Media Training Community

The vision for a Cross Rhythms Media Training Community has been held for at least ten years and now, in 2008, we are offering the first places for interested applicants to join us on a short term (3 month) placement.

Background

Media (radio, tv, internet, film, print, mobile) has been a powerful tool for communicating information, entertainment, ideas, values and philosophies since it’s development throughout the 20th century, but now in the 21st century it’s influence on our society, our communities and the people within them is arguably without parallel. Several hundred years ago the invention of the printing press brought the Bible to the masses. Today it’s the media voice that can re-engage the Christian message to our culture.

Everybody has a worldview – the way we see life, what we value in life, the way we make our decisions in life etc. That worldview could be a secular humanist perspective, an atheistic or materialistic outlook, a Buddhist, Sikh, Animist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian or any other viewpoint, but whatever worldview it is, unless you are able to communicate and share your worldview then your values and ideas will not be able to engage in the shaping of our culture and be an influential contribution to the development of our society and communities. In today’s age the ability to access and use media platforms creatively and relevantly is vital for giving a voice to this worldview.

At Cross Rhythms we have been developing our ability to present a relevant Christian worldview that can stand up in the wider marketplace outside our churches since 1983. Born out of a prophetic word in 1981 given to Cross Rhythms founder Chris Cole that God was going to use him to bring ‘thousands, no, millions to Christ through the media’, Cross Rhythms started as a half hour radio show on the Plymouth Sound Independent Local FM Radio Station. Now, 25 years later it has matured into what is the UK’s first full time Christian FM radio station. Cross Rhythms City Radio 101.8FM began in Stoke-on-Trent in 2002, and now, in collaboration with other groups, it has seen sister stations begin to emerge – the first being Cross Rhythms Plymouth 96.3FM and Cross Rhythms Teesside 107.1FM.

Our goal is to see 10 such FM stations in the cities of our nation within the next 4 or 5 years.

In addition, the Cross Rhythms website is one of the most popular Christian websites in the UK, seeing between 150,000 and 200,000 unique users each month.

Opportunities for Christians to get involved in media are significant. Apart from personal or church involvement, in the last two years, in addition to the three Cross Rhythms stations, another 6 Christian community stations have launched in the UK, and media organisations such as Premier, UCB, GOD TV and many others continue to open up other media doors of opportunity. Christians may also see themselves engaging on broader platforms not owned or run by a Christian initiative such as their local BBC station, an internet radio service, an online film service or many other ways.

Wherever someone ends up engaged in media, at Cross Rhythms, as a God-focussed Christian community, we believe a faith based foundation to a disciple’s call or journey is vital. Which is why our heart for the Cross Rhythms Media Training Community is to give more than just skills training, it is to try to impart and share the DNA, the heart, that makes us tick at Cross Rhythms. To envision and empower those who believe they have a ‘call’ in media, with a spiritual perspective upon which to base that call.

So, What Does The Cross Rhythms Media Training Community Offer?

Students will join us at our base in Stoke-on-Trent for 3 months (12 weeks from September 15th to December 7th).

There are three main aspects to life in the Training Community:

• First, we have deliberately called this a ‘Community’. Our goal is to develop courageous disciples with a call to media not simply to train people in being media practitioners. The basis for any call to media is not in how good you are as a producer or presenter, but the quality of your spiritual character, your love for God and others. We know of no better way for this to develop than to live in community. Six or seven students will live together in community with Cross Rhythms leaders Jonathan and Heather Bellamy. They will share in community duties and spiritual activities including corporate worship, prayer and sharing. Much of the training in terms of heart motivation and discipleship character will be revealed and nurtured in community. Shared community actions and involvement in citywide initiatives will develop a greater understanding of the ‘Kingdom of God’ that Christians in media are called to serve.
• Second there will be specific training sessions and seminars. Experienced and influential quality speakers will share on various aspects of media including practical production, presentation, interviewing and journalism skills; overviews of the media landscape; analysis of the role of church and media; the FM community radio model; the use of the internet; the role of contemporary Christian music; advertising and marketing. Many speakers will be significant leaders of Christian organizations, ministries and churches. In addition one or more training course options will provide an accredited qualification.
• Thirdly all students will be actively involved in the daily running of the Cross Rhythms ministry and will share in it as a part of the Cross Rhythms team. Depending on their particular goals students will be able to get involved in producing creative elements and recording interviews with community leaders for actual broadcast; to get involved in on air presenting; to collate vox pop material from people on the streets; write reviews, news and features for the Cross Rhythms website; support those who use the online chatroom, forums and prayer rooms; engage with local businesses to sell advertising and many more daily Cross Rhythms activities. All material goes out on air on the local FM radio station to 350,000 people, and worldwide through the Cross Rhythms website, which affords the student the actual real-life pressures, thrills, demands and experience of hands on responsibility in a working media organization.

Cost

The all inclusive price for students for 12 weeks is £1,750.00 This price includes all accommodation, food, transportation, utilities, running costs and speakers costs for the duration of the Training term.

Accommodation is likely to be in shared rooms. Food includes non-cooked breakfast, packed lunch and communal evening meal.

Location

The Training Community is based at the Cross Rhythms HQ in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK, in our 12,000sq ft building in the centre of the city. Accommodation is in a large house on the outskirts of the city on the edge of the countryside and it is called Beulah.

So, Is The Cross Rhythms Media Training Community For You?

The aim of this Training initiative is to give students a well rounded understanding and an equipping for what it takes to pursue a ‘call’ to be a Christian in media. You will develop good media skills in the bustle of an actual working media environment and, you will attain at least one accredited qualification in broadcasting skills, you will develop life skills and relational skills in working and living with a community of others, and you will be inspired and encouraged to live the life you were created to live, with God at the foundation.

The ideal candidate will be someone who resonates with these aims and wants to grow and mature in them. You will also be a person who is teachable, respectful and open to engaging in relationships. You will have a good relationship with God and a desire to know him more.

What Next?

If what you have read in this brief summary interests you and you would like to explore joining us then these are the next steps:

• Email us a letter of intent as to why you would like to join the Cross Rhythms Media Training Community, adding a CV and reference from a church leader. Please email jonathan.bellamy@crossrhythms.co.uk.
• We would then like to invite you to the Cross Rhythms HQ in Stoke-on-Trent to spend a day with us and meet with the Cross Rhythms leaders Jonathan and Heather Bellamy. At this meeting we can discuss and go into more depth on any questions or concerns you may have.

There is no upper age limit to the Cross Rhythms Media Training Community. The minimum age is 16 although generally we would anticipate students being between 18 and 35. Look forward to hearing from you!

Coming Soon - a list of the seminar/teaching sessions and the exceptional speakers who will be contributing to the Training Community.