategy

There are so many social media opportunities, but be careful not to chase the shiny object. You need a solid strategy first. (more »)

Michael Hoffman

April 08 (Thur.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

1E

Peace and Justice Journalism: Covering Faith in Action Regionally and Modeling Media Responsibility

Mary will share how The Fig Tree models and trains people to do peace or solutions-oriented journalism to overcome divisions, respect diversity, identify and resolve social problems, etc. (more »)

Mary Stamp

April 08 (Thur.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

1F

Communications Ethics Today

Converging media and cross-platform publishing require new approaches to photographic coverage and presentation. (more »)

Kenneth Irby

April 08 (Thur.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

2A

Cultural Diversity and Communication – A Panel Presentation

One of the most difficult contemporary debates is about “social cohesion” and “cultural diversity,” the integration of different cultural and religious groups into an increasingly pluralistic society in which it seems harder than ever to find common ground and values. What are the responsibilities of religious communicators within this context? (more »)

Jim McDonnell and

Nick Stuart

April 8 (Thur.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

2B

Learning the Basics of Photoshop and Photo Editing

Learn how to use many of traditional techniques used by photographers for decades, as well as more recent tools to get the results you want when working with photos. (more »)

Kevin Slimp

April 08 (Thur.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

2C

Beyond Viral Video

Organizations that use online video effectively aren’t just creating great content, they’re creating great strategies. (more »)

Michael Hoffman

April 08 (Thur.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

2D

Social Networking and Congregations

All the data points to social networking as the primary way in which people communicate and enhance their communities. This workshop will discuss how congregations can build community online and overcome stumbling blocks based on the consulting work of the Center for Congregations.

Aaron Spiegel

April 08 (Thur.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

2E

Join the Coalition: Media Justice is Social Justice

“So We Might See” is a new interfaith coalition on media reform. Come hear about the coalition’s web-based campaign and learn how your faith tradition can join the movement for grassroots media reform.

J. Bennett Guess and

Cheryl Leanza

April 08 (Thur.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

2F

Finding Your Marketing Sweet Spot: A hedgehog, a sock, and the path to communications enlightenment online

Learn how to rise above your competition and attain standout status with marketing savvy. (more »)

Katya Andresen

April 08 (Thur.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

3A

Communication for Peace: How Digital Technologies can Enhance Empathy and Dialogue

This workshop will explore ways that digital communication tools can contribute to peace building by enhancing our ability to empathize with each other more deeply, map conflict areas, or refocus dialogues around facts. (more »)

Carole St. Laurent

April 08 (Thur.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

3B

Photo Editing and Color Correction Tips in Photoshop for Experienced Users

Learn photo editing and color correction skills that will drastically improve the way your pictures look in print. (more »)

Kevin Slimp

April 08 (Thur.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

3C

Top-Notch Congregational Communication

Local congregations need web sites and other communication tools that are informational, appealing and engaging. They need to be able to provide both answers that visitors are looking for and details that members need. (more »)

Angela Bengtson

April 08 (Thur.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

3D

Helping Kids Mind the Media in Faith Communities

Sister Rose will present and explore the strategy of “media mindfulness” - a method of engaging the media and popular culture through the eyes of faith and responsible citizenship in a globalized world. (more »)

Rose Pacatte

April 08 (Thur.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

3E

Broadcast Radio: How to Get Started and Offer Quality Programs

This workshop will go through the basic steps of starting a community radio program (more »)

Janaan Hashim

April 08 (Thur.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

3F

Gender, Media and Social Change: A case study of the Global Media Monitoring Project

The workshop will discuss the gender dimensions of media through a review of the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP), the longest-running widely participatory research on selected indicators of gender in news media worldwide. (more »)

Sarah Macharia

April 08 (Thur.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

4A

Package Your Message for High Impact

Learn a 7 step process to package your content for high impact. Gain tools and a solid foundation to shorten your prep time, increase your value, and position your organization for high growth. (more »)

Jean DiGiovanna

April 09 (Fri.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

4B

Words Can Move Mountains: Successfully Communicating Advocacy Issues

This workshop will discuss the importance of communications in garnering publicity and support, building the political will for advocacy issues, and proven ways of using communications to successfully engage people in public policy advocacy around important social issues.

Rajyashri S. Waghray

April 09 (Fri.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

4C

Communicating Religion in the Evolving Environment of New Media and Changing Society

This workshop will look ahead to the next 10 years and examine the evolution and the emerging understanding of religion in the fast changing globalized and diasporic (multi-local) society and the challenges to communicate faith and religion.

Basilio G. Monteiro

April 09 (Fri.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

4D

Virtual or Real: Faith in the Second Life Community

This workshop will offer examples of ways that faith communities are employing Second Life to share and communicate faith. (more »)

David Louder

April 09 (Fri.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

4E

Social Media Marketing

Go beyond tactics and buzz words to talk about real conversations – with real people and in real life – for companies and organizations in the changing media landscape.

Leah Jones

April 09 (Fri.)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

5A

How Advertising Can Help Activate the Members of a Church

Facing slowly declining membership, in 2008 the ELCA embarked on a brand advertising campaign that was designed to grow the Church by helping each ELCA member become a more informed ambassador for the ELCA. (more »)

Greg Reifel

April 09 (Fri.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

5B

What Makes a "Good" Religion Story Today: Relating to the mainstream media in times of social, religious and technological change

This workshop will offer some tips on how to make religion writers in today's newsrooms drop everything and pay attention to your texts, tweets and telephone calls. (more »)

Manya A. Brachear

April 09 (Fri.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

5C

When Religion Meets New Media

This workshop will explore the challenges faced by religious groups when they encounter new forms of media.  What factors play a key role in decision making and negotiation with new media? (more »)

Heidi Campbell

April 09 (Fri.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

5D

Raising Kids in a 24/7 Digital Media World: The Role of Faith Groups

This interactive, multi-media presentation will include an overview of what young people are really doing with media as well as the challenges and opportunities kids’ media use pose for parents and faith communities. (more »)

Rebecca Randall

April 09 (Fri.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

5E

Video in a Web 2.0 World

Video is making a huge impact in the world of Web 2.0. This workshop explores inexpensive ways to harness web video. We examine basic video production and post-production techniques, editing software recommendations, and uploading tips. (more »)

Tim Frakes

April 09 (Fri.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

5F

Bridging the Digital Divide: Social Marketing Applied

This workshop will discuss and reveal the experience of how a small ITC project in Taiwan began, grew, and has changed the lives of migrant workers. (more »)

Michael (Mhike) J. So

April 09 (Fri.)

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

6A

Tools for Communicating in Multi-Religious America

This workshop will explore a broad range of tools produced by the Pluralism Project that can aid in the effective communication of our multi-religious reality. (more »)

Kathryn Lohre

April 09 (Fri.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

6B

How to Evaluate Research about Congregations and Worshipers

Using two of the latest studies of congregational life the workshop provides clear criteria for judging national studies and strategies for comparing diverse research reports. (more »)

Deborah Bruce and

Scott Thumma

April 09 (Fri.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

6C

Shared Voices: Communicating in Anti-racist Ways

Nekeisha Alexis-Baker and Ryan Miller will describe their experience of integrating anti-racist principles and practices as members of the Mennonite Mission Network communication team. (more »)

Nekeisha Alexis-Baker and

Ryan Miller

April 09 (Fri.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

6D

Web Ministry 3.0: A view of emerging tools and applications

This will be a highly experiential workshop that looks at where the next iteration of the Internet is headed and include an open dialogue on the impact of these emerging technologies, their theological underpinnings and how church communicators should use them effectively, if at all. (more »)

Matt Carlisle

April 09 (Fri.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

6E

In the Spotlight: A Media Training Workshop

If it’s true that our human species fears public speaking, then how do we feel about live TV interviews? (more »)

Anuttama Dasa

April 09 (Fri.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

6F

The Key to Successful News Articles Starts Before You Even Write a Word

This workshop touches on the actual writing of the article, but the majority of the information is about the pre-writing and how paying attention to that can mean the difference in just getting the job done and true success. (more »)

Jennifer Davis Rash

April 09 (Fri.)

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.