Denver, Aug 15, 2007 / 02:01 pm (CNA).- On September 1, the digital world will see the launch of a new Catholic media initiative called Insidecatholic.com. The new website is the latest effort of the Morley Publishing Group (MPG), perhaps best known for its magazine Crisis, to remain on the cutting edge of media communication.The media group sees their soon-to-be-unveiled website as helping their audience of “engaged active Catholics” to evangelize the culture, defend the Church, and live as authentic Christian witnesses in our secular culture. The goal of MPG’s newest venture is to become a more influential Catholic voice in the arenas of politics and social issues.

InsideCatholic.com plans to produce material that utilizes all of the tools of the internet. Each day, “written and filmed content will be published, including original articles and columns, the Inside Blog, Inside Videos, Special Reports, and weekly e-mail blasts. In addition, the website will host a digital version of Crisis Magazine, the Morley Institute, an archive and a store.”

The major attraction of the site will be its ‘Inside Blog,’ which MPG hopes will serve as a major draw for visitors. According to a press release from MPG, “[their] Blog will be an online diary where ten faithful Catholics from different political and social perspectives debate and discuss the issues of the day. Since many of the bloggers are insiders in the Church or politics, the blog will serve as the forum where they break our exclusive stories.”

The website will also offer a professionally produced video on a weekly basis, “Inside Alert” emails, major projects, which will consist of several articles centered around a particular theme, and Deal Hudson’s weekly email called, ‘The Window.’

Tags: Catholic Media, Convergence | 2 Comments »

There is a very compelling story/interview at The Indian Catholic. It deals with Prof. Srisdkdi Charmonman, a Buddist Educator who spoke at a Catholic conference recently. It is not just a call for greater involvement, it is deals with concrete suggestions of how Catholics can deal with media and the ongoing convergence. For example, when asked ‘How can the Catholic Church use media better?’ he answered:

Catholics need a new strategy to attract people. The most effective way is to use available media. Catholics may join Internet chat rooms or forums, and show how important being Catholic is.

The Catholic Church should train priests to use the Internet and understand how to use media. Every priest should have his own website and chat room. Well-known websites and chat rooms should be developed and owned by Catholics, to communicate with more people.

To communicate with people through the Internet, you have to know how to speak or communicate the same topic in a different way with different people. [More…]

I would love to get ahold of the paper he presented at the conference. If anyone has any insights in to how I can get it, please let me know.

Tags: Catholic Media, Convergence | 2 Comments »