• 11 March 2011

Church of Ireland 2011 Magazine, Website and Social Media Competition Now Open

The Central Communications Board has launched the Magazine, Website and Social Media Competition and invites entries within each category (details below). Quality of design and layout, strength of editorial content and outreach potential are once again to be the standards of excellence against which entries will be judged. The closing date is Friday 8 April 2011. Winners will be announced at the General Synod in Armagh, 12-14 May 2011.

Central Communications Board Chairman, The Rt Revd Trevor Williams, Bishop of Limerick, says:

'Parish and Diocesan magazines have been around for a very long time. Through the exchange of news and views they stitch our communities together and strengthen our relationships. Printed media continue to play a vital role within the Church of Ireland community.

'The newer media have opened new horizons for us. Facebook pages and Twitter accounts have been added to Church Websites in allowing the wider community to observe as never before, the life of Church of Ireland members, Parishes and Dioceses. A potentially huge audience can now discover our priorities and concerns. These new tools are now available to assist us not only in the Church's ministry but also in our mission in the wider world.

'Within the Church of Ireland there are excellent examples of how various forms of communication are being used to build Christian community and communicate the Good News. This competition is our chance to learn what others are doing, and to join in. I am looking forward to seeing your entry.'

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

Diocesan Magazines

  • 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 section:

  • Most innovative use of Interactive Communication Technologies (ICT) or 'social media' over and beyond standard websites, e.g.: blogs, podcasts or social networking or content-sharing websites.

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

Please obtain an entry form from the Church of Ireland Press Office (by email:

press@ireland.anglican.org

or phone: from NI 028 9023 2909, from RoI 048 9023 2909) and send entries as follows:

Magazines and newsletters - one recent copy - to Jenny Compston, Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61-67 Donegall St, Belfast, BT 1 2QH, Northern Ireland.

Websites, please supply an e-mail containing the URL to:  press@ireland.anglican.org

Social Media, please send an example or link including a description of  the technology, how applied and the objective of the initiative to Jenny Compston, Press Office, Church of Ireland House, 61-67 Donegall St, Belfast, BT 1 2QH, Northern Ireland or to press@ireland.anglican.org.

Remember: the closing date for entries is Friday 8 April 2011

Further information from:

Church of Ireland Press Office

Church of Ireland House

61-67 Donegall Street

Belfast BT1 2QH

Tel: (028) 9023 2909

Fax (028) 9032 3554

Press Officer: Paul Harron (duty phone) +44 (0) 7787 881582