'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
