“The Role of a Christian Press in a Pluralistic Society” is the topic for the 2011 Mel Smith Lecture, set for January 27 at Trinity Western University. The event will take place at 7:00 pm in the Devries Centre Lecture Hall.
This year's lecture will be delivered by Ottawa veteran journalist Lloyd Mackey, best known on the west coast for his involvement in both Christian and community newspapering.
Mackey has worked for over four decades as a reporter, editor, publisher and columnist. His early work was in the community newspaper field, where he edited The Chillliwack Progress in the 1970s. In 1982, he was one of the founders of what is now BC Christian News, where he is, in semi-retirement, editor-at-large. Through the years, he has been variously involved in the development, operation and editing of Christian newspapers in British Columbia, Ontario and Oregon.
He holds a 1984 MBA from Simon Fraser University, where he researched the economic feasibility of increasing community newspaper publication. Subsequently, both Christian and community newspaper groups have utilized his MBA research.
Since retiring from active newspaper development, Mackey works from the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa. His journalistic focus has been on the faith-political interface and the role of conflict in that field. To those ends, he authored Stephen Harper, the Case for Collaborative Governance (ECW Press 2006) and Like Father, Like Son: Ernest Manning and Preston Manning (ECW Press 1997). His column, OttawaWatch, is posted weekly at canadianchristianity.com.
Mackey’s work in Christian publishing was recognized in 2006 and 2007, respectively, by the Leslie K. Tarr Award (sponsored by The Word Guild and Tyndale University College and Seminary) and Honorary Membership in Canadian Church Press.
Past Mel Smith lecturers include broadcaster Rafe Mair, political leaders Preston Manning, Gordon Gibson, Ralph Klein, Nick Loenen, Deborah Grey, Chuck Strahl and lawyer-educator Janet Epp-Buckingham. Their lecture subjects have ranged from proportional representation to aboriginal self-government.