Letters to the editor
Feedback on Phoenix Project and Previous ICN Issue
Felix Kryzanowski, Regina, SK
Volume 32 Issue 10, 11 & 12 | Posted: December 19, 2018
Thanks very much for the latest issue of ICN. The bundle for our community arrived yesterday.
I enjoyed your travelogue and mention of many names and places, some of which are very familiar.
Jane and I had a discussion, and there are two main areas we would like to comment on: the latest issue of ICN, and feed-back, I think you want, on developing a progressive independent national Catholic publication.
In the latest issue of ICN:
Thanks very much for the latest issue of ICN. The bundle for our community arrived yesterday.
I enjoyed your travelogue and mention of many names and places, some of which are very familiar.
Jane and I had a discussion, and there are two main areas we would like to comment on: the latest issue of ICN, and feed-back, I think you want, on developing a progressive independent national Catholic publication.
In the latest issue of ICN:
1. The headline on the cover-page in red, “Bishop Jane’s Condemnation . . . page 15,” is rather strong and a distortion. Jane was only one of 10 international (European, American and Canadian) bishops who issued the statement condemning sexual abuse. Jane wasn’t condemned, at least not yet, except maybe latae sententiae.
On page 15, the picture doesn't fit the story. The story is about condemning sexual abuse; the picture and it’s caption are about the ordination of Jane as bishop for RCWP Canada.
On page 15, the headline is correct but the article is NOT by Felix Kryzanowski of Regina. You probably received the press release which I, as media coordinator of RCWP Canada, sent out to 75 media outlets across Canada. At the top of the press release is my name and email address.
As is the custom of government, for which I worked, and of business when sending out press releases, the name at the top is technician’s or event coordinator’s name, not the writer of the press release. In this case the names of the representatives of the writers, Jane and Marie, were listed at the bottom of the news release.
2. Feed-back on a possible progressive independent national Catholic publication:
I was interested to read that some of your friends recommended that the publication go electronic only. That is what I am doing currently with The Review, our publication.
I noticed in your column some reluctance; so, why not do both, online and on paper. You already are doing both for the ICN; the website looks top notch.
Regarding electronic only, to encourage people to read the latest issue, you might want to send your readers a newsletter stating that a new issue is available, along with article headings. This is what I do.
- Another technique I’ve been experimenting with is turning the files of each publication into one long pdf file with the use of a web editor program, and attaching the pdf file to an email newsletter saying here it is as an attachment. Using this technique, you get away from the cost of a web hosting service and the possibility of the web hosting service being disrupted.
In the case of doing it with a newsletter, your subscribers list becomes your email list.
No doubt the demise of the PM, WCR and CNT had something to do with cost. Going electronic only would save much of the cost. Going both should incur less cost, should it not?
- Have you contacted or consulted, or do you even want to, bishop controlled publications, like The Catholic Register or Grandin Media? How about more progressive bishops like Don Bolen or Regina Archdiocesan correspondent, Frank Flegel, who has been around for a long time, probably even when you were editor of the PM? Do you consider all of the above not progressive or independent enough?
- You probably have thought of this already: The name of the national publication will have to be different than ICN – The Phoenix – Canada’s Independent National Catholic Publication – would be my choice.
I hope all of the above in some way is useful for your consideration on developing a progressive national Catholic publication. Count on my continuing support.
Felix Kryzanowski, Regina, SK