Communicators challenged to uphold Truth

• Bathsheba Sanau

 

CBC, Port Moresby:

The week-long seminar, organized by the Social Communications Department of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNGSI, concluded on the 15th February, 2019 where the media coordinators and participants were challenged to uphold the truth.  

 

Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, Apostolic Nuncio to PNGSI spoke to the participants and answered their questions. He reminded the participants of their responsibility to use the media positively.  “It is a very powerful tool, that can change the world”, he said.

 

Quoting the famous mantra from the Upanishad scriptures, (asato ma sad gamaya | tamaso ma jyotir gamaya | mrtyor ma amrtam gamaya), he invited all to reflect on the transformative power of ‘the word’ that can bring about peace and harmony. “People working in the media and in journalism need to always strive to lead people from untruth to truth, from darkness to light and from death to life.  You have the power to influence thousands through media”, he said.

 

The participants expressed their gratitude to the Archbishop for his presence, his challenging words and his encouragement to them, in their ministry of communication.

 

Earlier, the participants reflected on the responsible use of Social Media and the situation in Papua New Guinea among families and friends. They were reminded of the words of the Holy Father as he addressed young people at the recent World Youth Day in Panama.  

 

“Life is not lived in the cloud. It is not a document to be downloaded nor is it a new app to be discovered.  Life is to be lived in networking and direct communication with the members of our family and the people around us”, said Fr Ambrose. 

 

The participants were encouraged to outline a ‘Social Media Policy’ for their dioceses and institutions. The seminar concluded with a Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration.  Animators and participants received tokens of appreciation. They return home with practical resolutions from the Media Seminar.  These include dispersing what they have learnt and commitments to send in regular articles for the Catholic Reporter, the Church Alive magazine and share audio programs for broadcast on the National network.

 

Comments from the participants:

“The Panel Discussion and the sharing at the seminar needs to be given more time to give the participants the possibility to learn and understand more.” - Elias Wimb, Radio producer, Trinity FM, Mt Hagen.

 

“The field visits, especially the visit to the National Broadcasting Corporation were educative and enlightening.  The personnel were welcoming and happy to answer all our questions.”  - Sr Evangeline Orpilla, MCST, Diocese of Vanimo

 

“The animation of Fr Ambrose Pereira and the Social Communications team has contributed to being a very grace filled program.” – Fr John Balele, Diocese of Kimbe

 

“The wide range of connections with other media agencies has exposed me to do the same in my diocese.” – Godfrey J Abage, Diocese of Kavieng.

 

“The challenge to change and be a ‘Christian witness’, in all that I do and say, will emerge through my audio productions.” – Joseph Dunlee, Archdiocese of Rabaul.