Christian media

Last updated August 30, 2024

Christian media can either refer to Christians who work in secular media, or media that is Christian, or refer to various aspects of mass media which is primarily targeting the Christian demographic. The conservative Christian right and fundamentalist Christians have been especially active with media ventures.^[1]

Forms of Christian media

Audiovisual media

Christian film is a film genre. Many forms of Christian films are now widespread, from full length, feature films to short and discussion orientated clips. Produced mostly by Sony pictures, common feature Christian films include: Facing the Giants , Fireproof and Get Low . Other short films include the Deidox documentary series, or the recently created GodFilms. Both specialize in short minute movies about invoking thought or discussion. Both feature length and short Christian films are moderately successful.
Christian radio, a radio format of music and programming that, within itself, includes several sub-formats. These include Contemporary Christian music, Urban contemporary gospel, Southern Gospel, inspirational music, children's programming which include Adventures in Odyssey and Patch the Pirate, talk radio, and formats which include primarily preaching and/or instructional programming.
Christian television, which may include broadcast television or cable television channels whose entire broadcast programming schedule is television programs directly related to Christianity, such as Trinity Broadcasting Network (the world's largest religious television network),^[2] Alpha Omega Network, God TV, Australian Christian Channel, SAT-7 and Emmanuel TV or individual shows including comedy, action, drama, reality, dramatizations and variety shows, movies and mini-series; which are part of the overall programming of a general-interest television station. See also Televangelism.
Christian video games are generally released by independent Christian developers, though sometimes a major company develops a game targeted at this audience. A major Christian game developer is Wisdom Tree.

Christian publishing

Christian publishing encompasses all forms of publishing of print media in the field of communicating information promoting Christianity and aspects of Christianity to readers.

Christian books, a segment of Christian media which typically communicates the core elements of the Christian faith to non-believers, or publishes books to help develop and inform the beliefs of adherents. Examples include Gospel Light , whose focus is on Children's Christian Education, also Abigdon Press , Plough Publishing,^[3] Concordia Publishing House and David C. Cook. Some traditional Christian publishers are converting to online publishing. As evangelicals don't have a central authority, publishers and bookstores are de facto gatekeepers of theology.^[4]
Christian newspapers, a small segment of Christian media which typically communicates news to members of the denomination or group which publishes the paper. Such newspapers often published weekly, rarely more frequently and often less frequently (bi-weekly, monthly). Examples include the Southern Baptist Convention, whose various state conventions often publish weekly or bi-weekly newspapers, also Christian Examiner and The Christian Post. Sometimes individual congregations will publish newspapers; one example is Southeast Christian Church, a megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky which publishes a weekly newspaper distributed throughout the metro area. Independent publishers have also produced Christian newspapers, often aimed at a specific group such as Roman Catholics. For much the same reasons as commercial newspapers such as the high cost of production and distribution, some Christian newspapers are converting to online publishing.
Christian magazines, one of many special-interest groups within the magazine publishing industry. Christian magazines often focus on groups within Christianity, such as men or women, youth, or certain denominations. Many Christian magazines are published by denominations and independent ministries as an outreach to the unchurched or to the organization's supporters, frequently at no cost to the reader. One of the most well known is "Guideposts" magazine, published by Guideposts non-profit since 1945. Examples of denominational magazines include House to House Heart to Heart and The Australian Presbyterian magazine. Other Christian magazines are published commercially for a profit, and sold by subscription or by single copies through bookstores and other retailers. Examples include Christianity Today and Charisma .

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mass media</span> Media that can reach a large audience via mass communication

Mass media include the diverse arrays of media that reach a large audience via mass communication.

Televangelism and occasionally termed radio evangelism or teleministry, denotes the utilization of media platforms, notably radio and television, for the marketing of religious messages, particularly Christianity.

The Christian music industry is one aspect of the broader music industry, with a focus on Christian music and subgenres such as gospel music, southern gospel, contemporary Christian music, contemporary worship music, and even traditional church music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, a narrower term that does not encompass all the musical genres included here.

Christian radio refers to Christian media radio formats that focus on Christian religious broadcasting or various forms of Christian music. Many such formats and programs include contemporary Christian music, gospel music, sermons, radio dramas, as well as news and talk shows covering popular culture, economics, and political topics from a Christian perspective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Media of Canada</span>

The media of Canada is highly autonomous, uncensored, diverse, and very regionalized. Canada has a well-developed media sector, but its cultural output—particularly in English films, television shows, and magazines—is often overshadowed by imports from the United States. As a result, the preservation of a distinctly Canadian culture is supported by federal government programs, laws, and institutions such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news.

Independent or Independents may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">News media</span> Elements of mass media that focus on delivering news

The news media or news industry are forms of mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public. These include news agencies, newspapers, news magazines, news channels etc.

Nondenominational Christianity consists of churches, and individual Christians, which typically distance themselves from the confessionalism or creedalism of other Christian communities by not formally aligning with a specific Christian denomination. Although nondenominational churches typically consider themselves to be non-creedal and flexible, many identify as Charismatic. Many nondenominational churches are associated with Baptists who have chosen not to affiliate themselves any organization beyond their local church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian music</span> Music expressing Christian life and faith

Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament, and its forms vary widely around the world. Church music, hymnals, gospel and worship music are a part of Christian media and also include contemporary Christian music which itself supports numerous Christian styles of music, including hip hop, rock, contemporary worship and urban contemporary gospel.

Songs of Praise is a BBC Television religious programme that presents Christian hymns, worship songs and inspirational performances in churches of varying denominations from around the UK alongside interviews and stories reflecting how Christian faith is lived out.

Regent College is an interdenominational evangelical Christian College of Christian studies, and an affiliated college of the University of British Columbia, located next to the university's campus in the University Endowment Lands west of Vancouver, British Columbia. The school's stated mission is to "cultivate intelligent, vigorous, and joyful commitment to Jesus Christ, His church, and His world."

An alternative newspaper is a type of newspaper that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of stylized reporting, opinionated reviews and columns, investigations into edgy topics and magazine-style feature stories highlighting local people and culture. Its news coverage is more locally focused, and their target audiences are younger than those of daily newspapers. Typically, alternative newspapers are published in tabloid format and printed on newsprint. Other names for such publications include alternative weekly, alternative newsweekly, and alt weekly, as the majority circulate on a weekly schedule.

Religious broadcasting, sometimes referred to as faith-based broadcasts, is the dissemination of television and/or radio content that intentionally has religious ideas, religious experience, or religious practice as its core focus. In some countries, religious broadcasting developed primarily within the context of public service provision, whilst in others, it has been driven more by religious organisations themselves. Across Europe and in the US and Canada, religious broadcasting began in the earliest days of radio, usually with the transmission of religious worship, preaching or "talks". Over time, formats evolved to include a broad range of styles and approaches, including radio and television drama, documentary, and chat show formats, as well as more traditional devotional content. Today, many religious organizations record sermons and lectures, and have moved into distributing content on their own web-based IP channels.

Millard Robert E. Theodore Baehr is an American media critic and chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission, a division of Good News Communications, Inc. He is publisher and editor-in-chief of Movieguide, a website and biweekly journal that evaluates motion pictures and other entertainment products from a Christian perspective on suitability for family consumption. He also hosts nationally and internationally syndicated Movieguide radio and television programs.

Christian video games are a video game genre and a form of Christian media that focus on the narrative and themes of Christian morals and Christianity. The term can also refer to Christian symbolism, mythology, media franchises, and Christian media organizations within video game culture and industry.

TV Guide is an American biweekly magazine that provides television program listings information as well as television-related news, celebrity interviews and gossip, film reviews, crossword puzzles, and, in some issues, horoscopes. The print magazine's operating company, TV Guide Magazine LLC, is owned by NTVB Media since 2015. The magazine was spun off from TV Guide in 2008 by then-owner Macrovision to OpenGate Capital for $1 and a $9.5 million loan.

A daily devotional is a religious publication that provides a specific spiritual reading for each calendar day. Many daily devotionals take the form of one year devotional books, with many being tailored specifically for children, teenagers, students, men and women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian film industry</span> Aspect of Christian media

The Christian film industry is an aspect of Christian media for films containing a Christian-themed message or moral. They are often interdenominational films, but can also be films targeting a specific denomination of Christianity.

Pentecostalism is a renewal movement within Protestant Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal relationship with God and experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts. Pentecostalism was established in Kerala, India at the start of the 20th century.

References

↑ Linda Kintz; Julia Lesage (April 1998), Media, Culture, and the Religious Right, U of Minnesota Press, p. 404, ISBN 978-0-8166-3085-1 ISBN 0-8166-3085-2, ISBN 978-0-8166-3085-1
↑ Elaine Woo (2 December 2013). "Paul Crouch dies at 79; founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network". The Washington Post . Retrieved 6 July 2014. He bought more television stations, then piled on cable channels and eventually satellites until he had built the world's largest Christian television system...
↑ "About Us". Plough. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
↑ Graham, Ruth (12 July 2019). "The Decline of the Christian Bookstore". Slate . Retrieved 12 July 2019.

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[1] Linda Kintz; Julia Lesage (April 1998), Media, Culture, and the Religious Right, U of Minnesota Press, p. 404, ISBN 978-0-8166-3085-1 ISBN 0-8166-3085-2, ISBN 978-0-8166-3085-1

[WashPost2013-12-02-2] Elaine Woo (2 December 2013). "Paul Crouch dies at 79; founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network". The Washington Post . Retrieved 6 July 2014. He bought more television stations, then piled on cable channels and eventually satellites until he had built the world's largest Christian television system...

[3] "About Us". Plough. Retrieved 2017-06-15.

[4] Graham, Ruth (12 July 2019). "The Decline of the Christian Bookstore". Slate . Retrieved 12 July 2019.

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