UGANDA: Catholic Communicators Urged to Embrace New Media, Invest in Training of Personnel

The Social Communications Coordinator of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Rev. Fr. Andrew Kaufa has urged Catholic Communicators in Uganda to embrace use of new age media without neglecting traditional media, to enable them bring the message of the Gospel to all.

Fr. Kaufa made the call during the 2019 Social Communications Annual General Meeting and workshop that was held in the Diocese of Hoima from May 7-13, under the theme of ‘Networking for Effective Communication and Resource Mobilization’.

He told the communicators that the monopoly of what is read, listened to or watched in the society is no longer the preserve of traditional media as digital technology has introduced new dynamics into the profession.

“As an orientation, AMECEA is encouraging us to use both the traditional (print, radio, TV) and digital technologies for evangelization (websites; social media),” he said in his presentation.

He said that this was one of the top resolutions made by the Catholic Bishops from the AMECEA region during their 2019 Plenary Assembly in Ethiopia urging Catholic media practitioners to acquire the necessary digital media so as to reinvent the media and succeed in the current environment.

“The bishops also want us to enhance information sharing in the region, that is, by networking as media people or institutions, as well as to mainstream communication in all the departments and Church institution activities by pitching all Catholic Church stories,” he added.

Adhering to all these mediums of communications today, according to Fr. Kaufa, will enable the communicators find new ways of communicating the Gospel to all peoples and cultures as well as promote the Church’s mission.

He further highlighted the importance of investing in training of personnel and pastoral agents on mass communication hence, called upon communication managers to invest in training of personnel and equipment, to produce quality interactive Catholic content in and for the Church media as means of evangelization.

The 2019 Social Communications Annual General Meeting and workshop attracted over 50 Catholic Communicators: diocesan communication coordinators, journalists and radio managers from the 19 dioceses in Uganda. The Communication Week climaxed with a grand celebration of the 53^rd World Communications Day on Sunday May 12.

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By Jacinta W. Odongo

Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference