wfn.org | New UMTV site offers video reports on faith in action

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

May 16, 2002  News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-71B{225}

By Nancye Willis*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodist Communications has launched a new
Web site, UMTV.org, featuring streamed video stories about church ministries
and people's faith journeys.

The idea of producing faith stories reflects "a strong desire among people
to improve their quality of life," said Ginny Underwood, managing editor of
the agency's new public information unit.

"We are interested in telling stories about people making a difference and
stories about moral and ethical challenges we now face as a culture," she
said.

Using news feeds, the public information unit is offering reports to
television networks for use by local news directors and assignment editors.
UMTV.org provides access to the stories and offers a Beta-format copy of
each report, along with scripts and locator information. 

"We hope to be a resource for the weekend producers struggling to find
meaningful content for their shows," Underwood said.

The core team of producers is based at the communications agency in
Nashville, and a network of journalists provides stories. 

The reports are also available on the www.umc.org site, along with weekly
study guides related to the stories and designed for use in church school
and other study situations. Additional links on that site direct users to
denomination-related, government and other sources of information on issues
highlighted by each story.

More details and contact information are available at www.umtv.org online.
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*Willis is a writer/designer for United Methodist Communications in
Nashville, Tenn.

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org