OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - The Church in the Pacific wants to be more present in the media

Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) - The Church in the Pacific wants to be more present in the media, "it intends to look carefully at the reality of media communication and see how it can be more present and active". This was stated in a note sent to Fides Agency by Fr. George Licini, of the Social Communication Office of the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
"There is not only the need to promote new radio stations, printed material or television programs", explains Fr. Licini. "We need to assist and educate the public, especially young people, at the same time making them aware of the opportunities and risks offered by social media, advertising and the Internet".
In line with this commitment, the Church in the Pacific has promoted a first basic course at the Divine Word University, in Madang, from November 18 to 27. Organized by the Commission for Social Communications of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, the course included training and awareness in all major areas of media: radio, TV, social media. According to Fr. Licini, "it also gave participants the opportunity to better understand the relationship between the Church and the media". It was attended by delegates, priests and lay people from seven dioceses and seven religious congregations.
From common reflection further needs emerged: the start of additional training courses in the field of programming and transmission of radio, print layout, or promote religious education for journalists in the secular media. For this reason the Church in the Pacific has already planned activities along these lines for 2014: January 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron of journalists; on May 25 , World Day of Communications; September 29th, the feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel, patron saint of communication workers.
The Commission on Social Communications in the Catholic Bishops' Conference will offer a-two-day workshop in Port Moresby to all lay mass media journalists who are interested in learning more about the organization of the Church and its teachings. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2013)