Christian media

Christian media can either refer to Christians who work in secular media, or media that is Christian. Refers to various aspects of mass media which is primarily targeting the Christian demographic. The conservative Christian right and fundamentalist Christians have been especially active with media ventures.^[1]

Forms of Christian media

• Christian film is a film genre.
• Christian radio, a radio format of music and programming that, within itself, includes several sub-formats. These include Contemporary Christian music, Urban contemporary gospel, Southern Gospel, inspirational music, talk radio, and formats which include primarily preaching and/or instructional programming.
• Christian television, which may include broadcast television or cable television channels whose entire broadcast programming schedule is television programs directly related to Christianity, such as Australian Christian Channel, SAT-7 and Emmanuel TV or individual shows which are part of the overall programming of a general-interest television station, often shown on Sunday mornings.
• Christian magazines, one of many special-interest groups within the magazine publishing industry. Christian magazines often focus on groups within Christianity, such as men or women, youth, or certain denominations. Many Christian magazines are published by denominations and independent ministries as an outreach to the unchurched or to the organization's supporters, frequently at no cost to the reader. Examples of denominational magazines include House to House Heart to Heart and The Australian Presbyterian magazine. Other Christian magazines are published commercially for a profit, and sold by subscription or by single copies through bookstores and other retailers. Examples include Christianity Today, InControl Christian Magazine and Charisma.
• Christian newspapers, a small segment of Christian media which typically communicates news to members of the denomination or group which publishes the paper. Such newspapers often published weekly, rarely more frequently and often less frequently (bi-weekly, monthly). Examples include the Southern Baptist Convention, whose various state conventions often publish weekly or bi-weekly newspapers, also Christian Examiner and The Christian Post. Sometimes individual congregations will publish newspapers; one example is Southeast Christian Church, a megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky which publishes a weekly newspaper distributed throughout the metro area. Independent publishers have also produced Christian newspapers, often aimed at a specific group such as Roman Catholics. For much the same reasons as commercial newspapers such as the high cost of production and distribution, some Christian newspapers are converting to online publishing.
• Christian video games are generally released by independent Christian developers, though sometimes a major company develops a game targeted at this audience. A major Christian game developer is Wisdom Tree.
• Christian films*

Many forms of Christian films are now widespread, from full length, feature films to short and discussion orientated clips. Produced mostly by Sony pictures, common feature christian films include: Facing the Giants, Fireproof and Get Low. Other short films include the Deidox documentary series, or the recently created GodFilms. Both specialize in short minute movies about invoking thought or discussion. Both feature length and short Christian films are moderately successful.

See also

List of Christian media organizations

References

1. ^ Linda Kintz; Julia Lesage (1998-04), Media, Culture, and the Religious Right, U of Minnesota Press, pp. 404, ISBN 9780816630851, http://books.google.com/?id=wplBErQ9wV4C  ISBN 0816630852, ISBN 9780816630851