NEWS: CofE drive to win new audiences

The Church of England is stepping up its communications efforts in a bid

to attract worshipers and build church unity.

CofE communications director Reverend Eric Shegog, told PR Week he is

planning to use his pounds 15,000 PR budget to launch a campaign

highlighting its work in inner cities.

The campaign, handled internally by Shegog and his eight-strong team,

will promote the work of its charity the Church Urban Fund, set up ten

years ago.

Shegog is also planning to launch an in-house magazine. It has recruited

Monarch Publications to produce the title, provisionally named Church of

England Today.

The CofE was in the media this week over its new corporate logo. It also

has an Internet site, provides internal public speaking and media

training and runs a radio station.

‘We are competing for people’s attentions in a rapidly expanding media

market,’ explained Shegog.