What Churches Can Learn from the Newsroom: Communication Tips from Suzanne Nadell

I had a great conversation on the podcast recently with Suzanne Nadell, author of Wired to Lead: Being the Leader the Church Didn’t Think You Could Be. As a communications and media professional, I was especially excited to hear her perspectives on what makes for good communication—both in the newsroom and in the church.

Suzanne, who has spent 30+ years in local TV news, emphasized the importance of making stories local. When a big national or global event happens, like the death of the Pope, the question she asks is: “How do we tell the [local] stories to that?” She explained, “If you just want international Pope coverage, you're going to go to the cables for that. We're not going to out-cable the cable... So how do we tell the Atlanta stories?” That instinct—to bring the big picture down to the neighborhood level—is something church communicators should pay attention to.

For pastors preparing sermons or crafting weekly messages, Suzanne offered a key reminder: context, perspective, and relevance. “If you're not giving [people] a takeaway that is actionable and real... you're just getting everyone riled up.” It’s a good gut-check before you rework your sermon to match Saturday’s headlines.

She also shared two practical tips for public communication that every preacher and church leader should note: storytelling and pacing. “Look at storytelling through people’s stories—whatever you can put around a person helps people identify,” she said. And when it comes to pacing? Think like a producer: “You don't want to put too-long quotes back to back... Break things up with a quick story or transition.”

Her approach mirrors what we often forget in church: good communication isn’t just about delivering content—it’s about creating an experience—or as my podcast pal Jack Shitama would say, it’s “about process, not content.” Whether you're preparing a sermon, writing a newsletter, or leading a worship service, consider how pacing and narrative can help your message land.

As someone who’s spent decades telling stories that matter, Suzanne reminded us that how we say something is just as important as what we say. And in a time when trust is fragile and attention is short, those lessons are more important than ever.

You can learn more by checking out Suzanne’s book, Wired to Lead, available through Chalice Press and major retailers. Visit SuzanneNadell.com or follow her on Instagram @suzannenadell for more insights and updates on her work.