Mass media and the communication of values

Communications is an important area in a complex world. We would like to be like Paul creatively engaging with the media of his time, but sometimes we feel more like David faced with Goliath. Sometimes communicating the Gospel and the reality of our religious life in our world seems like mixing “water and oil”.

Signs of vitality

Some religious work in mass media in service of the faith through internet sites, news services, television, local radios, etc. There are initiatives at both local, national and international levels. A small example of collaboration is a diocese in Ghana which offers space on its Catholic FM radio station to Muslim people to broadcast. The awareness of communication as an area of importance is increasing and many young people are both interested and sensitive to it. Some congregations are forming people for this work. The presence or this topic at this Congress illustrates its growing significance as well as the development of Vidimus Dominum. In the mass media there is an increasing interest in religion and in spirituality even if professionals in the media lack good background on these topics. While these signs of vitality are weak, they are signs of hope.

Blocks

The main block is a tendency to demonize the other. Sometimes we have had bad experiences, but both the mass media and church groups fear and distrust each other. Church personnel, if they speak out, fear both misrepresentation by mass media and censure from church leadership. The media often thrive on negative stories. Bad news is good news and the focus is on conflict rather than on harmony. When we refuse to accept those things presented by the media that are not favorable or are our weaknesses, we lose credibility.

Often they seek the voice of “authority” so women’s voices are rarely heard. In diocesan media women are also often absent.

Fundamentalist Christian groups have access to mega-funds. This is not so for more open perspectives. There is also within religious congregations a fear of technology and lack of understanding of how to use it creatively.

Within religious communities sometimes there is little awareness that members only take information from one (biased) source. There is a lack of collaboration with other groups and our communication is often in language that fails to reach the audience.

Structural changes

We need to change our mentality so that we want to communicate with the wide world and are willing to take the risk to do it. Congregations need to form specialists in this area and support people who work in media and engage the whole congregation in concern for this issue.

Thirdly, we need to think and work collaboratively to provide media sources and services in each congregation and in national conferences of religious. This will mean working closely with lay people with skills in media and supporting them.

Convictions and actions

We have to interact with mass media in clear, interesting and original ways and we need time, money and people. We must be ready to respond when approached by media (and to support those who risk this).

We should support Vidimus Dominum hoping for ever better quality and easy access.

Religious can bridge differences between powerful and powerless, if they tell stories from each place where their people are living and working. This approach could also build bridges between theologies and different world views.

The members of our congregations need to develop an understanding of how the media affect our lives. Formation in this area is urgent.

We need to show ourselves as we really are with our strengths and weaknesses. Our biggest challenge is to do this in a language that the people of today can understand.

Conclusion

We have found many biblical characters and texts that can enlighten our reflection and support our action in the area of mass communication from the prophets of the Old Testament to the first Church.

The parable of the good Samaritan as told by Jesus can serve today as a model of communicating the Good News.

GROUP 5

23 participants: 12 nationalities, 21 congregations

MASS MEDIA

AND THE COMMUNICATION OF VALUES

Signs of vitality

Blocks

Structural changes

Convictions and actions

Conclusion



	GROUP 5 23 participants: 12 nationalities, 21 congregations MASS MEDIA AND THE COMMUNICATION OF VALUES Mass media and the communication of values Communications is an important area in a complex world. We would like to be like Paul creatively engaging with the media of his time, but sometimes we feel more like David faced with Goliath. Sometimes communicating the Gospel and the reality of our religious life in our world seems like mixing “water and oil”. Signs of vitality Some religious work in mass media in service of the faith through internet sites, news services, television, local radios, etc. There are initiatives at both local, national and international levels. A small example of collaboration is a diocese in Ghana which offers space on its Catholic FM radio station to Muslim people to broadcast. The awareness of communication as an area of importance is increasing and many young people are both interested and sensitive to it. Some congregations are forming people for this work. The presence or this topic at this Congress illustrates its growing significance as well as the development of Vidimus Dominum. In the mass media there is an increasing interest in religion and in spirituality even if professionals in the media lack good background on these topics. While these signs of vitality are weak, they are signs of hope. Blocks The main block is a tendency to demonize the other. Sometimes we have had bad experiences, but both the mass media and church groups fear and distrust each other. Church personnel, if they speak out, fear both misrepresentation by mass media and censure from church leadership. The media often thrive on negative stories. Bad news is good news and the focus is on conflict rather than on harmony. When we refuse to accept those things presented by the media that are not favorable or are our weaknesses, we lose credibility. Often they seek the voice of “authority” so women’s voices are rarely heard. In diocesan media women are also often absent. Fundamentalist Christian groups have access to mega-funds. This is not so for more open perspectives. There is also within religious congregations a fear of technology and lack of understanding of how to use it creatively. Within religious communities sometimes there is little awareness that members only take information from one (biased) source. There is a lack of collaboration with other groups and our communication is often in language that fails to reach the audience. Structural changes We need to change our mentality so that we want to communicate with the wide world and are willing to take the risk to do it. Congregations need to form specialists in this area and support people who work in media and engage the whole congregation in concern for this issue. Thirdly, we need to think and work collaboratively to provide media sources and services in each congregation and in national conferences of religious. This will mean working closely with lay people with skills in media and supporting them. Convictions and actions We have to interact with mass media in clear, interesting and original ways and we need time, money and people. We must be ready to respond when approached by media (and to support those who risk this). We should support Vidimus Dominum hoping for ever better quality and easy access. Religious can bridge differences between powerful and powerless, if they tell stories from each place where their people are living and working. This approach could also build bridges between theologies and different world views. The members of our congregations need to develop an understanding of how the media affect our lives. Formation in this area is urgent. We need to show ourselves as we really are with our strengths and weaknesses. Our biggest challenge is to do this in a language that the people of today can understand. Conclusion We have found many biblical characters and texts that can enlighten our reflection and support our action in the area of mass communication from the prophets of the Old Testament to the first Church. The parable of the good Samaritan as told by Jesus can serve today as a model of communicating the Good News.