'austraLasia'
#481
Media
discussion arouse interests of participants -
Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb
The Media Education Seminar with it’s theme: “Preach
from the Housetops” was attended by 22 participants from the different parishes
of the Archdiocese of Honiara. It
was held at Don Bosco House of Prayer, Kola Ridge, Honiara, Solomon Islands,
from 13th to 16th May, 2001.
The participants hailed from the parishes of Kukum,
Ruavatu, Tangarare, Tetere, Visale, Manivovo, Wainoni Bay, Kirakira, Savo and
Russell Islands. Two participants
from the Church of Melanesia joined them.
Each participant was made aware that the media
influences persons and their lives and they have the duty and the responsibility
to interact, influence and involve themselves in the media. Sessions dealt with the Audio and Print
Media and focused on: The Challenge to Communication, Radio and its different
programmes, the Anatomy of a Newspaper, the 5 Ws and an H, News: its elements
and sources, Reconstructing reality, etc.
A special part of the programme was the Panel
Discussion held in the afternoon of 16th May. The panelists were eminent media
personnel in the Local and Foreign Media.
Alfred Maesulia, Director of the Government
Information Office, stressed the need to work together. He also stated that his office is
responsible for the release and exchange of all Government Information. Mody Nanao, Acting manager and
Supervisor of Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reminded the participants
that it is the duty of the media to inform, educate and entertain people. She also explained that SIBC has due to
the present situation focused on National Unity and Reconciliation. Programmes on Education, health,
environment, etc. are also dealt with.
George Atkin, President of the Media Association of Solomon Islands and
editor of the Express believes in free and responsible reporting and brought
home very strongly in his own amicable way, the fact that the media needs to
broadcast news that is factual and true.
Linette Russell, the fourth panelist, has been a correspondent for CNN
and has done several World Reports for TV broadcasts, a few of them being Child
Rape and AIDS, Floods, Seal Culling and the White Rhino. As a journalist she stated that it is
the lives of the ordinary people that matter and it is they that make the
important stories. She stressed
‘Word Economy’ and the need to touch the heart of persons through the
media. The panel provoked several
questions that were well answered by the
panel.
The seminar is the second in a series of three that
have been organized by the Catholic Communications Solomons. The first was at Buma for the Diocese of
Auki and the third will be in Moli for the Diocese of Gizo. The Church encourages all people to see
that our Media is not devoid of the Word of God. The relationship between reality and the
media has grown more intricate. On
the one hand, it can blur the distinction between truth and illusion; but on the
other, it can open up unprecedented opportunities for making the truth more
widely accessible to many more people. The task of the Church is to ensure that
it is Truth, Justice, Honesty and Love that are what actually happens.
The housetops today are fitted with aerials and dish
antennas to enable persons keep in touch with the rest of the world. Each one of us therefore is responsible
to “Preach to the Housetops” - , so that the gospel values are highlighted and
constantly brought to the attention of people. It is important that the media is not
devoid of Christian Values and principles.
The seminar was animated by Fr. Ambrose Pereira, Dr.
John Roughan, Joe Vidiki and Brenda Mauli.
The programme has been made possible through Unda-OCIC, the Audio and
Visual wing of the Catholic Church, Catholic Communications Solomons, AusAID and
several other agencies who believe that the Media can play an important role in
shaping the lives of people and
communities.
The Media Education Seminar has opened the eyes
of the participants who have been in constant fear of this powerful tool of
influence – ‘media’. Several
suggested that similar programmes be held in schools and churches to enable
persons understand that every person is responsible to influence and spread the
virtues of truth, honesty, justice and love through the media.
- Appeared in the Solomon Star - Friday
18th May, 2001
