In my work with non-profits, religious organizations, an even businesses, more and more people are turning away from the TV broadcast world to the online world. To some degree, it's natural, and digital media should be an important part of your strategic plan for connecting with a larger audience or customer base. However, in a world that's crazy over online media, content producers shouldn't forget what broadcast media does very well, and especially why you shouldn't be too quick to walk away from traditional TV:

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The last nine months have completely changed the equation about business and non-profit development in America. And yet, I'm amazed at the number of leaders who are doing the same thing they've always done - totally oblivious to the dramatic shifts in business, the economy and culture. One by one, those leaders are getting blindsided and either getting fired, laid off, or going out of business completely. One friend of mine who's a great planner, said that months ago he cancelled everything - plans, strategies, travel, etc - in order to re-focus on the challenge at hand. While that might be extreme, there are some important ways to make sure you don't get surprised: ... read more

When it comes to communicating our message, essentially there are two types of audiences Christians should be reaching. First, to teach, motivate, and challenge other believers, and two, to engage unbelievers. That's pretty much it. The problem is really with the balance. Take a survey of most Christians who communicate through radio, TV, web, film, publishing, recording, etc… and the vast majority are doing the first: reaching each other. We call it preaching to the choir. On the other hand, the number of Christians out there really creating content for the purpose of engaging non-believers is pretty small. The apostle Paul focused on two tasks: ... read more

The essence of a successful blog is an honest, "behind the scenes," authentic look at your views on something. Whatever your blog is about - religion, media, sports, politics, culture - whatever - the first principle is that it's from YOU. It needs to be real, and it needs to be personal. Right now, too many people - especially pastors - are simply hiring someone to cut and paste excerpts from their sermons, books, or other materials into their blog. Obviously if you're such a big name that people clamor to hear anything you have to say, you'll still get readers. But if not - or if you're trying to build your reputation, ... read more

If your church is about telling a story to the community, then what story does your building tell? Since your building is the most visible expression of your faith community in the local area, shouldn't we make an effort to make sure the place of our worship is meaningful? I believe more pastors should consider maximizing the concept of using architecture to impact their brand. Greg Laurie's Harvest Church in Riverside, California has created a ... read more

One of the most difficult challenges any leader can face is to take the job as the successor to a great leader. Legendary leaders are often founders, or have guided the organization through great growth and/or difficult times, and in doing that, leaves a mark. People remember great leaders, and to step into their shadow is to risk a great deal. Strategic advisor James Lukaszewski says that once a successor is announced, if the transition doesn't happen quickly, it will almost always fail. Why? Because ... read more

One of the most heartbreaking things I'm seeing during this financial recession is the absolute shock many people face when they lose their job. It's as if they are actually stunned. They had just assumed a job would always be there, and now have absolutely no idea what to do next. During my career in the media and non-profit worlds, I've always seen two mindsets: ... read more

I wanted to share this very personal note that was posted on my blog a couple of weeks ago by Amber Rose. She attended the Echo Church Media Conference in Dallas, and afterward, posted this excerpt from her personal blog:

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