'austraLasia' #49

UNDA-OCIC INDIA NEW PRESIDENT

By Fr. John Noronha, NISCORT (National Institute of Social

Communication, Research and Training)

CALCUTTA: 12th February --The members of the Unda/OCIC/India

(International Catholic Association for Radio & TV, and Cinema and

Audiovisuals) holding their national assembly at Vikas Sanchar centre in

Jharsuguda, Orissa elected their new President, Fr. C. M. Paul, SDB, on

9th February, 1998.

"Promotion of Media Education in schools and seminaries, and networking

with the secular and religious media will be our priority," said Fr.

Paul, a

member of the UOI National Media Award Committee, highlighting the

concerns of the 27th Assembly.

Director of the 20 year old Nitika, Don Bosco Catechetical and

Multimedia

Centre, Calcutta, Fr. Paul, 44, is elected for a three year term. He

succeeds Dr. Jacob Srampickal, SJ, editor of Media Matters, Delhi.

Currently editor of Catechetics India, Fr. Paul was director of the

International Salesian News Agency based in Rome with 20 bureaus around

the world. He was also editor of the Herald, Calcutta. 

With double master's degree in Communications (Journalism) and Religious

Education from Fordham University New York, Fr. Paul cherishes his

summer courses at the Centre for Religious Telecommunications, at the

University of Dayton, Ohio, and internship at the Catholic News Service,

Washington DC.

The National Assembly at Jharsuguda had 107 representatives from 40

diocesan and 37 religious communications centres. 

Three days of study on Media Education and Media in Education preceeded

the two day UOI Assembly, 5-9 February.