Let bloggers blog, says Indian priest

Let a thousand bloggers blog, says the executive secretary of the Indian bishops’ social communications, acknowledging the role of communication in Church press.

Salesian Father George Plathottam, who is also media secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, is participating in the Oct. 4-7 Catholic Press Congress organized by the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications in Rome.

Accompanying him to the congress on are two lay media professionals, Afternoon Despatch and Courier editor Carol Andrade and Jomy Thomas for the Malayala Manorama daily. Father Plathottam spoke to ucanews.com during the congress about the role of the Catholic press in India.

“In a country enjoying press freedom, we are not using it as effectively as we ought to. We may have many periodicals, but many of them lack a sense of mission and professionalism,” he said.

He also suggests ways to bridge the “digital divide” in this internet age. “We have to modernize the press accordingly. There is no place for long and boring reports. They should be crisp and to the point. This calls for professionalism and understanding current media changes.” He adds that while he thinks that the press will not be obsolete soon, all communication channels must be utilized to share information.

“Most of Catholic press is ‘pietistic’ and ‘propagandist’. They don’t focus on vital issues. We should see less of those and campaign for a more upfront, relevant and people-friendly press,” explains Father Plathottam, who toured India extensively and visited Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka conducting journalism courses and Church media planning.

Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli

(left), head of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications with Father George

Plathottam

He also believes that Christian publications should be more accessible. “Many periodicals are hidden in reading rooms of presbyteries and religious houses. We don’t see them on newsstands or even in Christian homes. They need to be more professional and readable for the public and not mere ‘in-house’ publications,” he says.

As the former president of the South Asia Catholic Press Association and former Managing Editor of South Asia Religious News, Father Plathottam insists on de-clericalising the Indian Catholic press scenario.

Acknowledging the role of youths and religious media professionals in generating relevant public discourse, Father Plathottam believes that Church seniors, including many bishops, must sit down with the digital-savvy and learn more on the new media.”

“The church is too clerical in structure, and unless we create space for creative people, laity, youth and women in particular, to bring in their passion and resourcefulness, the church cannot move forward in communication,” he says.

Having served as a former director of the multilingual Don Bosco Publications Guwahati, Father Plathottam adds, “the mainstream media, particularly television channels, must avoid deciding ethical issues through majority opinion or a mouse click.”

Echoing India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s comment on the rise of many leaders, ‘let a thousand flowers bloom’, Father Plathottam says, “let a thousand bloggers blog.”

He thinks that blogging will help professionalize Catholic press and come out of ‘ecclesiocentrism’ (church-centeredness) to deal with issues from a Christian view.

He also adds that most issues need a gospel perspective and many of those who are concerned for the poor and needy are not always Christians.

“Civil society groups today are very active and the church press must work with them in championing these issues,” Father Plathottam suggests.

Source: ucanews.com