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WASHINGTON (November 1, 2007)—Joseph Larson, Operations and Business Manager for Catholic News Service (CNS) in Washington, has been named Director of Digital Media for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Larson has worked for CNS, an international news service used by almost every English-language Catholic publication in the world, since 1987. During his time there he constantly moved the news service into new media technology and led efforts in CNS's current transitioning into a new content management system to streamline and expedite its ability to post information in a timely manner.
Larson is a native of Minnesota where he attended the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining the USCCB, Larson was marketing director at The Observer, the diocesan newspaper of Rockford, Illinois.
The appointment, effective November 1, was announced by USCCB General Secretary Msgr. David J. Malloy.
"Joe's technical expertise and his vision on how to use new media technology to disseminate the church's message will be a tremendous asset to the bishops," Msgr. Malloy said. "His commitment to using his gifts and talents for the work of the church is extraordinary. The mission of the bishops will be well served by his efforts to raise the effectiveness of our digital media."
The Digital Media Office is a new office for the USCCB. It will include communication efforts on the Internet, as well as radio and television productions. In the past, much of the radio and television programming was funded and implemented through the Catholic Communication Campaign.
The Digital Media Office is part of the USCCB Department of Communications, headed by Helen Osman. The Department also includes CNS, the Office of Media Relations and USCCB Publishing.