The three Cs of decent media

The theme chosen for this year's World Day of Social Communications, which is celebrated today, is very interesting. The Pope concentrates on the three Cs that the media should practise to really be at the service of the human person. Hence the theme "The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Co-operation".

The influence of the media for good or bad is a reality that we live through every day. The media have the power to serve humanity and the power to manipulate it. The media have the power to overcome time and space and consequently enhance communication between people even when separated by vast distances. But on the other hand the media have the power to increase divisions between peoples. Common experience shows us that communication does not necessarily translate into the building of cooperation and communion in society.

The Pope says that "authentic communication demands principled courage and resolve. It requires a determination of those working in the media not to wilt under the weight of so much information nor even to be content with partial or provisional truths. Instead it necessitates both seeking and transmitting what is the ultimate foundation and meaning of human, personal and social existence. In this way the media can contribute constructively to the propagation of all that is good and true."

The Pope discusses the distortions in today's media environment that occur when the media industry becomes self-serving or solely profitdriven. These two tendencies are at the root of most media trouble. "Certain tendencies within the media engender a kind of monoculture that dims creative genius, deflates the subtlety of complex thought and undervalues the specificity of cultural practices and the particularity of religious belief."

The Church's message emphasises the need for "accurate reporting of events, full explanation of matters of public concern, and fair representation of diverse points of view." An area of particular importance consists of marriage and the family. The media should uphold and support them "precisely because it pertains to the foundation of every culture and society. In co-operation with parents, the social communications and entertainment industries can assist in the difficult but sublimely satisfying vocation of bringing up children, through presenting edifying models of human life and love."

One can note that reality is a far cry from this ideal mentioned in the Pope's message.

Following the steps of John Paul II, Pope Benedict calls for formation, participation, and dialogue.

"Formation in the responsible and critical use of the media helps people to use them intelligently and appropriately... Precisely because contemporary media shape popular culture, they themselves must overcome any temptation to manipulate, especially the young, and instead pursue the desire to form and serve. In this way they protect rather than erode the fabric of a civil society worthy of the human person.

"Participation in the mass media arises from their nature as a good destined for all people. As a public service, social communication requires a spirit of co-operation and co-responsibility with vigorous accountability of the use of public resources and the performance of roles of public trust, including recourse to regulatory standards and other measures or structures designed to reach this goal.

"Finally, the promotion of dialogue through the exchange of learning, the expression of solidarity and the espousal of peace presents a great opportunity for the mass media which must be recognised and exercised. In this way they become influential and appreciated resources for building the civilisation of love for which all peoples yearn."

Like the Pope we augur that "serious efforts to promote these three steps will assist the media to develop soundly as a network of communication, communion and co-operation, helping men, women and children, to become more aware of the dignity of the human person, more responsible, and more open to others especially the neediest and the weakest members of society."