St. Paul's Communications Center

ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

COMMUNICATIONS GUIDELINES

These guidelines have been established to help ministries provide information and promote events both inside and outside of St. Paul’s.

ALL SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, TO THE DEDICATED COMMUNICATIONS MAILBOX:

publicity@stpaulsec.org

OR TYPED AND GIVEN TO THE CLERGY ASSISTANT WHEN APPROPRIATE

(All submissions will be checked by the Webmaster, Clergy Asst., and/or Newsletter Editor)

State on the subject line or at the top of copy every place the info is to go: i.e. - calendar, newsletter, website, blue service notes, etc.

SUGGESTIONS TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS

Publicize information for an upcoming event 2-3 weeks in advance and at least 3 times in different venues.

·         Include: Title/Event/Speaker

o   Day, Date and Time

o   Location (Building, Room, Etc.)

o   Admission Cost, if any

o   Contact information (phone number, email address)

o   Picture or Photo, when appropriate

Make message eye-catching to attract attention.

·         Think of snappy titles.

·         Keep the message simple. People read bulletin board notices or posters as they are moving and can’t/won’t read a long description.

·         Keep it current. Change appearance and wording periodically to appear fresh if message is for a long running event or program.

·         Double check punctuation and spelling (especially for names).

Think outside the box.

·         Recognize events and happenings that can be of interest to people inside and outside of St. Paul’s. What venues would be best to reach them?

Celebrate the successes!

·         People want to know how the event or program turned out....so tell them.

·         Take photos to go with the follow-up story and number them.

·         Include necessary info with photos (name/date of event, identification of people).

·         Cell phone photos have not reproduced well and are not recommended.

AVAILABLE VENUES TO PUBLICIZE INFORMATION

Verbal Service Announcements         Easels at Entrances and Bulletin Boards

Blue Service Notes                             Parish Hall Display Panels

The Epistle                                          E-Mail Blast and Direct Mail

The Website                                        Outside Print Media, Radio, and TV

Verbal Service Announcements and Blue Service Notes

·         Submissions must be received by Clergy Assistant by Wednesday Noon for the following Sunday.

The Epistle

·         Submissions must be received by the 15th of the month prior to the 1st of the month publication... i.e. April 15th for May 1st newsletter.

Easels at Entrances and Bulletin Boards

·         Submissions must be received by Clergy Assistant by Thursday Noon for posting the following Sunday.

·         Prepare 4 copies with large type of content/message on 8 ½  x 11 sheet or ½ page.

·         Keep message short with only the basic information.

·         A picture, design, and color helps attract attention.

·         Specify date to be posted and date to be removed.

·         Bulletin Board submissions can be larger...i.e. on Poster Board and can have more pictures and information.

Parish Hall Display Panels

·         Submit requests for usage to Clergy Assistant.

·         Groups are responsible for posting and removing displays.

E-Mail Blast and Direct Mail

·         Submit approval request with content and purpose to Clergy Assistant.

The Website

·         Be early. Submissions must be received at least 2 weeks prior to event.

·         Submit posts to Dedicated Communications Mailbox: publicity@stpaulsec.org

·         Clearly state where info is to go (calendar, worship, education,etc.).

·         Note date to be posted and date to be removed.

Outside Print Media, Radio, and TV

·         Submit content for approval at least 1 month prior to event to Clergy Assistant.

·         Specify what media is to be used.

Updated:  11-22-2011

SPEC Communications Process.pdf