Double-Teaming the Culture

James Dobson, founder of "Focus on the Family" has been transitioning out of his group for a few years. Recently, there has been some speculation about who might replace him on the radio and now, Mr. Dobson has announced his future plans.

Basically, he's starting a new group called "James Dobson on the Family". He'll be co-hosting a new radio show and will presumably share administrative duties with his podcasting, book-writing son, Ryan.

Some speculate that the senior Mr. Dobson may be launching the venture to raise the profile of his junior and I'm sure that's part of the equation, but if you had as much power as James Dobson and if two groups could channel the energy, plus tap the same fundraising and letter-writing base, as one -- What would you do?

After all, one can probably assume, the new gig will likely pay better.

God's Media Strategy

Robert A. Schuller assumed the pulpit of his father's "Crystal Cathedral" in January of 2006 and was removed in October of 2008 because "a lack of shared vision". To quote Wikipedia: "In a prepared statement, founder Robert H. Schuller stated that 'different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry' with his son 'made it necessary ... to part ways in the Hour of Power television ministry'."

Through a private equity firm, ComStar, a company founded and operated by the junior Mr. Schuller and Chris Wyatt, his son-in-law and the founder of GodTube along with Communities.com have purchased an Atlanta-based television and radio network, which they'll combine with a previously acquired network out of DC.

Their stated goal is to buy distressed faith-based media companies and next year they hope to have $50 million to spend, plus they plan to combine their various purchases in that timeframe, rebrand and retool their overall web strategy to "drive traffic" between the two.

Getting Sarah a Job

"Focus on the Family" founder James Dobson will be retiring from his radio show in February and there's currently a search underway for his replacement. The organization boasts of having 3,000 radio "facilities" in North America and another 130 worldwide, serving 160 countries.

Several names have been suggested with Gary Bauer of "American Values" among the better known, but writer Mark Barna of the Colorado Springs Gazette thinks that Sarah Palin could also be suited for the position. Like Dobson, she's not an ordained minister, she has been known to make unabashed, politically-charged statements and is something of a polarizing figure.

In his essay, Mr. Barna does say that Gov. Palin might have higher ambitions, but if she were to become the voice of an established organization, it would give her a power base within the Republican Party and a pulpit from which she could address her followers.