wfn.org | United Church News to cease print publication, move news online

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

United Church News to cease print publication, move news online

> June - July 2009

The decision to cease the newsprint edition of United Church News was
made on March 20 by the board of directors of the Office of General
Ministries (OGM), which has been struggling with skyrocketing costs
for the newspaper's produ ction. Postage and printing costs have more
than doubled during the past five years, with costs now surpassing
$125,000 per issue.

The National edition will publish one more issue in September. The
Conference editions ­ or "wrap arounds" ­ ended with the April
edition, although Conferences were offered the opportunity to print
one additional issue if willing to share the costs equally with the
UCC's National setting.

"This was a difficult decision for board members, because it was
rooted in significant financial angst," said the Rev. J. Bennett
Guess, the UCC's communications director and a former editor of United
Church News. "But it also paves the way for the development of an
expanded online news portal and, most likely, a new and different
print publication for the United Church of Christ."

In Spring 2010, the UCC's communication staff hopes to launch a new,
magazine-format publication that will be mailed to members' homes
twice annually by paid subscription. "We envision an oversized,
full-color, coffee-table publication of 80 to100 pages," Guess said.
"Something that will be as 'keep-worthy' and 'share-worthy' as it is
news-worthy."

The OGM board decision came after it convened a day-long United Church
News consultation on Feb. 23, attended by representatives of the OGM
board and Executive Council, four Conference Ministers, a Conference
Editor, several national staff and the five-person Collegium of Officers.

"What we heard over and over is that most people said they would mourn
the loss of an 'identity publication' for the denomination, even if
they went online to read the most-recent news headlines," Guess said.
"And I have maintained that newsprint is not the best mechanism for
accomplishing that particular goal if we're wanting a publication that
evokes a sense of belonging and has a shelf life."

As part of its action, the OGM board expressed deep appreciation for
the editors, reporters, photographers, designers, advertisers and
readers who have contributed to the quality of the print publication
over the years.
Guess said other communication tools will be employed to deliver news
to church members, including the weekly "Keeping You e-Posted" e-zine
­ launched in October 2008 ­ which now reaches 52,000 readers each
Tuesday. "We're receiving tremendous feedback about KYeP and the
open-rate numbers indicate success," Guess said.

In April, the denomination also launched "MyUCC," its new online
social networking community. "MyUCC will encourage unfiltered 'citizen
journalism' in the UCC since every user can create and maintain a blog
to report news and reflections for all to read," Guess said.

"United Church News remains committed to publishing the news of our
churches and the other settings of the UCC," said the Rev. Gregg
Brekke, editor of United Church News since 2008. "The move to our
online news portal, coupled with a revamped print publication and
citizen journalism, provides a bridge to communicate into the future
while meeting our current needs."

A successor publication to A.D. Magazine and the United Church Herald,
United Church News was founded in 1985 under the leadership of its
then-publisher Beverly Chain and its editor, the Rev. W. Evan Golder.
The Rev. Robert Chase became its publisher in 1999. The newspaper
produced 10 editions per year, until 2005, when that number was
reduced to six.