Media News at a Glance

• More Than 17,000 Respond to Offer for Bible Study Course
• Advertising Vertical Thought on the 'Net
• World News and Prophecy Subscriptions on the Rise
• VT Group Focuses on Growth
• Managing Editors Reach for New Heights in Media Efforts
• Weekly Commentaries Added to VT Web Site

More Than 17,000 Respond to Offer for Bible Study Course

In December 2006 a subscriber development letter was sent to just over 200,000 U.S. Good News subscribers offering them the Bible Study Course. This was the largest number who have received this offer, and the first letter offering the Bible Study Course in two years.

In just a few weeks, we have received 17,000 responses, and they are still coming in! This is already over an 8 percent response, exceeding the 7.8 percent response from our previous BSC offer in December of 2004.

Please pray that our new course participants will find the instruction and biblical guidance to lead them into a closer relationship with our Father in heaven, and that the gospel message will resonate in their hearts and minds.

—Peter Eddington

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Advertising Vertical Thought on the 'Net

Advertising of our Vertical Thought magazine for teens and young adults is now actively underway on the Internet using the services of Yahoo, Google and their advertising partners. This is another project enacted as a result of the extra $531,000 made available last December.

In just the first five weeks of running ads we have seen the Web traffic at www.verticalthought.org jump sharply.

It should be pointed out that our online advertising for Vertical Thought not only benefits our U.S. subscription list, but also many of our international areas. Our ads appearing on Google, Yahoo and their affiliates are seen around the world except for Asia and Africa.

See the graph (in the PDF and print versions) that gives a snapshot of the immediate increase in traffic. In the coming weeks we will see this upswing in visitors to our site result in new subscriptions to the magazine.

In the United States, we currently have 2,617 subscribers (22 percent) who are associated with the United Church of God. We have an additional 9,424 (78 percent) who are not. Our total print run of Vertical Thought is 22,500, and it is distributed in over 100 countries around the world.

Please pray for the continued success of Vertical Thought. It reaches a very important demographic in both our Church and the world at large.

—Peter Eddington

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World News and Prophecy Subscriptions on the Rise

Online advertising that just began a month ago, once again from extra funds made available to the Media and Communications Services department, will ensure that our number of subscribers to World News and Prophecy will continue to climb, and most likely at a higher rate than before.

As can be seen on the "United Statistics" graph on page 1, we have seen a very good increase already from year to year. The graph shows the January worldwide circulation figures for the past five years.

Our online advertising not only benefits our U.S. circulation list, but also each of our international areas. Our ads appearing on Google, Yahoo and their affiliates are seen around the world except for Asia and Africa.

World News and Prophecy reaches a very important demographic in our efforts to preach the gospel to all nations. It is a very good introduction to the Church, which leads readers on to The Good News magazine, our booklets and our Bible Study Course. The success of these online advertising efforts is a very important part of our overall advertising mix.

—Peter Eddington

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VT Group Focuses on Growth

After years of having quarterly teleconferences, Vertical Thought staff members gathered at the home office Jan. 23 for their first face-to-face meeting.

"It was very encouraging and productive for the members of our staff to have a face-to-face meeting," said David Treybig, managing editor. "The creative juices always seem to flow a little faster, and the enthusiasm seems to be retained a little longer when we are able to focus our collective attention on a given subject over an entire day."

Plans for the next year include covering more subjects in each issue, continuing to develop young writers, helping the current writers sharpen their skills and testing a video welcome by Aaron Booth on the Web site.

"With three-fourths of our readers outside the United Church of God, Vertical Thought has become a viable media tool for preaching the gospel to the younger generation," Mr. Treybig said. "Obviously, we want to do our part in making this tool as effective as possible."

One of the most surprising developments discussed was the increased traffic on the Vertical Thought Web site in 2006. From approximately 5,000 visitors per month in January 2006, the number increased to approximately 17,000 per month in December. Also, over the past two months approximately 1,200 new people have subscribed to Vertical News—a monthly e-mail announcing new issues, introducing online articles and providing timely commentary.

Most of this increase is due to advertising on Google and Yahoo. In conjunction with this advertising, Vertical Thought is also receiving a surge in magazine subscription requests.

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Managing Editors Reach for New Heights in Media Efforts

There is a growing sense in the Church that we are on the verge of bigger and better things, said Clyde Kilough in his introduction to the third managing editors conference. The foundation has been built, and now it is time for "Raising the Bar— Reaching New Heights in Our Media Efforts" (the conference theme).

This year 15 people involved in various publications and electronic media met at the home office Jan. 24 and 25 to "engage in constructive critiquing and creative brainstorming" with the goal of coming away with "practical suggestions about how to improve all of our publications."

Mr. Kilough pointed out the need for more manpower in the media areas and welcomed Larry Salyer, who will become Media and Communications Services operation manager in May or June. Mr. Kilough listed off Mr. Salyer's extensive media experience.

Mr. Kilough also thanked Peter Eddington for the amazing amount of work he has accomplished in the media area over the years. He said the two men would be working together closely, focusing on their areas of greatest strength.

The wide-ranging discussions included ways to improve the writing of the Church's media efforts, based on the Church's Media Philosophy Statement.

"Having our managing editors meet together at least once a year is very important," said Mr. Eddington. "Since a number of our managing editors telecommute, this is a vital opportunity to discuss our publication and production plans face-to-face. It allows for discussion, brainstorming and ideas that would be difficult to accomplish via e-mail or teleconferences.

"Overall, the three days of discussion, planning and scheduling were invaluable for the Media and Communications Services department," he said.

Some of the action items discussed are to:

• Evaluate whether the subtitle of The Good News magazine should be updated to clarify why the magazine includes bad news.

• Endeavor to continue adding "heart" and a compelling side to our articles.

• Possibly do smaller booklets on repentance, conversion, baptism, etc.

• Continue to warn the descendants of ancient Israel of the consequences for disobeying God and encourage repentance and a return to God's way.

• Explore the possibility of a daily video commentary on the Web.

• Continue to expand our e-mail newsletter subscription lists, providing up-to-date information on how the gospel relates to their lives. This includes push e-mail, RSS feeds, blogs and video podcasts.

• Evaluate a face-lift and possible layout upgrade for United News, including maybe two-color ink.

• Explore professional writing classes and seminars for our senior writers and article contributors.

•Harness the vigor and talent of our younger authors, especially those writing for our weekly Vertical Thought online commentaries.

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Weekly Commentaries Added to VT Web Site

Starting in November, we began posting an ongoing series of Vertical Thought weekly commentaries.

Written by a talented team of more than 30 young adult and older teen volunteers in the Church from around the world—including the Philippines, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia and the United States, these incisive articles strive to present the truth of God's way and His coming Kingdom from the perspective of current events and topics of interest, importance and practical benefit to Vertical Thought's 12- to 22-year-old readers.

Verticalthought.org is becoming a more frequently updated, much more interactive Web site. Every Friday the latest VT commentary is posted on the site.

—Randy Stiver

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