Newspaper Activity in the Atlantic Union Conference by Walter L. Burgan

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 27, 1916

Newspaper Activity in the Atlantic Union Conference

By Walter L. Burgan

It was a great pleasure to learn, while in attendance at the biennial session of the Atlantic Union Conference held in South Lancaster, Mass., that a large majority of the ministers and others engaged in public work have been using the newspapers to advantage in connection with their tent and hall efforts. From conversations held with a number of the brethren it was pointed out that as they continue to supply contributions to the editors, they get more acquainted with these men, and thus find it less difficult to secure the publication of reports dealing with various phases of the message.

Nearly all stated that the publicity given their efforts has been the means of increasing the attendance at the meetings, and has also aroused comment among others who did not attend. It was encouraging to hear the different workers state, in discussions on how to solve the problems of reaching the masses, that in their opinion the newspapers would play an important part in this work. In a symposium on city evangelistic work, in which several evangelists spoke, the question of giving the publicity to the message through both the news and the advertising columns, was an important one.

Almost all the workers agreed that the newspapers are now playing an important part in the spread of the message, and they were encouraged by the liberal manner in which the editors of their home papers have been receiving their contributions. Some showed the writer the long clippings of articles treating on various phases of the message. Not only were the articles published, but some

were considered important enough to command first-page positions. It was good to hear from some of our evangelists who had previously been backward about utilizing the public press, that they had been using their home papers to advantage. They had become acquainted with the editors, and through their friendly relation with these men, on each visit to the newspaper office they found them quite ready to publish the reports submitted to them.

Some of the brethren said that in times past they depended largely on the distribution of circulars to advertise their meetings, but that this method has been replaced to a very large degree by the advertising they now place in the newspapers. They find that advertising through the newspapers works two ways. These advertisements attract the attention of the readers, and also open an avenue for securing the publication of extracts of sermons with more willingness on the part of the editor than if the advertisements had not appeared.

It is the constant use of the papers that pays. It shows to the men in charge of the papers that our work is more than an adventure, and that our preachers mean to make the cause they are advocating and promoting a permanent thing. Our brethren now realize that editors, as well as any other person who is unacquainted with our denomination, must be informed; and when an editor gains confidence in the permanency of our movement, our brethren find him a valuable asset toward disseminating the different gospel truths we hold, among the thousands of homes where the papers circulate every day in the week.

Our evangelists in the Atlantic Union Conference gave numerous assurances that they will continue to use the newspapers in future efforts.

WALTER L. BURGAN.