Click here to see more photos and learn about the Guardian Angels campaign.
Arkansas Catholic is inviting people to participate in the newspaper’s work by launching its first Guardian Angels campaign in October.
The campaign was named in honor of the newspaper’s original name, The Southern Guardian, which was soon changed to The Guardian. In 1986, on the newspaper’s 75th anniversary, the name was changed to Arkansas Catholic.
The weekly diocesan newspaper is seeking donors to help fund three projects in preparation for the paper’s 100th anniversary in March 2011.
The first two projects are a redesign of the newspaper and website, to be unveiled in February 2011 for Catholic Press Month and the annual subscription campaign.
The redesign will give the newspaper a fresher look, to be more readable for current subscribers and more attractive to newer generations of readers. The last update was made in 2000. The newspaper’s website was created in 2004 and also needs upgrades.
The newspaper is also making plans to digitize its first 90 years of issues, which chronicle the diocese’s history.
It has long been a goal of the newspaper to make digital archives available, but research for the newspaper’s anniversary made clear the perilous condition of the history chronicled in earlier issues. Years of deterioration from the acids naturally present in newsprint have reduced many pages to fragments, too fragile to read or even touch. While issues from 2002 to the present are in searchable, digital format and accessible through the online edition on the newspaper’s website, www.arkansas-catholic.org, the first 91 years are available only in bound volumes.
It is hoped that these issues can be viewed and searched through the newspaper website once the project is funded.
It is estimated to cost at least $100,000 to undertake these projects over several years. Subscription fees cover only the cost of printing and mailing Arkansas Catholic, with a little leeway to cover increasing costs of paper and postage. Advertising and other projects cover part of the cost of news coverage, employee wages and equipment. The diocese provides a limited subsidy, but as the diocesan budget is tight, there is not enough for the costs of redesign or preservation.
The Guardian Angel campaign’s five “circles” of giving will recognize donors for their contributions:
Angel Circle: For donors who contribute $25 to $99 Archangel Circle: $100 to $499 Cherubim Circle: $500 to $999 Seraphim Circle: $1,000 to $9,999 Annunciation Circle, which is named to remember the newspaper’s founding on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, March 25, 1911, is reserved for individuals or foundations that give $10,000 or more.
Businesses can become Corporate Angels by donating $500 or more to the campaign.
No matter the size of the gift, all donors will be honored in the Dec. 18 issue of Arkansas Catholic and mentioned in the prayer intentions during a special Mass in Advent with Bishop Anthony B. Taylor. The 2010-2011 campaign will continue through the newspaper’s 100th anniversary.
For information, call (501) 664-0125 or click here to see more photos and learn about the Guardian Angels campaign.
