Former BBC producer helping churches get their good news stories into the papers

Robbie Lane, previously a producer, newsreader and journalist at BBC Radio Derby, believes too many churches are missing out on a great outreach opportunity simply because of fear or inexperience.

Some churches have been put off the press because of unpleasant experiences in the past, while others have tried and failed because they don’t know how to ‘spot the story’.

Lane is hoping to resolve both issues with the launch of his new website, www.yourchurchinthenews.org.

The website features YouTube videos and examples of good church stories that have made it into local newspapers. A step by step guide gives churches advice on how to get their events and projects into the papers for the right reasons. Lane also covers how to write a press release, tips on being interviewed, and how local churches can utilise social networking sites like Facebook.

He says: “I became increasingly frustrated at seeing negative stories about the UK church’s problems when I knew that every local church in every town is doing a huge amount of positive community work.

“Things like soup kitchens, youth work and projects for ex-offenders all go on without anyone outside the church noticing while negative stories dominate the national press.

“It’s not because of an ‘anti-church’ press. It’s just because many churches don’t know how to shout about what they are doing.”

He decided to set up the website after helping his own church to increase its presence locally through the local media.

“We had a tremendous impact on how many people were turning up for events and on how well the church was known locally,” he said.

“It wasn’t an overnight change but gradually the church has seen positive results.”

Howard Davenport, senior pastor at Elim Pentecostal church in Yeovil, where Lane first worked, said: “When we started trying to get media coverage, we were a bit unsure of where it would lead.

“But we’ve seen amazing results and it’s really helped the church to become more well-known in the town.

“We’ve had stories – like a charity boxing match, a church anniversary and an outdoor baptism – receiving fantastic coverage in the local newspaper, radio and TV.

“We’ve even been quoted in the Daily Start which not many clergy can say!”

Find out more at www.yourchurchinthenews.org