If you are interesting in Christian media, you must read a very interesting post by Phil Cooke highlighting a couple of sea changes taking place right now in Christian media. Here's the "skinny" on his perspective...
"...from a demographic perspective, the donors who built the major media ministries of the last few decades are disappearing, and being replaced by a new group that doesn't share the same values and priorities. My opinion is that we have 8-12 years left with the donors that built the major Christian ministries we see today...
...The former donor base that was focused on giving for expansion - particularly building projects - is now being replaced by a generation more interested in great causes...The question that hasn't been answered yet is how to convert them from passionate supporters to actual givers. On that subject, the jury is still out. After all, this is the generation that grew up on Napster, and believes everything online should be free. It will take some time to change those expectations.Most media ministries have never had to listen, and they struggle with change.
With that in mind, here's what I predict: As donors stop giving to the same old traditional Christian TV appeals, here's what will happen:
1. Many of those ministries will panic and start doing "emergency appeals."
2. They'll bring in the fundraising "A Team..."
3. Some will close their doors.
4. A fortunate few will see the shift coming and respond accordingly.
...Brace yourself. Whatever you like or dislike about religious media, it's about to get worse. Most of the media ministries you see today are already struggling, but too many refuse to see the reality of the change they need to make."I think Phil is right on...as usual! If you are interested in how media and Christianity intersect, I highly encourage you to read his blog at www.philcooke.com and to buy his latest book, The Last TV Evangelist: Why the Next Generation Couldn't Care Less About Religious Media.
