Standing Committee – Report 2003 APPENDIX E CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS BOARD REPORT 2003 The Annual Report of this Board incorporates reports from its three main committees, the Broadcasting Committee, Internet Committee and Literature Committee. MEMBERSHIP Rt Rev AET Harper (Chairman) Rev M Graham Dr K Milne Rev Canon RD Harman Mr HT Morrison Ven RG Hoey Mr DC Reardon Very Rev MGStA Jackson Dr R Refaussé Ven GCS Linney Dr AE St Leger Rev Dr AW McCormack Director of Communications (ex officio) In attendance: Media Officer The Central Communications Board is appointed by the Standing Committee and its main objectives are to: • Initiate policy in relation to the communications strategy of the Church of Ireland; • Co-ordinate the work of the sub-committees; • Report annually to the Standing Committee. The Board intends to revisit its remit and its relationship with the role of Director of Communications. RESTRUCTURING AND DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIONS In September 2002, the role of Press Officer was restructured and the Rev Brian Parker was appointed as Media Officer. The role of Media Officer was redefined with greater emphasis on liaison with diocesan communications structures and the Church of Ireland Gazette. The overall brief is to develop the all Ireland profile of Church of Ireland news gathering and dissemination. In December 2002 the Board was sad to say goodbye to its chairman of five years, the Most Rev Richard Clarke, Bishop of Meath and Kildare. Bishop Clarke had been responsible for overseeing the restructuring of the CCB, the appointment of a Director of Communications and the review of the role of Media Officer. In the same month, the Board welcomed the House of Bishops’ new appointment to the Board, the Right Rev Alan Harper, Bishop of Connor, who was elected as the new Chairman. 181 Standing Committee – Report 2003 COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT OF CHURCH PROJECTS The communications team gave support to a number of projects which came to fruition this year. The Joint Covenant of the Methodist Church and Church of Ireland was signed in September 2002 at Chrome Hill, Lisburn on the site where John Wesley intertwined two beech trees in a gesture symbolising the unity between the two Churches. Copies of the text of the Covenant, designed in Church House, Dublin to be suitable for public display, have been sent to all clergy of both churches with a letter of encouragement from the two Church leaders and suggestions for ways of celebrating the Covenant. This historic event received broad coverage in the media. A fresh initiative this year was the development of a website to support the Commission on Ministry. This was launched in the lead-up to the Summit on Ministry and was subsequently used to carry information facilitating debate on the subject of developing diverse patterns of ministry within the Church of Ireland. The Scoping Study commissioned by the Sectarianism Education Project was reproduced in Church House, Dublin and production support will be made available for resource materials that will be used in the second half of 2003 in connection with the process of reflection upon the implications of the Scoping Study. The large print version of the Church Hymnal was received in March 2003 and was distributed to parishes with the assistance of Diocesan Secretaries. This initiative was part of the Church of Ireland’s response to the needs of worshippers who suffer from visual impairment. Some 5,500 books were made available at minimal cost in order to support the principle of providing a large print edition in every parish. A Braille version of the Church Hymnal, which was produced with the invaluable assistance of the Braille Unit at Maghaberry Prison, has now been circulated to 22 parishioners within the Church. The review of Equality and Disability Rights legislation in both jurisdictions has resulted in the production of policy advice from the Internet Committee about making websites accessible. This will be considered by the CCB and circulated throughout the Church of Ireland. A further document offering guidelines on the production of printed material in an accessible way is already available on the website and has been circulated to parishes. ENHANCING LINKS BETWEEN THE CHURCH'S CENTRAL AND LOCAL STRUCTURES In 2001/2002 the principle of the regular dissemination of information about work in progress from Standing Committee and the Representative Church Body was established. In 2002, this was extended with the creation of a Committee News section on the Church of Ireland website. Committees are invited to place brief, regular updates on work in progress on this site. This resource is available to diocesan magazine editors, the Church of Ireland Gazette and the press and general public to enable those with an interest to keep abreast of work being undertaken by committees and boards in the course of the year. 182 Standing Committee – Report 2003 COPYRIGHT In accordance with Church of Ireland policy a booklet entitled A Guide to Selection Conferences was published in 2002 under the copyright of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. THE CCB AND ITS SUB-COMMITTEES - FORWARD PLANNING 2003 The CCB and its sub-committees began a review of their objectives in January 2003. From this process a number of projects emerged. MEDIA TRAINING In response to the work of the Internet Committee in facilitating the development of diocesan and parish websites throughout the Church of Ireland, the magazine competition has been extended to include a website competition. A central feature of this will be a detailed analysis of all entries. This will be done by the adjudicators and feedback will be provided. Advice and training may also be offered to participants. Prizes of book tokens were generously sponsored again by the Diocesan Board of Education of Down and Connor and Dromore. A training day was held for Diocesan Communications Officers in the course of the year. This focused on developing co-ordinated media responses on issues that extend beyond diocesan boundaries. Further training is planned. In addition to the training days with DCOs, two training days were arranged for newly appointed bishops focusing on working with the media and developing strategic communications plans. A further training session was conducted with newly appointed clergy (stipendiary and auxiliary) in Connor diocese. A training workshop was also organised for magazine editors. POSITION STATEMENTS A key concern of the CCB is to make position (or issue) statements accessible both to members of the Church of Ireland and to external audiences. The Church in Society Committee has a particular role to play in handling such matters. Statements have been released on behalf of the European Affairs Panel, the Social Justice and Theological (Republic of Ireland) Panel and the Political and Legislative Panel (NI). A full archive of press releases is maintained on the website, which also makes available all statements released through the Press Office by archbishops, bishops and senior clergy. The Press Office maintains a file with these statements available. They can be emailed or faxed to the press or to individuals requiring them for research. All material is updated as new material is issued. The position statements are being posted on the website. 183 Standing Committee – Report 2003 PRESS OFFICE The Church of Ireland story continues to attract much media interest at both national and local level. In association with diocesan communications officers the press office maintains press relations and operates a press enquiry service, handles interview facilities and press release distribution as well as press briefings and conferences. In line with communications policy development the press office also contributes to the sourcing of specialist spokespersons and the delivery of media awareness workshops and media training exercises. The General Synod is an important focus of media interest. In 2002 at the Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin the event proved to be an excellent platform for presenting the Church of Ireland/Methodist Covenant, not least in terms of photo opportunities around the presentation of symbolic saplings. Synod also provided the opportunity to brief journalists and offer interviews on Synod agenda items. The Church of Ireland website again proved to be a valuable resource in disseminating information to various outlets. Similarly diocesan synods attracted extensive local media coverage with presidential addresses making the news. In addition bishops and diocesan events helped to focus on particular issues such as the dangers of alcohol abuse, third world debt, duty as citizens, inter-church relations and paramilitary violence. The retirement of Archbishop Walton Empey was recorded in national print and broadcast media with warm tributes given prominent coverage. The election and enthronement of his successor, the Most Rev John Neill, was a major media event with heavy demands for press interviews. The consecrations of the new bishops - Derry and Raphoe; Cashel and Ossory - were widely covered in local media. Other notable events included the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the signing of books of remembrance following the Soham murders and the marking of the First Anniversary of the September 11 attack. Topical issues required church leaders at both national, diocesan and parish level to respond to media requests for comment and interviews. The topics ranged from concerns over Iraq to an appeal to baby Carrie's mother. The press office is grateful to clergy and lay people who often at very short notice engage with the media in a positive and effective way. The development of regular, proactive press presentations of church decisions and views is ongoing not least with press releases issued on Standing Committee business. Some examples of this kind of proactive press work include statements on the Nice Agreement, support for the Shot at Dawn Campaign, warnings on serious threats to rural life, the Northern Ireland peace process and concerns over possible war in Iraq.