Catholic Diocese of Youngstown creates new magazine, multimedia hub
YOUNGSTOWN − The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown will debut a new print product, The Catholic Echo magazine, in Spring 2023.
The 77-year-old Catholic Exponent newspaper which cease publication with its February issue, Bishop David J. Bonnar announced in the Nov. 11 issue.
The Catholic Echo magazine, website and other multimedia products will highlight all aspects of Catholic life across the six counties of the diocese. A new circulation model will ensure that all registered parishioners in the diocese receive the publication with no subscription cost.
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The Catholic Echo magazine will publish 10 times per year. With a focus on modern design and photography, the magazine will be feature-driven, providing coverage across all six counties of the diocese. The Echo will include information about diocesan and parish events, history and resources for Catholics seeking to grow in their faith.
“Like diocesan publications throughout the country, and indeed, like all newspapers, The Catholic Exponent has been affected by changes in how media is consumed,” Bishop David J. Bonnar, head of the Youngstown Diocese, wrote in the Nov. 11 issue of The Catholic Exponent. “Our current circulation sits at under 19,000 households, which is about one third of the number of households in our diocese … More widely, the [diocese] has been engaged in a process of balancing the need to be more digital, while also supporting ‘legacy’ platforms of print, broadcast television and radio in a way that is sustainable. We need to continue to reach those who depend on our current communication services, but we need to extend our reach beyond a ‘chosen few.’”
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The Catholic Echo will fill this need for the diocese and its parishioners. Its website will launch in early 2023, featuring timely news, video programs and televised Masses, radio and podcasts, including the popular "Wineskins" program and original stories.
Those who opt in to The Catholic Echo’s email newsletter will be notified about recent news and trending topics, and The Catholic Echo’s digital offerings will also be available via social media.
The multimedia offerings on the website will build upon the more than 40-year legacy of the Catholic Telecommunications Network of Youngstown (CTNY), whose pioneering radio and television programming will continue to be available on local outlets, including its own cable channel available on Armstrong and an anticipated return to Spectrum in the Youngstown-Warren area.
In July, CTNY joined the team of the diocesan Communications Department, with operations moving to the diocese’s new in-house social media studio.
The Catholic Echo website will allow for continuous coverage through the period of time that the diocese is without a print product, between the conclusion of The Catholic Exponent in February and the launch of The Catholic Echo.
“The Catholic Echo magazine will be a tool of information − making our Catholic community aware of major initiatives and activities − but its renewed focus will be on formation and evangelization. Simply put, it is not enough for Catholics to know about activities if they are not inspired and given a solid foundation about Catholic life and their place in it,” Bonnar said.
The Catholic Echo magazine will be mailed directly to parishioners’ homes at no cost. The diocese’s Communications Department, under the leadership of Director of Communications Justin Huyck and Katie Wagner, associate director, has conducted extensive research in creating a business plan.
The Catholic Echo will be available by paid subscription, as well. Current Catholic Exponent subscribers who are not registered parishioners will receive The Catholic Echo until their subscription expires.
“We now look forward to extending our reach in a smart and effective way, so that the echo of our Catholic faith can reverberate to the farthest corners of our diocese and deep into the hearts of all our people.”
Bonnar’s message can be found at https://doy.org/new-magazine-catholic-echo.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Youngstown Diocese to introduce new magazine, multimedia hub in 2023
