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RCC handbook assists faith communicators


From NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>
Date 07 Feb 2000 14:21:26

Feb. 7, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-71B{050}

By United Methodist News Service

A new edition of a handbook for all faith communities, produced by the
Religion Communicators Council (RCC), is now available.

The sixth edition of How Shall They Hear: A Handbook for Religious
Communicators is a 166-page, softbound resource covering issues ranging from
the writing of news releases to making effective use of the Internet.

United Methodist contributors to the handbook include Ken Bedell, Garlinda
Burton, Douglas Cannon, Tom Gibson, John Goodwin, Robert Lear, Tom McAnally,
Carolyn Simms, Tom Slack, Jim Steele and David Wiltse. Shirley Struchen, a
United Methodist member of the RCC Board of Governors, also helped in the
planning, review and production of the new edition.

Divided into two sections, the handbook is a primer for the religious media.
The section on "Understanding religious communications" begins by laying the
foundational elements of the work - communications planning, discovering
mission, evaluation and creativity. Chapter two stresses the importance of
building interfaith relations, dealing with accessibility issues and
celebrating diversity. Three other chapters focus on various aspects of
writing, photography and design.

The second section, "Using the right tools and media," introduces marketing
techniques and delves into issues and options associated with public
relations and advertising. Other chapters are devoted to broadcast media,
both radio and television, and to the ever-expanding possibilities found on
the Internet and World Wide Web. The handbook concludes with a primer on
electronic presentations.

RCC, a nonprofit organization created to serve the religious community, was
founded in 1929 as the Religious Publicity Council. It later was known as
the Religious Public Relations Council, which opened its membership to
people of all faiths in 1970. Linda Post Bushkofsky, a member of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is the editor of the sixth edition.

The RCC handbook can be ordered in care of UMR Communications, P.O. Box
660275, Dallas, TX 75266-0275. The cost is $14.95 plus $5 for shipping and
handling. Checks should be made payable to RCC handbook.

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*************************************
United Methodist News Service
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