The Czech Evangelical Alliance (CEA) is making it easier for Christians in the Czech Republic to communicate with local and national media and challenges Christians to use media effectively, as a part of its ongoing "Media Consulting Service" project.
"We are living in a society that is more and more dependent on media,” the CEA stated in a document entitled “How to use the media,” which depicts the changing face of media use in the modern age“Everyday, a great amount of information rushes into people through television, radio, newspaper and even internet,” the CEA added. “Thoughts and views are shaped from what we see and hear.”
According to the alliance, in order for churches and Christian organisations of 21st century to communicate effectively with its surroundings, they have to learn how to use media and learn to professionally present their own messages.
“Christians shouldn't ask if it's right to use media. Instead they should ask if it's right to ignore them," the CEA stated.
The alliance has been spearheading efforts to educate Christian organisations about the media by providing resources online. A list of all leading national and local newspapers as well as TV channels was published in the “Media” section of the CEA’s official website (www.ea.cz/). With the contact information such as website address, email address and postal address on the list, Christian organisations will be able to disperse their information to the media more readily.
In addition, the CEA has offered three sets of guidelines for writing press releases, writing letters to the editor, and how to use the media. CEA summaries important points for each topic and challenges Christians to present their Christian viewpoints in the media.
"Why we wouldn't use media when a single article in local newspaper can touch thousands of people and when millions of people can read an article in national newspaper?" asked the CEA.
Most recently, the CEA announced that a conference for Christian reporters titled "Church in Media" will be held early next year.
The subject of discussions will lead to Church in media, opportunities of using the media, improving the contents in communication as well as some other relevant and creative suggestions for churches.
For more information, visit the website at www.ea.cz/media/index. The materials are currently available in the Czech language only.
[Editor's Note: Rastislav Čižmár contributed reporting from Prague for this article.]
Jana Nebesnakova
and Rastislav Čižmár
Christian Today Correspondents
