1. Communication & media: From theory to application Using media: Part 2 of 3 Catholic Distance Learning Network – August 2007

2. Media at the Parish Level The average Catholic consumes media in exactly the same way as the average American. Average Catholic = Average American

3. Media at the Parish Level A parish website is essential in keeping the parish community informed and unified. View different website tools at sites such as: http://www.catholicweb.com/ezweb_site_builder.cfm http://www.digitalims.com/ http://www.1and1.com http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp Web presence

4. What’s the goal of your website? Activity: Explore sample websites in class. http://www.americancatholic.org/e- News/WebCatholic/SiteOfMonth.asphttp://www.americancatholic.org/e- News/WebCatholic/SiteOfMonth.asp Ask the students to list the potential goals of a parish website. Are these goals satisfied in the websites listed? What benefits might the individual features of the websites have for parishioners or the parish in general? Goal of the Activity: Students begin thinking about what might be appropriate and necessary on their own parish websites.

5. While we’re on the web… Blogging An example of a parish blog: http://stjamescatholic.typepad.com/ Activity: Discuss the benefits and the downside of blogging for a priest. What other types of blogs would be helpful for a parish? What would be their goal?

6. Taking the website another step… Podcasting Examples of parish podcasts: http://home.comcast.net/~wholtzinger/podcasts.html http://home.comcast.net/~wholtzinger/podcasts.html http://www.live365.com/stations/sfcr?site More about podcasts and podcasting: http://podcasts.yahoo.com/start?i=2 Activity: Discuss reasons why a podcast or audio on a website could be beneficial to the ministry of a parish or priest.

7. Beyond the parish – Catholic media Market parish podcasts or blogs locally or nationally or create a blog or podcast for distribution Examples: http://owloftheremove.blogspot.com/ http://ragemonkey.blogspot.com/ http://www.sqpn.com/scripts/catholicinsider.php http://youtube.com/watch?v=xClzn0rG-Ks Produce an independent radio or TV program Be a guest on a program

8. Media – testing the waters Activity: Have the students create a blog, radio, television and/or internet program. Here are a few examples: “The Seminarians,” from the Josephinum click here “Gift & Mystery,” from the Seminary of Our lady of Providence http://www.catholicpriest.com/media.htm “Roman Catholic Blog” http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/roman_catholic_blog/200 7/03/matt_c_abbott_o.html http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/roman_catholic_blog/200 7/03/matt_c_abbott_o.html

9. Resources Audio Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Total Recorder - http://www.totalrecorder.com/ http://www.totalrecorder.com/ Garage Band for Macs – (not free but a great program) http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/ Video Avid - http://www.avid.com/products/freedv/index.asp Motionbox - http://www.motionbox.com http://www.motionbox.com

10. Participating in secular media Opportunities exist in secular media For example… Commentary – http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286153,00.html Internet - http://www.current.tv/community/people/fatherjeffrey http://xianz.com/watch/search_result.php?search_id=priest

11. Final Thoughts How can you cross-reference your subject matter with media and communication? What tools/resources do you have at hand? What is your budget for being able to incorporate media into your classroom? What resources can be utilized from outside the seminary to teach the basics of media?