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Church of Ireland Communications Competition 2011 Results Announced
The winners of the Central Communications Board 2011 Communications Competition for the best newsletters/magazines, websites and innovative use of social media by individuals, parishes and dioceses were announced today, Saturday 14 May, by the Archbishop of Armagh at the General Synod in Armagh.
The competition was independently judged by external media professionals. The judges praised the entrants for their efforts in each category. They noted how there was an increased number of entries in the social media category this year and that entrants were showing innovation and high quality work in all fields. Constructive comments are available for anyone who would like feedback in any category – please get in touch with the Church of Ireland’s Press Officer, Paul Harron.
In the Parish magazines/newsletters category, the judges were impressed by the quality of the entries so that awards have been made for first, second and third place with two highly commended parishes as well.
• First prize: St Patrick’s Parish, Coleraine
This quarterly magazine was praised for both its polished design and its thoughtful, well written content and use of images. There is a clear community focus, an excellent reach across the full age range, and material is well signposted. This is, in short, a lively, colourful and interesting publication and the parish deserves congratulations and an incentive to keep up the fine work.
• Second Prize: St Columba’s Parish, Knock for The Columban
For the third year running, ‘The Columban’ maintains its impressive position as an exemplar monthly publication. The magazine is engaging, with a very good use of images and colour; simple, easy-to-follow written content and an impressive mix of material for all ages.
• Third Prize: St Gall’s, Carnalea
Carnalea’s monthly magazine stands out as a fine publication with clear information on events, appealing and topical content and pointers as to how to get involved. This magazine portrays a vibrant parish life very well.
• Finally in this category, two further parish newsletters have been picked out for mention as ‘Highly Commended’: Tamlaght O’Crilly and Innisrush for its Parish News (for the second year running) and Desertmartin and Termoneeny for its Parish News.
While both Tamlaght O’Crilly’s and Desertmartin & Termoneeny’s monthly newsletters are modest, they are both doing things right, with good content, clarity of layout and information, and evidence of being useful to the community. Tamlaght O’Crilly’s colour cover imagery is striking once again.
In the Diocesan magazines category –
• Derry & Raphoe Dioceses’ N:Vision took first place – for the third year running!
The magazine has sustained its top position with a publication that is jaunty and bright and of interest to both the casual and committed reader. There is a good use of colour, a clever use of photographs and graphics, and the text-to-image relationship works well. The human interest element of the magazine is strong while good seasonal themes are also included.
• Equal Second Place goes this year to Dublin & Glendalough Dioceses’ Church Review and Connor Diocese’s Connor Connections.
The judges felt that the Church Review contained a lot of good parish material and contact information with a neat and disciplined layout that was easy to find one’s way around. Headlines are explanatory and the cover is striking with good use of photography.
Connor Connections is dramatic and eye-catching. It has a clear design with good use of colour and seasonal imagery and good features of a high journalistic standard, with the human interest element very well done.
• Finally, this year in this category a further ‘Highly Commended’ award has been made for Cashel & Ossory’s Holy Week ‘Passion of Jesus’ Supplement. The judges felt this was very informative about a special initiative with a good central colour section.
In the ‘Other’ organizations Printed Publications category –
• First place goes to In Touch with Connor Diocese Mothers’ Union
This magazine sustains its strong position. It packs a lot of information in and uses all the space fully and imaginatively. It is a lively publication in which text and images relate exceptionally well.
• Runner Up in this category goes to Soundboard -- A Newsletter for Church Musicians
This contains a lot of information and is ‘newsy’ with a good mix of material. The title and back page are creatively considered.
In the Websites category the external judges looked for innovation, freshness, quality of design and layout and outreach potential. The standard of entries was genuinely high and to that end we have a tie for first place in one category and additional ‘highly commended’ awards in two categories. Important distinguishing factors were the look and feel of sites as impressions of parishes/dioceses/organizations; how easily content could be found; whether information was up-to-date and useful; whether there were other media beyond text; and whether one would want to come back to the site or recommend it to others.
In the Parish websites category –
• First place goes to Holywood Parish
www.holywoodparishchurch.co.uk
This was considered to be an engaging site that’s clearly there to attract seekers/visitors to the life of the church. There’s even an ‘I’m new here’ tab. It’s an extension of the church’s mission, not simply a digital snapshot of the church building and business. Videos, photos and social media are used to good effect.
• Runner Up: Seapatrick Parish
It takes courage to use cartoons/animation on a church website, but the risk pays off. This site is fresh and appealing. It says ‘church is enjoyable’ in a way that’s believable. Navigation is clear and the content is interesting. Great job.
• Highly Commended: St Mark’s Parish, Portadown
www.stmarksportadown.armagh.anglican.org
This is a dynamic and modern site that delivers yet that understands the value of ‘less is more’. Get a visitor interested in your headlines and they’ll be asking for more. This site does just that using design that is a world away from ‘traditional’.
In the Diocesan websites category –
• Joint First place: Down & Dromore and Connor
After careful scoring, there was a tie for first place for Down & Dromore’s site and Connor’s site!
Down & Dromore’s is a site with a modern feel that understands how to attract the visitor through movement, visuals and news. It gives a good impression and is informative, engaging and current.
Connor’s site is fresh looking – easy on the eye, easily navigated and filled with lots of information, stories and photographs. Again, it provides a strong impression of diocesan life.
In the ‘Other’ affiliated organizations website category –
• First place: 3 Rock Youth
This is a site that does everything well: it informs, it engages and it encourages community through social media. It looks super and modern without trying too hard.
• Runner Up: Church 21
This site makes what could be considered a dry topic—parish development—worthy of a second look. The clothes really do ‘make the man’ in this case and the reliance on just enough text and fast streaming, good quality videos and plenty of resources makes for a site that feels professional and well-thought through.
• Highly Commended: St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ieA
A very handsome site with easy to use navigation and smart images makes this a pleasure to visit. Lots of thought has clearly been given to the colour palette and simple arrangement of content.
Finally, the 2011 competition again invited entries for the most innovative use of ‘social media’ over and beyond websites. Here, the competition was looking to see how churches, church organizations and members engaged with the blogs and social networking media. Reflecting increased activity in this arena, we have first, second and highly commended awards:
• Winner: Friends of Taney Parish with www.fot.ie and accompanying websites
This website aims to provide meet a real need for the local community at a difficult time. It is using the Internet to create a space where people can meet and help one another. It is clearly connected with the local primary school and by putting the church website link on the front page it also draws visitors through to http://www.taneyparish.ie/ and then to the engaging video on YouTube that share some of the life and work of the parish. In a simple and inexpensive way this site demonstrates the way church can use virtual tools to further God’s mission.
• Runner-up: Belvoir Parish Facebook http://on.fb.me/msXKyd, https://www.facebook.com/belvoiryouthcell
Both FB pages, particularly the Belvoir Church of Ireland page, capitalize on the way that this social media platform allows a parish to share the best of its life and ministry, e.g. podcast links, information about overseas mission and Alpha Courses. The youth section is dynamic and includes videos of activities.
• Highly commended: The Big Bible Boo http://audioboo.fm/summermadness
A good example of how digital technology can help people connect with Scripture and potentially bring it into hundreds of homes.
-Ends-
The Full list of winners is as follows:
Communications Competition Winners:
Parish Magazines/Newsletters
Winner: St Patrick’s Coleraine
Second Prize: The Columban – St Columba’s, Knock
Third Prize: St Gall’s, Carnalea
Highly Commended: Tamlaght O’Crilly
Highly Commended: Desertmartin and Termoneeny
Diocesan Magazines
Winner: N:Vision – Derry & Raphoe
Second Prize (equal): Church Review – Dublin & Glendalough
Second Prize (equal): Connor Connections – Connor
Highly Commended: Cashel & Ossory Holy Week: Passion of Jesus supplement
Other Organizations Magazines
Winner: In Touch with Connor Mothers’ Union
Runner Up: Soundboard – Newsletter for Church Musicians
Parish Websites
Winner: Holywood Parish
Runner Up: Seapatrick parish
Highly Commended: St Mark’s, Portadown
Diocesan Websites
Joint Winner: Down & Dromore
Joint Winner: Connor
Other Organisations Websites
Winner: 3 Rock Youth
Runner Up: Church 21
Highly Commended: St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
Social Media
Winner: Friends of Taney Parish FB & accompanying sites
Runner Up: Belvoir Parish FB & Youth Cell sites
Highly Commended: The Big Bible Boo
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