KENYA: Catholic Communicators meet in Mombasa
Catholic journalists from Africa today
began a four day workshop on The Role of the Media in Peace Building, conflict
resolution and good governance.
began a four day workshop on The Role of the Media in Peace Building, conflict
resolution and good governance.
The
conference organized by L’Union
Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP) is being held in Mombasa, Kenya
and has brought together journalists from: Kenya, Burkina Faso, Uganda,
Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia among other African
countries.
conference organized by L’Union
Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP) is being held in Mombasa, Kenya
and has brought together journalists from: Kenya, Burkina Faso, Uganda,
Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia among other African
countries.
Archbishop Boniface Lele of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa while
officially opening the conference challenged the journalists to strive to
assist the continent promote peace among her people.
officially opening the conference challenged the journalists to strive to
assist the continent promote peace among her people.
He urged them to monitor the movement of arms and emerging issues that result
into conflict and help fuel fully fledged wars.
into conflict and help fuel fully fledged wars.
Archbishop Lele appealed to the Catholic journalists to foster a Christian way
by their communication in the digital arena.
by their communication in the digital arena.
The Archbishop said the Church was concerned with the emergence of the internet
as a network for communication.
as a network for communication.
“The social networks has not only changed the way we communicate, but
communication itself , so much that it could be said that we are living through
a period of vast cultural transformation,” he said.
communication itself , so much that it could be said that we are living through
a period of vast cultural transformation,” he said.
“The speed at which information can travel today has reduced the world into a
“global village”, he stressed.
“global village”, he stressed.
He urged the journalists to encourage their bishops to come out and help in
reconciling people in areas where there are conflicts.
reconciling people in areas where there are conflicts.
A key speaker Joseph Warungu who worked for BBC for nearly 20 years noted that
the Agenda setting role of the media has been hijacked by the politician and
the media has become a follower; recording events not anticipating and
preparing for them.
the Agenda setting role of the media has been hijacked by the politician and
the media has become a follower; recording events not anticipating and
preparing for them.
He urged the journalists to get back control of the agenda, the message and
play their role in ensuring lasting peace and sustainable development.
The four-day workshop is also attended by representatives from the Vatican, the
US Catholic News Agency; The Catholic Media Council (CAMECO) and AMECEA.
US Catholic News Agency; The Catholic Media Council (CAMECO) and AMECEA.
SOURCE: CISA News
