The Catholic Writers Guild

Editor’s Note: If you are looking for the Catholic Writers Conference in Chicago, July 29th – August 1st, 2014, sponsored by the Catholic Writers Guild,  Click here.  That said, we are absolutely thrilled that the CWG is invited to reach out to Catholic writers around the country at a variety of conferences this year, and the Charlotte event is one of them.  Enjoy!

Reaching Catholics through new media among highlights at annual event CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

Catholic writers interested in learning more about the latest in Catholic media are invited to attend the annual Catholic Media Conference, the premier educational and networking event featuring the best of the best in Catholic media. This year’s conference, set for June 18-20 at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel, is being hosted by the Diocese of Charlotte and its news outlet, the Catholic News Herald.

Conference-goers will learn from the industry’s top professionals about what’s new and trending in social media, digital and print journalism, and advertising. Experts will be on hand to give them the tools and techniques needed to effectively communicate with audiences at a diocesan, parish or school level.
Master camps and workshops are designed with a hands-on, practical approach so that conference-goers can head back to the office with a notebook full of ideas that can be put to work right away.

Additionally, networking opportunities, including social events and volunteer opportunities, allow for conference-goers to meet other passionate Catholics in their field.

Opening the 2014 conference on June 18 will be a keynote address by Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., the newly elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Other keynote speakers will be Helen Alvaré, George Mason University law professor and founder of Women Speak For Themselves, and Heather King, Catholic essayist and blogger.

Also speaking will be Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Celli has been one of the leaders in creating the pope’s digital communication efforts, including a Twitter presence that now tops 13 million followers. He also has led efforts with Google to build a joint venture giving the pope his own YouTube channel, as well as building “the Pope App” and obtaining the new .catholic domain.

Charlotte Bishop Peter J. Jugis will celebrate the opening Mass of the conference on June 18 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. Charleston Bishop Robert Guglielmone will offer Mass on June 19 at St. Peter Church in Charlotte, and the liturgy will include sacred music by Our Lady of Consolation Parish’s Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir.

The conference will also feature an exclusive pre-screening of Sony Pictures’ “When the Game Stands Tall,” starring Jim Caviezel, Michael Chiklis and Laura Dern, about legendary football coach Bob Lacouceur.

Workshops will be led by Michelle Buckman, award-winning Catholic fiction writer and member of the Catholic Writers Guild; Father Al McBride, O. Praem., prolific Catholic writer and theologian; Father Matt Malone, S.J., the editor of America magazine; Dr. Hosffman Ospino of Boston College, a leading researcher of U.S. Latino Catholics; Jim Stipe, award-winning photographer of the developing world; Eric Sundrup, editor of The Jesuit Post; Olympic cross country champion Rebecca Dussault; award-winning TV producer Dr. Frank Frost; and Adobe PDF software pioneer and nationally recognized “newspaper guru” Kevin Slimp. Panel discussions will feature bloggers from Patheos, and international mission journalism funded by Catholic Relief Services.

Go to http://www.allthingscmc.com/ for registration options, which includes the full agenda of activities, workshops and speakers. One-day passes and student rates are available.

The Catholic Media Conference is sponsored jointly by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada and the Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals. The Catholic Press Association builds and strengthens the value, effectiveness and identity of Catholic media by facilitating the professional development and spiritual growth of its members. It contributes to the Church’s mission of communicating the Good News and evangelizing the modern world by engaging and supporting the content creators and distributors of Catholic media. The Catholic Academy is the preeminent networking source for communication professionals serving the Catholic Church with professional development, mentoring, education, best practices and leadership.

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Media Contact
David Hains
Director of Communication
Diocese of Charlotte
(704) 370-3333
DWHains@CharlotteDiocese.org