United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ (UCC) Media Justice Ministry was sad to learn that Ralph Jennings, a key aide to Everett Parker, passed away earlier this month at the age of 86. Ralph Jennings started his career in radio, joined Everett Parker in his work, and then went on to be the core creative vision in the famed WFUV noncommercial radio station at Fordham University. From 1968-1980, Jennings was deputy director in the Office of Communications, United Church of Christ. He worked with director Everett C.

This report offers options for advocates to make sure that incarcerated people and their families receive good quality communications whether they pay for communications or not. Recommended measures represent a holistic strategy to dismantle the barriers of silence and distance. The proposed legal frameworks and standards are designed as enforceable rights to guarantee that communication—a lifeline for those incarcerated—remains unbroken and clear.

April 12, the United Church of Christ Office of Communication (UCC OC) continued its effort to block federal rules that are permitting vastly increased consolidation in television, radio, and newspapers in local communities. Following up on its opening brief, filed last Dec, UCC OC and its allies filed their response to the Federal Communications Commission and industry briefs which defend consolidation. In the case of the current suit, UCC OC showed that the church has standing--through harm to its members and harm to its own work caused by the federal rule changes.