The Communications Team of The Movement for Progressive Judaism (MPJ) are here to support communities with all aspects of your comms – including advice on sending press releases, preparing for media interviews, running social media channels, navigating situations where careful language is needed, and responding to crises.
As part of this, we are pleased to announce the return of our free online Media Masterclasses – running via Zoom every Monday in November and giving an opportunity to receive expert training and support in this area for your congregation, as well as gaining insight into the work we do as a Movement.
Led by MPJ’s Director of Communications, Simon Rothstein, and External Affairs & Social Media Lead, Josh Gaventa, the Media Masterclasses are primarily aimed at Chairs, Clergy, Newsletter Editors and PR/Comms Leads, but are also open to any member of a Progressive community with an interest in this area.
The sessions, listed below, are an opportunity for communities to strengthen and develop their communications, share ideas and help shape our wider approach as a Movement. Many participants have also found the advice and tips useful in their own work and businesses.
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Monday 2 November at 8pm: Our communications strategy and goals
One of the four key missions of The Movement for Progressive Judaism is to promote, amplify and embolden our values and forms of Jewish life. But what does this mean in practice? Join this session to learn about, and feed into, our Movement’s communications and external affairs strategy. Covering press, social media and engagement with Government and civil society – it will give an insight into MPJ’s strategic goals and how we pursue them, as well as how our communities and members can help shape, build and champion what we do.
Monday 9 November at 8pm: The language of Progressive Judaism
Progressive Judaism has a distinctive voice, rich traditions and values and practices that we are proud to share. In this session, we will explore how we can speak confidently and positively about Progressive Judaism, helping others understand what makes our communities distinctive and celebrating the diversity of Jewish life in the UK and Ireland. We will look at the language we use ourselves and the language we ask others to use, including why it is important to challenge media assumptions that Orthodoxy is the default or normative form of Judaism.
Monday 16 November at 8pm: How to get your stories in the press
One of the key ways to promote what we do is through the press, specifically the Jewish and local papers. Often communities, stretched for time and without in-house teams, can find this a difficult or fruitless process. This session will help with a series of simple tips covering writing press releases, taking photos and creating compelling stories – and how to pitch these to press, whether yourselves or by working with our MPJ Comms Team who are always available to you. We will be joined by a senior newspaper editor to hear first-hand feedback on what type of stories they run (and reject) to help guide your work.
Monday 23 November at 8pm: Making social media work for you
Social media can be one of the easiest ways to show people what your community is actually like, but it can also become another job on an already very long list. This session will look at how to make social media work for your community. We will cover what makes good community content, how to choose what is worth posting, taking better photos and videos, making the most of events and everyday community life, and building a simple rhythm that you can realistically maintain. We will also look at what different platforms are useful for, how to reach beyond the people who already follow you, and some of the common mistakes that can be easily avoided. The aim is to leave with simple, practical ideas you can start using straight away.
