By Scott Barkley

As the number of tools available for communicators grows, so do the expectations of audiences in how those stories are told, learned approximately 75 communicators from every brand of media gathered April 11-14 in Fort Worth, Texas, at this year's annual BCA meeting, themed "Fast Forward."

In addition to Wednesday and Thursday's seminars on standards such as writing, social media usage, and photography, breakout sessions addressed the increasing presence of marketing strategy in communications as well as finding your creative niche and interactive design... READ MORE

by Philip Poole

Former BCA president Bob Desbien died unexpectedly March 26 at his home in Sevierville, Tenn., at the very young age of 63. Memorial services were scheduled for April 3 at Atchley Funeral Home in Seymour, Tenn.

Bob had retired after more than 40 years in public relations, communications and marketing.

Bob and I first became acquainted when I became director of public relations at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1978. At the time, Bob was in the same role at Midwestern Seminary. He later spent several years with the Southern Baptist Foreig... READ MORE

By Linda Lawson, Lifetime member

Lloyd Householder's move in 1977 to director of communications at the Baptist Sunday School Board (now Lifeway) from serving as manager of the church training department seemed an unusual switch in some ways.

He had worked primarily in the Christian education components and had no formal training in communications. However, his innovative approaches to leadership, his conviction that public relations should focus on relationships and his investment in his people to produce high-quality results and work as a team served him well.

I had... READ MORE

During our recent officers meeting in Fort Worth, we traveled to Mission Arlington, the site of this year's BCA mission project, for a tour. I wish each of you could have shared in that experience, because I know it would have moved you to action like it did me.

Mission Arlington (MA) began 25 years ago with a commitment to provide total care... READ MORE

Way back at the turn of the century, BCA's leadership had the vision to create a new office - missions vice president - along with a missions committee. The purpose, according to the minutes of the 2000 workshop in Chicago, was "to create an awareness of opportunities for Baptist communicators to use their skills in volunteer missions."

Tere... READ MORE

Walking to get a glass of water from the hallway, I saw Georgia Baptist Convention archivist George Houston carrying a set of dusty black folders chock full of yellowing papers. Asked if he was getting rid of some old, useless stuff he corrected me in saying, "Just old."

That led to my going with Houston into the archives (conveniently, for m... READ MORE

It pains me to say this, and please don't tell anybody, but... my writing isn't perfect. Though most of my prose exists on the same plane as Shakespeare, Hemingway and Sartre - not to mention that my leads are the stuff of which Pulitzers are forged - I admit there is at least a hair's width of room for improvement.

I'm kidding of course, bu... READ MORE

Whenever The Next Big Thing in social media comes along the techie squeals of joy are almost drowned out by the groans of practically everyone else. What is another great option for staying connected and finding story resources is also seen as yet another password to remember and site post to update.

It's not hard to find online sources chro... READ MORE