wfn.org | UCC Media Advocacy Director Guess to Lead RCCongress 2010 Workshop

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> J. Bennett Guess

Executive Director of the United Church of Christ's historic media 
justice arm, the Office of Communication, Inc.

> RCCongress 2010 Workshop:

> Media Reform and the Religious Community

Join the Coalition: Media Justice is Social Justice

The Rev. J. Bennett Guess is the executive director of the United 
Church of Christ's historic media justice arm, the Office of 
Communication (OC), Inc. Since 1959, OC, Inc. has been a leading 
advocate on FCC-related public policy issues on behalf of the 
1.2-million member United Church of Christ.

A journalist, activist and pastor for more than 20 years, Guess has 
worked in the national setting of the United Church of Christ for 
seven years, first as minister for communication for the UCC's 
Justice and Witness Ministries and, later, as editor of its 
denominational publication, United Church News, and as news director. 
He has served as the acting director of communications since August.

Guess is chair of the news and media relations committee of the 
National Council of Churches Communications Commission; a member of 
the board of governors of the Religion Communicators Council; and a 
member of Associated Church Press and the National Lesbian and Gay 
Journalists Association.

Since taking over the helm of United Church News in 2003, Guess has 
won more than 60 journalistic awards and citations. He was the 1997 
recipient of the UCC's Just Peace Award, presented at the UCC's 
biennial General Synod.

After completing his B.A. degree in journalism from the University of 
Kentucky School of Journalism (1988), Guess began his career as a 
journalist for The Daily News in Bowling Green, Ky. Feeling called to 
both social policy and ministry, he studied Public Administration and 
Policy at Western Kentucky University and Murray State University, 
and also enrolled full time at Vanderbilt University Divinity School 
in Nashville. He received his M.Div. degree in 1991, and completed a 
D.Min. in preaching from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2001.
Media Reform and the Religious Community

Whoever controls the media controls the message. Don't just be 
satisfied with the media you've got, but demand the media that you 
deserve. Media reform is a grassroots movement to ensure that the 
media is accessible to diverse constituencies.

Co-led by the Rev. J. Bennett Guess and Cheryl Leanza, United Church 
of Christ Office of Communication, Inc.
Join the Coalition: Media Justice is Social Justice

"So We Might See" is a new interfaith coalition on media reform. Come 
hear about the coalition's web-based campaign and learn how your 
faith tradition can join the movement for grassroots media reform.

Co-led by the Rev. J. Bennett Guess and Cheryl Leanza, United Church 
of Christ Office of Communication, Inc.

" I look forward to taking the next step of bringing people of faith 
more visibly into media justice advocacy. "

~ Ben Guess - when named to direct the UCC's media justice 
advocacy efforts

Religion Communication Congress | Voice: 212-870-2985 | Fax: 
212-870-2171 | info@rccongress2010.org