This is a Guest Post by Nate Beaird.
This step could very easily be step #3, because it’s hard to invest in something like a $2,500 Mac when there’s no one to run it.
Regardless, it’s obviously an important step to starting and especially maintaining your media department.
The “Media Director” position is not exactly a justifiable paid position for most young or new churches. To me, it should be one of the first paid positions.
When you’re starting a business, you have to advertise to get the word out. You may not be filming your church service with 5 HD cameras and $80,000 video switcher– but you still need a person that tells your story to the public.
Onechurch in Winston-Salem, NC is a church plant that is experiencing this right now. Sam Mahlstadt, co-leader of Onechurch asks;
“How do you go about managing attention to creative media
when you don’t have a creative media director?
Without a person on our team designated to design and production,
how do we use what we have to produce quality media?”
This is a great, and very practical question. It’s also a hard one to give a general answer to as everyone’s situation is different. However, let’s talk about some solutions you may try.
Read more after the jump…
#1- The Student
High school and college Art, Graphic Design, Communication, Writing and Film students usually come to a point in their education where they need an internship. It’s to your advantage to go to local schools, and talk to the teachers or professors in the respective classes of which you need help. Talk to the instructor and they will most likely give you a good idea of which students would best fit what your need and be a great fit for your vision. Of course, after a few months with your church–they’ll want to stay and be apart of what God’s doing…right? 😉
#2- The Free-Lancer
As a free-lancer, I would have killed for a re-occurring gig. Even if it wasn’t a lot of money, something regular is always a great bread and butter plan. If you can find a free-lancer, you may be able to work out a deal with him/her to be your media guru. You may find this person while visiting the local colleges. Maybe they’re not interested in an internship, but may need some extra cash for Jimmy John’s.
#3- The Professional Volunteer
It might be worth-while to try visiting a local graphic design studio and explaining your situation. Especially, if you are able to find a studio with a Christian owner. They may do some free work for you and help you get off the ground. They may do some charity work through the studio, or they may moonlight for you and do some designing on the side. It does not hurt to ask, and most likely, if they wont or can’t help– they know someone who will.
In all three of these situations, the Intern, Free-lancer, and Volunteer will most likely be able to use your Mac programs, or have resources for the church to use. You’ll notice the key in all these solutions is networking. Just ask around, talk to people. After a while you will undoubtedly hear about someone who would love to help you.
Adam_S says
Reading "Simple Church' by Thom Rainer, I am reminded that the most important requirement for new staff (whether they are paid or not) is not excellence (although that is good) but acceptance of the values and methods of the church. If you have a bunch of big guns that think that what they do is the most important thing in the church and don't see how it fits into the rest of the ministry of the church you will spend all of your time mediating conflict.
First we need a shared understanding of church mission, from there you find the person that fits into the team, and finally you make sure they can do what you need them to do. I know that is not what we usually think when we hire, but I am inclined to think it should be the way we do things. (It also give a good bit of weight to hiring internally because you don't have to teach culture.)
Graham Brenna says
Awesome sauce! I'm in a unique position where I get to re-write my job description every once in awhile. I'm using this blog series as a reference… I'm currently the "Tech Director" and it is a full-time position. I'm hoping to transition to the "Media Director". I'll still perform my same duties that I have now but I'm working towards empowering my volunteer team to do them for me. 🙂
You rock Nate!
Katrina McClure says
Heyyy:)
Katrina McClure says
I need help finding a department!!!
Brad Bretz says
I really believe that when considering a media director, it's not just somebody that can "do" but somebody who knows where they want to take the department for the benefit of the church. In short – vision is critical in this position.
human3rror says
hehe. you would know cause you're the man!