austraLasia 1297
South Asia Region takes bold steps forward in communications
GUWAHATI: 21st October 2005 -- The final statement of
the twice reported Social Communications Seminar in Guwahati, India,
deserves a third report! The context was already one of
considerable achievement over many years: printing presses, media
centres, publishing houses, youth work involving communications,
indigenous language publishing. The Salesian Bulletin alone is in
seven languages. Salesian India produces/manages cinema,
tele-series, radio programmes, information technology and state of the
art print and electronic media.
But noting the cultural context of today's India,
with its widening gap between rich and poor, of which information and
knowledge access is part, and the rising religious intolerance and
fundamentalism, militancy, corruption, all with their impact on the
young, Salesian India has taken some bold steps, inspired by both
Church and Congregation requests to rad the signs of the times and
provide responses.
At national level they have pledged to implement
Bosco Information Services (BIS) more effectively, through coordinators
and public relations staff. They are also making a move towards
sensible standardisation, professionalism, marketing and sharing of
resources. To achieve these they will bring together annually all
editors of the Salesian Bulletin, and the National Bulletin Admin
Council. They are setting up a feasibility study for a Don Bosco
Multimedia production and publication centre for all of South
Asia. We need to note at this point that the Boscom Seminar
included the Myanmar Delegation. Sri Lanka appeared to be
absent. They recommend a full-time SPCSA (that's the South Asia
Conference) Social Communications Delegate.
At Province level - there were 10 provinces and two
delegations present - they have recommended specific training of the
Salesians in what they call "people's media" or alternative
media. They recommend a precise frequency for Province
newsletters - 10 times per annum. They also request a full-time
Province Delegate for Social Communications.
Stirring stuff!
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