C. M. Paul
DELHI: 15th May 2008 -- Fr George Plathottam, 52, has been appointed executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) Commission for Social Communications. He will succeed former secretary Fr Henry D’Souza, who has been appointed Bishop of Bellary. About 170 dioceses make up the CBCI.
Fr Plathottam of Guwahati province is one of the founding members of 15 year old BOSCOM India (Don Bosco Communications) and founder of a Salesian news agency which is now the official news agency of the Salesians in South Asia under the name Bosco Information Service (BIS).
Currently, Fr Plathottam serves as Director of the Department of Mass Media at St. Anthony’s College which offers two BA (Hons) courses in Communication and Visual media studies.
A member of the World Advisory Board of the Salesian Society on Social Communication Fr George Plathottam has been also president of the Indian Catholic Press Association as well as managing editor of South Asia Religious News for 3 years. He has also served as President of the South Asian Catholic Press Association (SACPA).
Currently pursuing Ph D in North Eastern Hill University on the theme: Press and Social Responsibility, Fr Plathottam holds a graduate degree with English major from North Bengal. University. He has a Master’s Degree in Theology with specialisation in Social Communications, from the Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong. He also obtained a second Master’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu.
Founder-Director of Don Bosco Communications Guwahati, a centre for the promotion and development of media and social communication Fr Plathottam has authored several articles on Social Communications, Church, Tribal Social life and Culture of the Northeast India. He has authored and edited books for youth, scouting, pastoral and educational purposes and published newsletters, reviews, and magazines.
Besides being a senior correspondent of the South Asian Religious News (SAR News) Fr Plathottam has been a correspondent also for Union of Catholic Asia News (UCA News) for several years. In 1991, he was elected President of the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA), the President of Editaids and the Editor in Chief of the South Asian News (SAR News).
In 1992, he won The North -South Friendship Prize from Union of Catholic International Press and the Government of Germany._________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
Title: australasia 2147
Subject and key words: South Asia CBCI Secretary (Media)
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2147
