Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-25
RELIGIOUS NOTICES.
Hints ON How to Use the Newspaper
for Church Publicity.

AAAAAeS VA ahOS ~ ASc INC NcwSVuRcE
for Church Publicity.
Frem the Church Economist
As the season of aggressive church work is
upon us a few practical hints on church adj
vertising are in order.
The best medium Is the daily local paper,
and IL the appropriation for advertising is
small this medium should be used in prefer
ence to any other. AS preliminary. the
pastor should himself visit the newspaper
office and discuss the whole subject with
both publisher and editor He will be re-
spectfully treated, and the personal rela-
ton thus formed Gf this has not already
been made) will be of substantial benefit to
the church.
Tell the newspaper people what you want
done, how much money you can spend and
who are most personally interested, as Off
GERS and active members of the church, In
the expenditures. This group of persons is
likely to include several prominent citizens;
and the fact that these are identified with
the church and become patrons Of the
newspaper on its account will increase the
interest OF the journalists in your affairs.
In a large city you would be apt to see the
managing editor or city editor on the news
side and the business manager on the bus
mess side, though the editor-in-chief and
proprietor are not so inaccessible to any
one having legitimate claim on the news
papers attention some like to represent.
Every paper of "up-to-1ate" character
now carries feature of religious news and
advertising notices. We often speak of
the deteriorat ton of the newspaper press,
and in certain directions this may be justi
fed, but there are upward tendencies to be
observed also, and the attention that is
paid to the religious news of a community
is one of these.
AS rule, tie paid religious notices are
grouped together under one head and
ranged either alpha petically or by denom-
nations. They appear for the most part in
the Saturday issue-morning or afternoon.
Some are found in the Sunday morning edi-
ton. and there are churches that advertise
on other week days than Saturday, but
these are rare. The card is set in the farm
of "non-displayed matter" like want
ad., and is usually charged for by the line
o1ten a more favorable rate can be obtain
ed by contract for the year or season
The charge is generally moderate as all
newspapers wish this style of advertising
10 be most effective, the pastor or some
rehabie member of the church should make
i. ms duty TO see that the copy for the adj
vertisement is sent to the paper promptly
ana Clearly. 1t should get to the publish
ers desk on Friday morning at the latest.
rms copy should be fresh each week. A
stei eotyped announcement is no. without
Value, but 1t is reducing this value to a
minimum. Conciseness ard clearness should
pc studied. The name of the church
=. ne Iocdlon the name of the pastor the
themes or discourse, the hours of service
an aliusion to the music the offer of tospi-
tdIity 10 visitors should be included
IN the same nsil a note snouJd Ia se,t
10 the local or city editor Duplicating the
Information in the advertisement. with
perhaps a Few words of comment This is
an important matter ara should never be
overlooked. Now appears the wisdom of
MAKING d personal connection with both
sues OF a newspaper organization and let
tlng IL be known that you are a regular
customer. The paper might pay some at
tcntlon to your church in any case but if
you are known to be a patron. and if YOU
can be depended upon for timely items Of
news. you Will soon find yourself obtaining
a large degree of publicity.
Whenever anything of news interest Is
TO happen either at the regular services or
at other times drop line i'm advance to
the city editor, or if the event came unex-
pectedly report it at once yourself and send
the item to the paper, with your name at
fached as authority. If a reporter comes
recognize in him the next morning and
treat him in way to insure a correct ami
adequate report.
Be sure to Fay all newspaper bills
promptly and in way to cement friendly
relations. Don't claim too much free ad-
vertising:' in fact, don't claim any at Gll
but simply cooperate with the paper in :ts
effort to get and print news of interest to
the community.
Finally it wouldn't hurt your church a
bit If, b. yoLr friendliness and sincere per-
sonal interest in the newspaper men, You
won the m to come to your church regu-
larly as members. and to take upon them
selves TIE task of seeing that it's publicity
was properly fcstered.
For purposes of study we append a
few sample and typical church notices
from the Washington ID. c. Evening Star
of Saturday, September II. That paper is
a model In journalism, and its style may
be safely followed.