Monday 3 July 2006

The latest that is happening to me at work and the world of communication for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific:
South Pacific Positioned for Total Communication
Wahroonga, New South Wales
Melody Tan

The church in the South Pacific will have a coordinated communication program speaking with one voice with the formation of the new Adventist Media Network. The network began on July 1 and brings together three media entities under one management team for improved coordination of media efforts in the 13 countries of the division.

“This is a golden moment for the church and over time will greatly benefit the church in this division,” says Pastor Laurie Evans, president of the SPD. “With the synergies created by Adventist Media Network, the church will now have a ‘one-stop shop’ that will cater for all its communication needs.”

The Adventist Media Network is the result of a merger of the Adventist Media Centre, the communication and public relations department of the SPD and Signs Publishing Company.

Situated at two locations, Warburton, Victoria (Signs Publishing Company) and Wahroonga, New South Wales (Adventist Media Network headquarters), the realisation that this would increase the effectiveness of communication and media activities has been discussed for a number of years.

Veteran communicator Dr Allen Steele who has most recently been the assistant to the president for advancement of Avondale College, has been appointed the chief executive officer of Adventist Media Network as well as the communication director for the SPD. Dr Steele first arrived in Australia in 2000 to coordinate Avondale College’s new communication degree program after working for Adventist World Radio for more than 20 years, most recently as a vice-president.

Adventist Media Network will now provide unions, missions and conferences with a complete communication strategy for their projects that will include media ministries, public relations, marketing, design, news dissemination and the production of resources such as books and DVDs. This is in contrast to previous practice where customers had to approach each entity independently, often missing out on many other potential possibilities and opportunities.

The organisational structure provided by Adventist Media Network will facilitate an integrated strategy and a cooperative effort when it comes to church communications, hence enhancing the image and profile of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the community.

“It is an exciting opportunity for the church to consolidate its communication thrust not only to church members but to the public as well,” says Dr Steele. “This move will also establish us in a better position to take advantage of emerging technologies such as the Internet and satellite television.”

Adventist Media Network has fulfilled the action voted by delegates in the SPD Session six years ago to “establish a Communication/Public Relations and Marketing Centre that would combine or utilise the resources and skills of trained and competent staff along with those of the Adventist Media Centre, Signs Publishing Company and other institutions as appropriate.”

While the new entity will officially began on 1 July 2006, it will take several months for internal systems and processes to be modified to take full advantage of the change. Even so, it is business as usual from the customers’ perspective.
We officially start functioning as Adventist Media Network today, although I don't move to my new office till next Monday since it's Christian Resources Exhibition week this week.

If anybody's at the Sydney Olympic Park vicinity this week, do drop by Stand E2 to say hi!

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