Press Releases14 Mar 16

Church of Ireland 2016 Communications Competition Now Open

Magazine, Website and Social Media Competition

The Central Communications Board’s annual Magazine, Website and Social Media Competition is now open and invites entries within each category (details below) from Church of Ireland parishes, dioceses and associated organisations as well as individuals whose social media activity clearly relates to Church activity/outreach/witness. Quality of presentation, strength of content and outreach potential are once again to be the standards of excellence against which entries will be judged. The closing date is Friday 15th April 2016. Winners will be announced at the General Synod in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, 12th–14th May 2016.

Parish and diocesan magazines are important for the exchange of news and views across Church communities and printed media continues to play a vital role within the life of the Church of Ireland. In addition, websites are now firmly established as vehicles which allow the wider community to know about and participate in the life of the Church of Ireland, whether in parishes, dioceses or organisations, as well as helping ‘internal communications’ by providing the hub for information and enabling increasing interaction. Beyond this, social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, E–zines, Flickr, along with Vimeo and YouTube video content and blogs create two–way platforms for communications, providing a potentially vast audience and offering innovative ways to assist in the Church’s ministry. Within the Church of Ireland there are good examples of how all these various forms of communication are being used to build Christian community and communicate the Christian faith. This competition is an opportunity to learn what others are doing, to showcase good work and to join in. 

CCB Chairman, the Most Revd Pat Storey, says: “Ways of communicating our faith and our Church, both old and new, are so important. It can be really hard work and time–consuming but so worthwhile! I encourage you to send in your best work and we are looking forward to seeing how different parishes and dioceses present themselves to the world.”

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

• Diocesan Magazine
• 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 and Blogs section, two categories:

• Most innovative use of  social media e.g. Facebook, Twitter, E–bulletin etc.
• Most engaging Blog

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

Please obtain an entry form for Magazines, Websites, and Social Media categories from Peter Cheney, Church of Ireland Press Office (by email: [email protected] or phone: from NI 028 9082 8882, from RoI 048 9082 8882) and send entries as follows.

N.B. Magazines and Newsletters – one recent copy – must be sent in hard copy with entry form to Peter Cheney, Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61–67 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2QH, Northern Ireland.

Website and Social Media entry forms should be sent with an example or link including a description of  the technology, how applied and the objective of the initiative to Peter Cheney, Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61–67 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2QH, Northern Ireland or to [email protected]

Remember: the closing date for entries is Friday 15th April 2016