Port Moresby: A Social Communications (SOCOM) seminar for the catholic media coordinators from the Dioceses in Papua New Guinea was held from 16th to 20th May 2022 with a focus on print media and photography.
Thirteen participants made up of priests, religious sisters and lay personnel from the dioceses of Aitape, Wewak, Lae, Alotau, Kundiawa, Mount Hagen and Mendi gathered for the week-long training at the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) at Gordons in Port Moresby with the theme ‘Listen. Do everything with Love.’ Joining the participants was Archbishop of Rabaul, Rochus Tatamai MSC.
The participants were trained on Writing News Articles using the 5W’s and 1H, following the inverted pyramid style and understanding the difference between current news and stale news. The sessions highlighted creating diocesan newsletters and the tools needed and capturing photographs with a positive message.
Spirituality of Communication, Misinformation, disinformation and malinformation and netiquette and online ethics were dwelt upon. These sessions focused on the correct usage or acceptable way of communication on the internet, behaviour and online identity, reporting facts and sharing informa
tion by verifying sources and evangelizing as church media communicators.
During the week, the participants paid a special visit to one of PNG’s daily newspaper The National. They visited the editorial newsroom where Chief Editor, Charles Moi briefed them about the process that is followed in the newsroom and the different departments involved in producing the daily newspaper. The participants also visited the Adventure Park at 14 mile for a practical photography session.
“It was wonderful to have our Social Communications coordinators from several dioceses of Papua New Guinea. They have been actively engaged with the community and will be able to give a voice to the voiceless and a face to the faceless in their communities. Highlighting issues and getting people involved in the conversation of seeking answers and solutions is the task of Social Communications. I am sure that all those present will invigorate their communities and gradually effect change for the good of all people”, said CBC SOCOM Secretary, Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb.
Sr. Maria Tongop from the Diocese of Aitape said “this SOCOM seminar is very uplifting and enriching because it emphasizes the spirituality of communication at all levels from the dioceses to deaneries, then to parishes and most importantly, to individuals in the remote areas of the diocese-keeping them connected. I am also now able to write a faith-based news article and even better, produce a newsletter, thank you, SOCOM.”
Hosted by CBC SOCOM, the annual seminar is aimed at promoting a thriving network of Christian communicators who can regularly report and cover events to inspire, to evangelize, and to connect with people at the level of the community throughout all the Catholic dioceses in the country.