End of the Line?
At the time of writing, it looks as though this edition of the Parish Magazine will be the last one. If so, then it is a very sad moment because the magazine has been running since 1898. I am sure it will be a great loss to the village. I’d like to thank the many people who have worked on the magazine in different ways, especially Derek Bush, the editor, Norma Aslin, who has co-ordinated distribution and invoiced advertisers, also the various contributors and distributors.
I am still hoping that a new editor will appear, but at this stage it looks as though we need to focus on what comes next after the parish magazine.
What comes next?
It seems to me that we have to move to an email-based system for news distribution. I am envisaging monthly “Parish News” emails with similar content to the parish magazine except that items will normally be extremely short (one sentence) with a link to a website for further reading. This will make it relatively easy to edit the email, which is essential if the arrangement is to be sustainable. I am looking at “Brevo” software to manage large email distribution lists in a GDPR compliant way, with good facilities for subscribing and unsubscribing.
How do I receive the emails?
Emails from the Brevo system include options for joining or leaving the email distribution list, but you need to get an initial email to access these options. Please send an email to Norma Aslin (normaaslin@gmail.com ) requesting the initial “Parish News” email. This is important because it will be much the best way to get started with the new Parish News emails.
What do contributors to the parish magazine need to do?
The email address parishmagnews@hotmail.com will remain open for contributors to send in material for the Parish News emails. But there will be a big difference because contributors MUST MAKE THE ARTICLE AVAILABLE ONLINE BEFORE contacting the email editor. They then need to email the email editor with a one sentence introduction to what the article is about including link to the article. E.g.
Canon Patrick has written about keeping churchyards tidy, and what can and can’t be left on graves.
The sentence needs to be very simple, so that the editor can cut and paste it into the email. People receiving the email can click on the link and read the article.
Some contributors will find it relatively easy to make their articles or publicity available online, because they already have websites to which they upload this kind of material. Contributors who find this more challenging should contact Jacqui Rollason (jacqui.rollason@aol.co.uk) who runs the Lapworth Village Website at www.lapworth.org. Jacqui is more than happy to upload any information from any group, club, or society in Lapworth such that it appears on the village website. Please note that material must be forwarded to her by email and submitted in a usable format such as Word or PDF and all images sent as jpeg’s.
What about Advertisers?
We are very grateful to the many advertisers who have supported the parish magazine over many years. However, at this stage it is envisaged that the Parish News emails will be “ad free”.
Many advertisers have paid in advance for adverts to go in editions of the parish magazine which now look unlikely to be produced. Lapworth PCC will offer refunds to such advertisers. Please contact Norma Aslin (normaaslin@gmail.com ) to request a refund. Please include the bank account details to which you would like the refund to be paid.
What will it be like?
I am sure there will be some teething problems setting up the new Parish News emails. Some people will be slow to join the email distribution list. Some contributors will struggle to get their material online and to send in appropriate one sentence introductions and links. However, over time I am sure that we will get better at these things.
There will, I know, be a significant sense of loss when no more print editions of the magazine come through the door. However I do think there will be some upsides in the new arrangements. It will be much easier to link and send on magazine material. It will be much more accessible to social media. I am hoping that in this way it will become more accessible to younger people. And I am sure other possibilities will open up that cannot be envisaged at this stage.
Older people and people who struggle online
It is likely to be older people, and people who struggle online, who will miss the print editions of the parish magazines the most. Have a think about your neighbours and friends. It might be a great help to them if you could print out and pass them the monthly email, perhaps even including some of the linked news items which they are likely to find interesting.
And finally…
Let’s take courage as we enter the brave new world! AND REMEMBER TO EMAIL Norma Aslin (normaaslin@gmail.com ) requesting the initial “Parish News” email.
Send an email to Norma Aslin
saying that you would like to receive the new
Parish News emails.
Prayer about the Parish Magazine
Heavenly father, we thank you for the Parish Magazine and for the many years in which it has helped communications locally.
We thank you for the many people who have helped the magazine by
editing, distributing, coordinating or placing adverts.
We hold before you the sense of loss on losing the print editions.
We pray for the new Parish News Emails. We pray for all the people who will help to support and implement them. We pray that your good purposes may be taken forward through them.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.