Les llegar�n m�s noticias
Monday, October 26, 2009
* Ana Rodriguez Soto
La tecnolog�a est� cambiando la manera en que leemos las noticias. La Arquidi�cesis de Miami ha ido m�s all� de mantenerse al d�a con los cambios. En algunos casos, nos adelantamos.
Dos de las secciones que iniciamos en nuestro sitio web fueron �Announce Your Event� (Anuncie Su Actividad) y el blog �Let�s Talk� (Hablemos). Somos la primera di�cesis en la naci�n en mantener un blog en el que los lectores pueden comentar. (Desde entonces, otras organizaciones lo han hecho, entre ellas la Conferencia de Obispos de los Estados Unidos y la di�cesis de Jackson, Miss.). Tambi�n fuimos los pioneros en ofrecer a iglesias, escuelas, feligreses y grupos cat�licos la oportunidad de anunciar sus actividades directamente en nuestro sitio web.
A partir del 1ro de noviembre, nuestro sitio web estar� modernizado para permitir la comunicaci�n rec�proca entre la Arquidi�cesis y los feligreses locales. Representantes de nuestras parroquias y escuelas podr�n colaborar con nosotros al enviarnos art�culos y fotograf�as que pueden ser publicadas en nuestro sitio web, entre ellos los resultados de eventos deportivos, como los juegos de f�tbol o los campeonatos de las escuelas elementales. En el futuro, las colaboraciones se ampliar�n para incluir v�deos con un sistema de clasificaci�n similar al de YouTube. Los lectores tambi�n podr�n comentar sobre las noticias y los art�culos m�s importantes; ser� como una secci�n de �cartas al editor�, la que no se encuentra en el peri�dico que publicamos en la actualidad.
Obviamente, el departamento de Comunicaciones y yo revisaremos todo el material y los comentarios, con el prop�sito de garantizar que sigan el consejo de san Agust�n: �En lo esencial, unidad; en lo accidental, libertad; en todo, caridad�.
La buena nueva es que en nuestro sitio web habr� m�s �buenas noticias� para leer, mientras ampliamos la secci�n de noticias con actualizaciones diarias, en vez de semanales, sobre lo que realizan nuestras parroquias, escuelas y movimientos apost�licos.
La mala noticia, en cierto modo, es que el Florida Catholic, como lo han conocido, ya no ser� enviado a sus hogares en semanas alternas. Los gastos de impresi�n y de env�o sobrepasan nuestra capacidad para subsidiarlo. Sin embargo, el Florida Catholic continuar� como un peri�dico mensual impreso, que podr�n recoger gratuitamente en su iglesia el tercer domingo de cada mes. El formato mensual nos permitir� profundizar en los asuntos, de manera que podamos ofrecer a nuestros lectores m�s informaci�n sobre las ense�anzas y la posici�n de la Iglesia ante los temas de actualidad.
La edici�n mensual ser� completada por un bolet�n de cuatro p�ginas que se publicar� cada viernes en nuestro sitio web. El bolet�n consistir� principalmente de la columna del arzobispo John C. Favalora en ingl�s y espa�ol, un art�culo o noticias, los breves noticiosos y las numerosas actividades que se llevan a cabo en nuestra Arquidi�cesis. Podr�n descargar el bolet�n (en formato PDF) en su computadora, o quiz�s su p�rroco imprima algunas copias para distribuirlas cada domingo con el bolet�n parroquial. De cualquier manera, estar� en nuestro sitio web para que todo el mundo lo lea o lo descargue.
S� que muchos de nuestros fieles lectores prefieren ver las noticias en el papel impreso. Sinceramente, yo tambi�n. Pero la Internet es un medio tan econ�mico para difundir informaci�n, que no puede ser ignorado. En la actualidad, nuestro sitio web recibe m�s de 140,000 visitantes y hemos visto c�mo aumenta el tr�fico cuando se hace un anuncio importante. Esto significa que la gente desea obtener las noticias directamente de nosotros, no de una fuente seglar que quiz�s no cuente con todos los datos, como lo puede ofrecer el peri�dico cat�lico.
Tomamos nuestra responsabilidad en serio. Estamos aumentando nuestros esfuerzos para ofrecerles m�s noticias por menos dinero. Todo lo que pedimos es que se suscriban (libre de costo) para que sean parte de la comunidad en l�nea que creamos aqu�, en nuestro sitio web arquidiocesano. Util�cela para leer nuestros blogs, conocer las actividades, y mantenerse al d�a sobre las noticias de sus hermanos cat�licos en el sur de la Florida. �Como recibo tanta informaci�n, puedo garantizarles que hay algo para todos!
�Qu� les parece la nueva direcci�n que le damos al Florida Catholic? �Participar�n en nuestras conversaciones en la web? �Colaborar�an con nosotros para proclamar la �buena nueva� sobre sus parroquias y escuelas? �Tienen sugerencias para mejorar la manera en que nos comunicamos con ustedes?
Ana Rodriguez-Soto
Editora, peri�dico Florida Catholic, edici�n de Miami
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- En la secci�n �Coming Soon� de nuestro sitio web, www.miamiarchdiocese.org, pueden leer los detalles sobre las tres etapas de nuestro plan de comunicaciones.
- Lean la columna del arzobispo Favalora en la edici�n del Florida Catholic para el 23 de octubre: http://tinyurl.com/favalora102309
- Suscr�banse a nuestra lista de correo electr�nico para recibir noticias y publicar actividades: http://tinyurl.com/joinmiamiarch
Comments from readers
Joan Crown, who heads the respect life office, is a regular blogger on this site, which helps keep the Respect Life issue front and center (literally) for our Catholic population. The office hosts regular educational workshops that also are listed under our Events calendar.
As for World Youth Day 2011, we are planning to have young adults who travel there blog for us again (that is how this blog actually got started, with World Youth Day in Australia). So let this serve as notice that whoever out there is planning to take a group should get in touch with us and lkeep us posted.
That is the whole point of this new, more interactive Web site, after all: To increase the communications among Catholics in south Florida so that we all may be part of sharing and spreading the Good News.
1. Respect Life Ministry - specifically how we can continue to keep it on "economic life support" ....we are the Body of Christ and this Ministry needs to remain connected through us....My personal and spiritual goal toward this effort is to host a minimum of of one monthly Baby Shower for Respet Life. Tomorrow, November 1, 2009 will be the first one at my home - 4730 North 31st Court, Hllywood, Fl 33021- All are welcome, the time is from 1 - 3 - we will have a Respect Life speaker and all gifts/donations will benefit the minsitry 100% ...with God's help we are "expecting" a great turn out and we ask for your prayers and support in getting this message out.
2. World Youth Day 2011 Madrid, Spain - This is one of the most powerful ways of bringing the Body of Christ to live! Please keep our community, churches, schools updated on the count down to this great pilgrimage that is truly life-changing.
Thank you and know that God is blessing you abundantly every day!! Lillian
The job that Ana, Mary Ross Agosta, Teresa Martinez and the entire Communications Office staff does for our local church is extraordinary. I witnessed this firsthand during my time in the Vocations Office, and it was a joy to work with them in spreading the Good News. This is an exciting venture that they are about to undertake as they seek to bring us all closer together through the revamped website and the new Florida Catholic. As always count on my support even way up here in northern Broward County where great things are happening that we hope to share with you through this new medium. Our prayers are with you all!
God bless,
Father Manny Alvarez
Mary Help of Christians Parish
Mary S - I know exactly what you are saying, and I worry about that, too. The internet is so "niche-centered" it concerns me that we won't be learning anything new and reading only what confirms our opinions and biases. I hope the ability to communicate with each other online - like this - will help us remain connected as a Church. Thanks for your offer to pay more for the newspaper. Unfortunately, there are not enough people like you willing to subscribe to Catholic newspapers - or secular ones for that matter, as all the print media are struggling. Change is never easy but we will see what happens, and the input of readers like you will be vital to our success.
Jesus - Thanks for your enthusiastic support. We will certainly keep your request about pictures in mind. As for my comments about being "first", I did not mean to sound competitive. It's just that the church is often accused of being "backwards" and not adapting quickly enough to new technologies. My point is that we are really working hard to embrace the Internet and all its wonderful possibilities. In fact, I discovered recently (thanks to my new-found friend Joe P) that the Internet is a tremendous tool for the blind and sight-impaired, as there is a program they can buy (JAWS) that reads what appears on the screen to them. The Internet also allows people to increase the font size on their screen in order to read it more easily. So in this way we are serving a community that we were unable to serve before - and that's always good news.
Susy - With your experience so far, I think you are going to love the new system we are putting in place for submitting news about schools and parishes. Thanks for being what they call "an early adapter".
Technology definitely seems to be the way of the future. It is wonderful to see that our Archdiocese is on the cutting edge of these communication advances. We at Good Shepherd have been participating with the on-line edition and will continue to support this. Under your editorial expertise we are proud to see the "good news" spreading even more efficiently.
May God continue to bless you and your efforts!
Susy Del Riego
Principal
Good Shepherd Catholic School
I think most of us unanimously respond �yes� to the new direction for the Florida Catholic. Yes, we will participate in your web talks, and we will collaborate with you in spreading the �good news�� wherever they might come from. One suggestion: When I read a blog submission, I�d like to see a picture of the submitter at the same time while I interact with his/her thoughts.
I left this for last: In your first two introductory paragraphs of � More news coming your way�, I see it remarkable to find: �In some cases, we�re ahead�, �We pioneered�, �We were the first diocese��, �We also were the first to��. I�d like you giving me some light on how to fit this seemingly �competitive� enthusiasm, within St.Augustine�s admonition.
Jes�s
The proud mother of the Editor.