There is a lot stirring in Catholic media. I came across this on the National Catholic Register page:

Come October, Catholics will have an unprecedented opportunity to double the number of FM terrestrial stations operating across the country. That’s when the Federal Communications Commission is opening the application window for new FM non-commercial educational (NCE) stations. [More…]

What should we make of this “unprecedented opportunity”? Is it great news that there is the possibility to double the number of stations that broadcast Catholic programming? On one level it is. Any opportunity to expand our capacity to proclaim the Good News should be welcomed with joy. God has used and continue to uses Catholic media to change lives and to save souls. An expansion of Catholic media should therefor be welcomed.

As scripture informs us “”For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28). Does there exist the infrastructure to see this expansion to completion? From the article, the only concrete example given was the making available of low interest loans available to stations. If the operating cost for a medium sized station in a medium sized market is $20,000 per month, and the donor base provides $5,000 per month, no amount of low interest loans will fix the situation.

While I work with Catholic radio stations to assist them develop and grow the financial base to allow them to operate, I must say, that there does not exist the financial infrastructure to support 150 new radio stations. Currently there exists no comprehensive plan to found and grow radio stations available through the Catholic Radio Association (CRA). There do exist models from outside the CRA but the CRA has declined to be embrace. [Disclaimer - my company is one such provider].

There is a disconnect in what is happening with Catholic radio and what is happening in media in the United States. From the article we read: “Programming, said Gajdosik, is improving, but what is really needed is more stations.” I suggest this statement runs counter to what is happening in media as a whole in th United States. What we see instead is a de-emphasis on the way the media in transmitted and an increased emphasis on the content alone. For example, television viewers identify themselves less-and-less with a network and more and more with the programs. I watch Heroes and occasionally My Name is Earl. I almost no idea which channel these exist upon. Similarly, a young friend of mine listens to Rush Limbaugh every day but never gets near a radio. Instead she consumes the podcast.

One way to look at this is to think of a town that has five brands of pizza. In this town there are a large number of people who deliver pizza. You call a delivery person and ask them to get you pizza. ‘What kind’ they ask. You say, “Papa Johns” or “Pizza Hut” or “Dominoes”. You are not likely to describe a pizza to someone, have them pick it up, and not care whose pizza it is. In this case, it is not the delivery method that is important, rather it is the product. It’s all about the pizza.

Catholic media should be ‘all about the pizza’. Content really is king. To consider delivery before product usually results in your receiving a product you don’t want. All this effort by the CRA is going into a delivery method while the product is left to develop itself. This, at least, appears to be the plan of action. While it is possible this is a winning formula for Catholic radio since it is a micro-niche product, it is definitely counter to movement of the rest of media.

Frankly, I don’t know if the CRA is up for the challenge. 150 new stations in a year is an exciting prospect. However, it may be a case of ‘be careful of what you wish for’.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Tags: Catholic Media, Terrestrial Radio, CRA | 2 Comments »

A few months back the president of the Catholic Radio Association (CRA), Stephen Gajdosik, gave a talk at the International Communications Conference. Recently he made the text of the talk available via an online newsletter. In the newsletter he stated:

As unlikely an ally to Catholic media as Charles Darwin would be, I think his scientific and philosophical framework would be helpful today. How so?

Darwin knew the difference between a Galapagos tortoise and a box turtle. He knew they possessed different characteristics and act in different ways toward a different end. Their end or purpose being what drives their actions (for them at the instinctual level).

In similar fashion, Catholic media has a different purpose than secular or Christian media. Unfortunately, (even with the use of reason) many Catholic newspapers and electronic media today have lost this distinction.

I invite you to explore this rationale in more depth through a recent talk I gave at the international communications conference, Strategic Management of Church Communications: New Challenges, New Directions at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.

In Novo Milenio Inneunte (cf. n. 30) Pope John Paul taught us we must act according to our end. I think Darwin would agree with him.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam!

The talk seeks to define Catholic media and to provide a vision for its form and structure. Mr. Gajdosik supports his vision and framework via quoting several Church documents and Papal talks. He provides a solid personal, and therefor organizational, (i.e. CRA) vision for Catholic media.

I think it is important to read this presentation. It is also important to remember that whether you agree, disagree, or partially agree/disagree, is not a reflection of your Catholicity. The CRA is important to the Catholic Radio world, but does not enjoy any guarantee of infallibility.

The same can be said for the interpretation of Church documents and Papal speeches. A quote a doctrine does not make.

I do not say this in any way to jaundice your view of the organization, vision, or assertions of the talk. Every single assertion, interpretation, and proposal may well be from ‘God’s mouth, to our ears’. Then again, it may be partially or wholly off-base.

I want to encourage a discussion on this important matter. The question before us, then, is ‘What is Catholic media?’, what does Catholic media sound like?, and therefor, within the context of DwM, what is a Catholic podcast?

Do you agree with Mr. Gajdosik? If so, why? If not, why not?

Tags: Catholic Media, Terrestrial Radio, CRA | 1 Comment »

I got back last nite from the training my business partner and I conducted on Stationality and Localization. The Board with which we worked was a tremendoius group. They have been working for six years to get Catholic radio into their area. It was wonderful to see God working in such amazing ways. We did overwhelm them with information, but we all left with a sense of purpose and direction. It was a tiring two days, but well worth the effort.

When I settled down today to see what I would like to share with you today, I started looking over some of the ‘draft posts’ I had saved over the last few days. One grabbed my attention. You will find it below. Because of my position with Disciples with Microphones, I am not able to express my opinion on this article. I sure would like to hear your feedback, though:

Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss of Omaha has encouraged his fellow U.S. bishops to develop Spanish-language Catholic radio stations as a way of reaching Hispanic Catholics. With the Hispanic population growing rapidly in the United States, many dioceses face difficulty finding enough Spanish-speaking priests, staff and volunteers, he said in a March letter to the country’s bishops. Spanish-language Catholic radio is “an impressive and overlooked means” of reaching Hispanics, he said. It can help teach about religion and provide practical information about accessing social services, he added. Archbishop Curtiss invited bishops to attend a breakfast on June 16, during their annual spring meeting in Los Angeles, to learn more about how to start a radio station and how to find Catholic programming in Spanish. The breakfast is being sponsored by the Catholic Radio Association’s episcopal advisory board. Archbishop Curtiss is the board’s chairman.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Technorati Tags
Spanish usccb Catholic Radio CRA Catholic_Radio_Association

Tags: Terrestrial Radio, USCCB, CRA | 2 Comments »

I had a chance to listen to Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s Show EWTN Live from last week. It was an interesting show where they spent most of the time discussing Catholic Radio. Fr. Pacwa spoke with Archbishop Curtis of Omaha and Bishop Baker of South Carolina.

Most of the show was a affirmation of the Catholic Radio Association (CRA) and the importance of EWTN. Steve Gajodsik, President of CRA was in the audience and answered a few questions about Catholic radio and about the CRA. One of the interesting bits that come out was that the CRA was applying for 200 licenses from the FCC for frequencies in the low range of the FM spectrum. I am pretty sure he is speaking of low power FM licenses, but he did not say.

The Bishops were very clear that they supported Catholic raio, but that it had to be self-sufficient in terms of money. Both Bishops held the opinion that fundraising for Catholc Radio did not detract form other efforts in the diocese such as Bishop’s Appeals and Capitol Campaigns. I was gratified to hears this. My experience has been that the laity’s support of Catholic radio actually enhances giving.

This approach of having the Bishop support Catholic radio publically to help create a self-sufficient radio station reminded me of the work being done by NEI Radio. As a matter of disclosure, I am affiliated with NEI Radio. What they look to do is provide the expertise in the areas of engineering, programming, marketing, fundraising and development so a station can be efficiently and effectively established and thrive. It is an interesting organization. Check them out.

The show was posted as a podcast, but since EWTN does not archive it’s shows, I created a permanent link to the show on my own.

Tags: Catholic Media, CRA | No Comments »

[Editor: This story is exclusive to the DwM blog. Thank you John]

MOTHER ANGELICA STILL PROVING ‘RIDICULOUS LETS GOD DO MIRACULOUS’.
by John Lillis

BIRMINGHAM, AL — EWTN’s Global Catholic Radio Network is all grown-up. Sporting radio veterans, newcomers and over 100 attendees from around the world, the Catholic Radio Association (CRA) and EWTN rolled-out a spectacular radio conference October 19th through the 22nd. Featuring Christ as the rightful centerpiece of both the conference and how to get started-in and grow existing Catholic Radio apostolates, the Holy Spirit was alive and well in the house of the Crimson Tide.

Held at Birmingham’s notable Winfry Hotel, conference attendees began on the 19th by sharing testimonies and working out how to make their apostolates grow, make stations more effective and praying for proposed stations to become reality — all on the first evening! The next morning, Thursday the 20th, attendees traveled away from the Winfry to one of the worlds most resplendent shrines — the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama.

Below the main Church at the Shrine is a traditional crypt church and this is where Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss, Shepherd of Omaha, Nebraska and Episcopal Chair of the CRA, electrified radio aficionados and newbies alike with his address on uncompromising faith and an unwavering commitment to loving one’s enemies through Christ. Appropriately, the theme of the 2005 Global Catholic Radio Conference was “Ut Unum Sint” — that we may all be one! Immediately following his uber-convicting talk on unity, the Sacrament of Penance was available and a short time later the Archbishop presided over Mass at the Shrine which is home to the world’s second largest Monstrance — an incredible 8 feet tall — where Mother Angelica and her nuns spend 24-hours per day in adoration of the Christ.

Bishop Baker of Charleston, South Carolina who was there for the conference and is co-chair of the CRA’s Episcopal Advisory Committee, delivered an excellent Mass and homily on the morning of the 21st at the EWTN Chapel, located at the network’s headquarters in Irondale, AL. After the Mass, all were whisked-back to the Winfry for a day of talks and “how-to” seminars. If you haven’t guessed it already, the staff of EWTN was extremely busy being gracious hosts and chauffeurs for the attendees as they worked there way back and forth, miles and miles to and from the humble Christendom that is EWTN.

From the network television headquarters in Irondale featuring the world’s largest religious cable network center, to EWTN’s Radio Mountain that sports the world’s second largest shortwave array ever assembled — to the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament some 40 minutes in another direction, God is still using Mother Angelica to prove that walking in complete faith, the “ridiculous” in the eyes of the world, allows God do the miraculous both in the lives of those who create Catholic television and radio as well as those which the end product touches around the globe.

Boasting a cooperation never before seen in Catholic Radio and featuring programming partnerships ranging from Catholic Answers Live produced in San Diego, California to Kresta in the Afternoon produced at the Ave Maria Radio Network in Ann Arbor, Michigan — EWTN used the conference opportunity to roll-out its 2006 radio line-up. There are now more live shows than ever before available on Catholic Radio and additional content is produced by a number of apostolates and even more programs are in the line-up from the Ave Maria network. Many conference attendees were pleasantly surprised by the new spirit of synergy found within the apostolates and between the networks.

Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and layman made up the bulk of attendees at this years conference that underscored the need for Christ as the heart of the apostolate and saw the passing of the “baton” in leadership from the Chairman of the CRA, Gene Zurlow, to the newly appointed Doug Sherman. Mr. Sherman has been at the forefront of Catholic Radio since the 90’s, starting a station in Reno, NV about 10 years ago and now operating 10 stations in the West, including Albuquerque, New Mexico which came online last month.

Most Catholic Radio Stations are started in the United States by faith filled Catholics who know nothing about radio and have no money. This fact reinforces Mother Angelica’s call to do the ridiculous in order to let God do the miraculous. According to a Monsignor close to Catholic Radio in America: “God rarely calls the equipped, but in fact, he equips those he calls.”

Catholic Radio has grown in the United States from a handful of stations in 1999 — about 9 in the entire United States, including Alaska — to 125 stations on the air today. Thanks to Mother Angelica and EWTN making programming absolutely free to affiliates in the 1990’s and thanks also to Catholic Answers, Ave Maria and the several other apostolates who have provided content for the radio stations that pepper the landscape from Reno, Nevada to Brooklyn, New York.

The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament is actually an amalgamation of wonders made up of a Temple of the Lord, a piazza larger than an acre, a monastery and a castle both featuring 13th Century architecture and includes 300 acres of farm land, guest houses and converted barn Friary. For more information on this definite Catholic “must-see,” log on to: www.olamshrine.com

For more information on Catholic Radio, log onto www.ewtn.com or www.catholicradioassociation.org. Please pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Fridays at three o’clock in the afternoon for the Global apostolate of Catholic Radio.

—

John Lillis is Executive Director of NEI Radio, a non-profit radio service organization that assists in the operational start-up of Catholic Radio around the world. More information on NEI Radio is on the web at www.neiradio.com

[Editor: John is also a member of Disciples with Microphones]

Tags: Catholic Media, Expo/Conference, Terrestrial Radio, DwM, CRA, EWTN, NEI | No Comments »

In a couple of days (October 20-22nd to be specific) the 2005 Global Catholic Radio Conference will take place in Birmingham, AL. If you want info on the conference particulars go here. For the last month or so, Carlos, the Godfather of DwM, has been working with several DwM members to get together a demo program to present to GM’s at the Conference. I don’t recall all of the contributors, but I will take a crack at it: Greg & Jennifer Willits of Rosary Army, James Kurt & Michael Kreidler of The BreadCast, Ken Hutchinson of True Knights, Michael Barone of of St. Michael’s Pod I know Jason Franklyn of the Catholic Cast was invited to participate, but had technical problems. Brian Noe of Verbum Domini is the host of the show, oh, yeah, Carlos contributed two pieces, on in which he narrates and the other where he is off mic. Let me know who I left out (okay, I cheated, I went back and filled in the names after I listened to the show.

Carlos’ vision is to have DwM train new disciples in a radio station’s listening area. This would help grow DwM, while at the same benefiting the stations by providing them with new, original content who are trained in solid production techniques.

Please keep Carlos in your prayers over the next couple of days. I am sure there will be some spiritual resistance to the proposals. May God’s will be done.

BTW, if you want to read Carlos’ seminal essay entitled ‘What’s Missing in Catholic Radio’ you will find it on the DwM site here.

Tags: Catholic Media, Expo/Conference, Terrestrial Radio, CRA, EWTN | No Comments »