Communication is the key to proclaiming Gospel Values – Bishop George at the SIGNIS India National Assembly

Communication is the key to proclaiming Gospel values and effective communication is needed to reach out to people, said Bishop George Pallparampil of Miao, chairman of Signis North East.

He was speaking at the opening function of Signis India National Assembly 2018 with the theme “Media: Current Trends and Emerging Challenges” at Don Bosco Institute, Guwahati, Assam on 21 Feb.

Bishop Pallipparambil stressed the importance of the current trends and emerging challenges in media. Dialogue, debate and right communication are essential to reach out to people. It should also be a healthy and productive one.

“We are sharing the personality of Jesus and intend to transform the world by sharing Jesus and good news as communicators,” the prelate said.

The Signis stands for the World Catholic Association for Communication. The SIGNIS National Assembly 2018 scheduled for 21 to 24 February is underway at Guwahati. It is a body of Catholic media personnel represented by members from 174 dioceses. More than 150 participants across India are attending.

Fr. V. M. Thomas, Salesian Provincial and Conference of Religious India President, India shared fake news by presenting some cases to show how fake news is increasing day by day.

“We don’t check facts while passing news stories or while preparing news. Nowadays, media and media persons serve no more news but opinions,” he said. He asked the august gathering to make discernment as media persons and communicators.

The chief guest of the day Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary, former Governor, Meghalaya in his keynote address spoke about the current trends and emerging challenges in Media. He said that in the field of media the news is twisted according to one’s own whims and fancy by the media persons working for the particular print or electronic media.

Speaking positively about media he said that media are full of activity. Communication is important to solve the conflicts of all sorts. Proper communication is essential to remove miscommunication. Usually, miscommunication is the cause of the destruction of the world.

During a panel discussion on Fake News, Social Media, Internet Trolling & Dark web and Cyber Crimes, panellists dealt with great care.

Media houses fall prey to fake news without verifying the news stories. It is not good to just pick up stories from the social site without verifying the story. Fake news can either make or break one’s image, Ms Iban Mawrie, a local journalist.

Salesian Father C. M. Paul, a media educator, spoke on Social Media which is also convergent media. We have become both producers and consumers in the social media. Print Media and Electronic Media both are found on the same platform. Several points indicating the use and abuse of the social media were presented during the discussion.

He also discussed various cases where misuse of social media is done. Use of social media is done a lot during elections. Means, Motive and Opportunity which is focused is spreading the message. As per a report present youth is spending eight hours per day on social media. Youth can be educated about the use of Social media. Use it as a voice of voiceless. Another way is to be creative and innovative, honing skills and expressing oneself through media.

Shekar Ranjan Musahary, former Governor of Meghalaya,inaugurated the Signis National Assembly gave key-note address. He said there are media networks that are inclined to various political ideologies in the current times and Catholic media persons need to be conscious of such scenario.

Ms. Neha Gupta spoke about Internet trolling and the dark web. Shrill pronouncements are nothing but trolling on the net. Using words especially abusive words on the net is the Dark web. The Internet is a rhizome – a root which keeps growing. 70% of world’s youth is online and 48% world population is online. The Internet is fast changing itself and people.

Michael Peria talked about cybercrime like hacking somebody’s web, mail account and computer. Social Media is uncontrollable media. Cybercrime is not making use of platform properly. Posting wrong pictures and content on the net and social sites to come under this. There are many ways we break rules and by mistake do a crime on the net.

“Has Political Ideologies and vested interests Hijacked Media space? A review of current Media scenario in India” by Dr. J. Alexander, former Cabinet Minister and chief Security, Government of Karnataka, “Media in India today: Commercialisation, Political Allegiance Visa-Vis Public Service & Right to Information and Challenging to Christian Communicators in India Today by Father George Plathottam, former Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Secretary of Social Communication were discussed.

Participants reviewed the communication apostolate by various dioceses during the conference.