CHICAGO, IL - The Evangelical Press Association (EPA) began its 55th annual convention in Chicago with the purpose of educating those in Christian media.
EPA Convention 2005 is being held from April 24-27 at the Woodfield Hyatt in the Shambaugh, 27 miles west of Chicago. Attendance this year is around 400 individuals, a 10 percent increase from last year.
The program features a host of workshops on six diverse tracks that are pertinent to Christian publications - editing, writing, design, professional growth, business publishing - and for the first time ever, electronic publishing.
Workshops are led by 44 people, including Peter Jacobi, writer and critic, David Neff, editor of Christianity Today magazine, and Dave Goetz, founder and president of CZ Marketing.
Each of the six tracks have six classes over three days. There are also three optional sessions, bringing the total to 39.
Besides equipping the members of EPA with information, the convention also acts as a forum.
"People come here to get information to help them do their work better, and also to get encouragement and inspiration," said Doug Trouten, EPA's Executive Director.
The EPA has about 400 members, including 300 publications, reaching a combined circulation of at least 22 million readers.
Membership rose 40 percent in the last three years, reflecting a growth in the influence of Christian media.
According to Marshall Shelly, Executive Chairperson of Program Committee, the EPA offers great tools for those in the media ministry.
"We believe that media is a very important tool for communicating the values of the Kingdom to our various audiences," Shelly said Tuesday. "EPA is devoted to encouraging editors, designers, publishers of magazines and now electronic publications in their craft."
