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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Mormons Hoping to Squash Stereotypes with Media Campaign


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' "I'm a Mormon" media campaign is an effort to bring about more open conversation and dispel myths about the faith.

Posted: Aug 17, 2010 6:38 PM EDT
Updated: Aug 18, 2010 1:27 PM EDT

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A blitz of radio and television commercials in Oklahoma City are striking a chord with area Mormons. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has started a media campaign in nine different cities including Oklahoma City.

Church leaders said the goal is to dispel myths about the Mormon faith. The campaign is specifically focused on the idea that all Mormons are the same.

A series of ads feature Mormons who are songwriters, artists, parents, businessmen telling their stories. One ad featured a sculptor who said, "I believe the best dinner conversations are with those who don't agree with you."

Kim Farah with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said the cities were chosen based on size and no other motive. Farah added the ad campaign's timing has nothing to do with politics like Proposition 8 in California or Mitt Romney's political future.

"We have run a lot of campaigns over the last decade. This one is based on our research that only about 50 percent of people in the U.S. have ever met someone who is a member of the Church," Farah said.

University of Central Oklahoma advertising professor Sandra Martin said while she doesn't believe the ads will accomplish everything the church is looking for, she does believe it's made one important step.

"People are talking about it. They've been able to cut through the clutter which is the first step to get people to listen," Martin said.

Lloyd Norman, who is an Oklahoma City member of the Mormon church, said he thinks the ads have been a good portrayal of the church.

"I think the ads are great. They show us as we really are. I love them," Norman said.

Source: http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=12999670
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