Meet the News Service Staff

 
John Brooks, Director
John manages the ELCA News Service. He is responsible for news coverage of the ELCA Church Council, the ELCA Conference of Bishops, ELCA Communication Services, The Lutheran and Augsburg Fortress Publishers. John covers news from the offices of the presiding bishop, secretary and treasurer. Within the Office of the Presiding Bishop, he reports on Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, and Synodical Relations. John is also responsible for the newsroom operation at ELCA churchwide assemblies. He provides media relations advice to units of the church and to individuals, and he coordinates responses to media inquiries.

In his role as director, John is a member of the churchwide organization's crisis response team. He is also a member of a group that advises the presiding bishop on public policy initiatives.

Melissa Ramirez Cooper, Associate Director
Melissa is responsible for news coverage of ELCA Church in Society, ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregation Mission, and ELCA Global Mission. She also covers ELCA Worship and ELCA Development Services, which includes the Foundation of the ELCA. Within Global Mission and Church in Society, Melissa reports on the work of ELCA International Disaster Response and Lutheran Disaster Response, respectively, and ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal. Melissa manages newsroom operations for significant ELCA gatherings, such as the triennial ELCA Youth Gathering and annual Global Mission Events, securing local and national news coverage. She also serves as a member of the ELCA Interunit Task Force on the Decade for Peace and Non-Violence.

Frank Imhoff, Associate Director
Frank is responsible for news coverage of the ELCA Board of Pensions, Lutheran Men in Mission, Mission Investment Fund, ELCA Multicultural Ministries, Research and Evaluation, and Women of the ELCA. He maintains the various files of the ELCA News Service. Each member of the ELCA News Service produces radio news stories that Frank distributes each week to radio networks and news directors. He produces updates during the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Frank is a member of the Radio-Television News Directors Association and the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. He is also a member of the ELCA Interunit Staff Team on Faith, Science and Technology and the ELCA Multicultural Ministries Staff Alliance.

Jodi Deike, Director for Grassroots Advocacy and Communication, Washington Office
Jodi is responsible for the news coverage from the ELCA Washington office. As the ELCA Director for Grassroots Advocacy and Communications, she also maintains the advocacy Web pages on the ELCA.org Web site. In addition, Jodi collaborates with the advocacy staff in sending out action alerts through the e-Advocacy network to notify subscribers when are key times to contact their elected officials. Jodi serves as a member of the ELCA Church in Society Communication Strategy Committee.