In this morning's press briefing, a reporter rose to make a point to Bob Williams, communications director for the Episcopal Church. She said that if anyone was wondering why there was not more television and newspaper coverage of this Convention, it was because photographers and television crews are so restricted. Often the press are constrained to distant corners, hundreds of feet away from the action. Newspapers can't get good images to run in their papers. TV stations can't get good footage to show.
No photographers are allowed in useful places during worship services, nor is anyone allowed to photograph the House of Bishops in action. Only one small area is open for media in the House of Deputies. Today one of my colleagues was told that she was not even allowed to take any photographs in the public areas of the Convention Center (the main hallway and gathering space)!
What are the Convention leaders and communication staff afraid of?
I'm not sure. Perhaps it was, as Bob Williams suggested this morning, the bad experience of media run amok in Minneapolis in 2003 around the consent of Gene Robinson. One can easily imagine the disruption that too many flashing photographers and distracting film crews might cause. Most of the press here would be happy if ENS would simply supply pool photographs and video footage of the worship, House of Bishops, and House of Deputies. I don't need to stand there and take pictures, but I'd like to be able to share good photographs with RISEN readers and readers of this blog.
The photos you see here are often taken from great distance or else I've managed to snap a photo or two before being chased away. Why should this be the case?
Perhaps our church needs to realize that telling our story includes bloggers, newspapers, TV news, and all the other media. Rather than try to control information, allowing images and sounds to flow freely from Columbus might get more people to hear the news, even the Good News.
I was struck by the contrast with last night's Integrity Eucharist. Someone from the church was clearing an aisle where I was standing with my camera in hand. I was expecting to be chased away. Instead, he saw my press badge and made sure I had a terrific vantage point from which to take pictures. As a result, I can share the gospel that was preached and lived in that service.
The gospel is alive and well here in Columbus. There is much to celebrate here. I hope all media will be able to share that fact with the world.
Go Scott!!!!!! Preach it, Brother!
ReplyDeleteYour Colleague here. Not only was I told I couldn't take photographs in a public area, another Colleague of ours was "womanhandled" by a Red Apron for being in a staff press area that she had permission to work from. What are we afraid of, indeed?
ReplyDelete