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Pitch it - Film it - Take it to Hollywood

Are you a talented filmmaker waiting to be discovered? Can you come up with an original short film concept, and then pitch your idea in two minutes to a panel of film industry judges? The Pitch sets the challenge, on the 400th anniversary of the publication of the Bible in English, to plunder the stories and characters of the Bible for inspiration.

Be inspired

The Pitch is your opportunity to pitch to make a short film with professional production support worth in excess of £20,000, and to receive advice from top industry professionals.

Once it's made, we'll fly you and a friend or family member to Hollywood. We'll introduce you to film industry professionals such as producer Ralph Winter (X-Men, Fantastic Four) who'll watch your film and give you hints and tips on taking your skills to the next level.

The unique challenge of The Pitch is to come up with a contemporary film drawing upon the Bible for your inspiration.

For more information see www.enterthepitch.com

 

Write and submit your Press Release

Do you want to make 'news' happen? Follow Ali Hull's simple guide to writing a press release for your local media, picked up by Editor Emma Gypps, in association with the Bristol Evangelical Alliance Media Training Day.

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Follow this simple guide to writing a press release for your local media...

Firstly, Read more.  Look at who you are submitting your 'news' to....Provide what they want, when they want it (respecting their deadlines) in the format they like.

Don't phone up to see if the newspaper/radio station/television programme is going to use the press release once you've submitted it. The regional press in Bath and Bristol will send a 'Return Receipt' to show you your email has been received.

At the end of your email (containing your press release) say something like 'I hope you receive this press release, if there is anything else you want please contact me.'

*Understand what is a story? And why? Who is the story for? Who is it aimed at? Research the local media you are writing for; it varies by the area.*

A news story can be described as either:-

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things - or extraordinary people doing ordinary things!

Newspapers like:- anniversaries/'first's'/record attempts! something happening which ties in with another event/occurence/issue in the news.

A press release should be:-

• 1 side of A4 - something which tells the journalist what is happening immediately. Get the key points in the first sentence.
• As you write it; ask yourself 'what do I want this to achieve?'... Is it to raise an issue? Raise a profile? Offer something to readers?
• If your story is about a huge event; for example a marathon, a tsunami, an event affecting a huge number of people - focus in one person. A reader can sympathise with one person more easily than 50,000!
• Is it a calendar event such as Easter? Get a really effective picture. If its an annual event like Easter get an original angle in the photo... avoid being 'samey'.
• Pictures should be visually interesting and appropriate to the story; i.e. add something to the text. High resolution jpegs/png images are appropriate.* If you want to submit to local radio; i.e. Radio Bristol do so via the website* Remember, radio 'eats' material...so chances are they will want to hear from you!
• Don't embargo (prevent a release from being used until a certain date) unless ABSOLUTELY necessary.

Make your writing:-

• Short, punchy and to the point.*
• Research the facts you are writing about properly.*
• Include quotes if you want to.*
• Don't include a headline.*

Ali Hull is an experienced writer, and her press releases for the various organisations she works for have appeared everywhere from the Times to the Irish Times. She works one day a week as the Bristol Evangelical Alliance media Hub, encouraging Christians to get themselves into the local media.

Her resume includes work on: Jubilee campaign, Spring Harvest, the Keswick Convention, Authentic media, Global Connections, Christian Vocations, Changing Tunes, Aid International and Aspire.

Do you want to submit a story or piece of news to Radio Bristol? Get started now by clicking here.

Help make Christian matters the main news agenda - Media Training Day

Editor Emma attended this event and here's her 'piece'...

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A group of Danish tourists with a mobile phone succeeded in photographing the tsunami wave which hit Koh Phi Phi in Thailand, texting the image to a Danish website and getting it online before the wave even hit the beach in 2004!

Facebook and the internet have changed the face of the news - but not the power of it! With more and more news relying on us to make it, isn't it time Christians started setting the news agenda, asked Bath Chronicle Editor, Sam Holliday at the Bristol Evangelical Alliance Media Training Day on 20th March.

Are you a Christian with a 'burning issue'?  Push it up the news agenda

"The number of people who see a newspaper each week is far larger than the number attending church in your city.  The British are still the largest percentage of newspaper readers anywhere in the world - 85% of adults read a local newspaper.  Newspapers are still unique and Christians need to use them to push their area or the burning issues concerning them, up the council's or society's agenda.

"All to often we as Christians can be afraid to raise our heads above the parapit - but look at the other ideas on atheism for example being expressed in the meda, the more ideas are expressed the more they set the 'news agenda'.  We shouldn't fear debate but welcome it, it is a way that people learn about the Christian faith." said Sam.

One of several speakers who gave a rallying cry and practical tips for Christians on making their stories, campaigns and ideas 'the news', he explained that with the changing face of the presentation of the 'news' comes a new accessibility for the contributor.  "we're in the era of 'UGC' or 'User Generated Content'!  Editors of any news medium are looking to contributors from the general public to provide news!"

Sam asked if you are a Christian with a burning desire to change an issue in your community why not push it up the news agenda?

He challenged fearful attitudes towards 'controversial' books and films such as Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinci Code' and said that this could be viewed as an evangelical tool.  "It talks about the crucifiction and points of bible history - its an excellent opportunity for debate."

BBC Radio Bristol's Managing Editor, Tim Pemberton, Communications Officer for Bath and Wells' diocese, the Reverend John Andrews and Bristol Crisis Centre Manager Paul Hazelden gave fascinating talks and workshops.

A Well-Crafted Press Release opens doors!

Tim Pemberton explained the importance of a 'well-crafted' press release or piece of writing as so many messages can be 'lost in translation'.

"The expections of the media to the religious community is that they are professional and offer something which is good.  Stories or pieces related to faith don't get a privileged place just because of their content.  Items need to deserve the news' space."

Ali Hull, an experienced editor and writer for the Christian press gave the course attendees from Bath, Bristol, churches, and Christian centred campaigns and projects a practical masterclass in writing and submitting a press release.

Click here for more information

"The BBC has a remit to inform, entertain and educate and Lord Wreath wanted nation to speak positively to nation and enrich people's lives.  There are a host of opportunities for people of faith on BBC Radio."

BBC Radio Bristol has a 60% speech to 40% music ratio of content and features programmes such as Radio Bristol's 'Thought For The Day' - which is a dedicated 'faith' section, 'Sunday Starts' and Radio 4's 'Prayer for the day'.  If you want to submit a story/news item to the BBC email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bath and Wells Diocese Communications Officer, the Reverend John Andrews gave expert guidance on how to cope with unsavoury news items affecting the church or a Christian organisation.  With an expansive journalistic career - including being the Editorship of The Western Daily Press, he gave crisis management advice which included honesty and integrity.  He offered his experience to anyone finding themselves with a difficult news event.

To Contact BBC Radio Bristol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For consideration we could include a link to the Book Reviews page here.

Calling all Singers, Musicians and Worship Leaders!

Could God be calling you to a new challenge?

We’re a small friendly church in the suburbs of Bristol with a missional DNA, a huge heart for God and a massive vision.

We are growing and need to urgently expand our worship team, the financial booty will be nonexistent, but the blessings and rewards will be massive.

For more details please contact Andy or Steve on 01454 626929, or visit our website www.patchwaybaptist.com for more information.