Strategic Evangelism Solutions For Global Impact
Posts tagged Gospel Today
Gospel Heritage Praise & Worship Conference Heads Back to Jax
Feb 5th
Happy Saturday!
I’m getting ready to go participate in the Ordination services of Pastors Bobby & Angel Thomas. Very excited about that. They are not just great Psalmists but Pastors with a love for His sheep!
Speaking of Psalmists, some of THE BEST in Gospel will be here in Jacksonville in less than 2 weeks. Some of you know Dr. Teresa Hairston, Publisher of Gospel Today and Founder of Gospel Heritage Music Conference was in Jacksonville on New Year’s Eve spreading the word about Gospel Heritage 2011.
Last year it was at Bethel Baptist, where my Pastor, Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr. was Host. This year, Gospel Heritage is back in Jax, at Potter’s House where Bishop Vaughn McGlaughlin is Host Pastor. Plus, this year on that Friday evening there will be a special service honoring Dr. Hairston for her 25 years of service to the Gospel Music Industry. She’s set some standards and weathered many storms, YET here she is!
Okay, to find out more about Gospel Heritage 2011 check out the website: www.gospelheritage.com If you’re a Pastor, Music Leader, Worshipper you definitely don’t want to miss this DYNAMIC week of impartation and learning. Plus, all the evening services are FREE so come on out to hear Keynotes: Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Pastor Sheryl Brady and Pastor Donnie McClurkin. (see official release below)
THE 2011 GOSPEL HERITAGE PRAISE & WORSHIP CONFERENCE PRESENTS A STAR STUDDED LINE UP OF PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING PASTOR DONNIE MCCLURKIN, BISHOP HEZEKIAH WALKER AND MORE
The Gospel Heritage Praise & Worship Conference, the #1 International Praise & Worship Conference will take place, February 17-19, 2011 in Jacksonville, FL. Dr. Teresa Hairston, publisher of Gospel Today magazine and founder of the Gospel Heritage Foundation, will continue in her mission to inspire, educate and inform by presenting this conference that features seminars, showcases and preaching services at the Potter’s House Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville, Florida. GHF’s goal is to preserve and perpetuate Gospel Heritage by bringing together people who cherish the Gospel tradition along with today’s top Gospel artists and pulpiteers. Dr. Hairston has assembled the top messengers of faith and humanitarianism to relay the message of this year’s conference: “Worship that changes lives”. GHF has built a reputation for being an event of substance that is attended by inspirational leaders from all walks of life. Gospel luminaries confirmed to participate in the conference are: Grammy award winners, Pastor Donnie McClurkin and Bishop Hezekiah Walker; the pastor who led his church to ownership of the Los Angeles Forum, Bishop Kenneth Ulmer; the pastor who Bishop T. D. Jakes chose to lead the north Dallas Potter’s House, Pastor Sheryl Brady; along with two of Gospel’s hottest young artists, Tye Tribbett, director of Youthful Praise, J.J. Hairston, Ernest Pugh and Jonathan Nelson. All seminars and classes have been orchestrated by Dr. John Guns, one of the most dynamic preachers in the country. One of the new highlights of the 2011 conference will be an Artist Boot Camp, led by Bishop Hezekiah Walker. And don’t miss the “Heritage Got Talent” artist showcase which promises to be one of the premier stages for up-and-coming talents. The 2011 Gospel Heritage Praise & Worship Conference is not just about music, it is a gathering where people of all faiths lift their voices and join in solidarity to celebrate Black history and culture. The conference connects the heritage of Gospel ministry and music to today’s community. Gospel Heritage encourages today’s youth to appreciate the music and message of Gospel. Please visit: www.gospelheritage.org for more information. For media inquires / interviews, contact Double XXposure Media Relations at 212-629-9404 or Inquiries@dxxnyc.com.
Why I Don’t Recommend Paying For “Magazine” Features
Aug 5th
As one with a Broadcast Journalism Degree who’s worked in TV NEWS, Entertainment NEWS and yep, Christian Media for roughly 19 years, I love observing and analyzing the trends.
And for whatever reason, right now it seems like every week there is a NEW Urban ADVERTORIAL PUBLICATION, hitting the pavement, with a little confusion about how to operate and how to identify the right target audience that will help sustain the publication in this new digital age we live in.
Trust Me when I say, it takes a lot of work, experience and ingenuity to stay around as long as publications like Ebony, Jet, Gospel Today, and Black Enterprise. And these publications do not call someone to request an interview and then ask the subject of the interview to PAY for that feature.
That’s NOT how it works.
However, it seems like every other week I have conversations with popular faith-based Marketplace Leaders who have some FUNKY story to tell about their experience with a Christian-based advertorial magazine publisher, who doesn’t seem to understand the difference between Journalism/Entertainment Journalism & STRAIGHT UP ADVERTORIAL PUBLISHING.
The conversation goes something like this:
Christian Advertorial Publisher: “Hi, Marketplace Leader, I’ve heard a lot about what you’re doing and would love to feature you as a cover story in my magazine”
Marketplace Leader: Great, tell me a little bit more about your publication and I’ll let you know my availability for an interview.
Christian Advertorial Publisher: We publish once a month and feature leaders of faith like you that are making a difference. You can visit our site at www.christianmag.com, plus I’ll send you a few copies in the mail.
Marketplace Leader: Okay great, I look forward to the interview and to reviewing your publication.
About a day or so after the initial conversation, the Marketplace Leader then gets an email similar to this one:
Hi, Mr. Marketplace Leader thanks so much for agreeing to be featured in my magazine. Please decide on which feature size you’d like and then just click here to pay $$$$ for your feature.
EXCUSE ME?
You’ve got to be kidding, right?
Unfortunately, many are not!
That’s right, now all of a sudden I see more and more Christian “advertorial” magazines that appear to be posturing themselves as legitimate Journalistic or Christian Entertainment Publications, when in actuality they are really more like those MONEY PAGES magazines we all tend to throw away every other month.
You know the ones, full of advertisements, yet no REAL content?!
Now, don’t get me wrong. I LOVE reading great magazine features. But the ones I love the most are the ones created with some journalistic integrity. Meaning they don’t do a “switacharoo” on you, after asking to FEATURE you in their magazine.
The great long-lasting magazines that we love to read, are mainstays because of ADVERTISING dollars and READERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS. Yep, that’s right, the advertisers pay big money to advertise in their publications because they know the readership subscriptions are legitimate and can be measured accurately. Those advertisers also know that they are filling a specific need to a specific audience!
One of the best articles I’ve seen on this subject is “ 5 Reasons Why New Magazines Fail”
So, here’s my “2 cents” worth of advice to all you Pastors, Ministry Leaders, and Marketplace Leaders who continue to call me asking whether or NOT you should pay to have a feature piece done on you…
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I’ve been featured in Ebony Magazine, Local & Regional Newspapers and Christian Entertainment Shows and NOT ONCE HAVE I PAID to have the publication “cover me!” And as a former Publisher of a city-wide alternative URBAN entertainment publication, not once did we ask folks to PAY us to cover them!
There are so many media opportunities out here now, that if you invest in a good strategic media & P.R. plan, you might be surprised at where your message will land.
Trust me, if you keep doing what you’re doing and MAKING the right strides, the RIGHT people will see and God will OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT, without you having to PAY $$ TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
What are your thoughts & experiences?
