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The message of Pope Benedict XVI for the forty-third World Day of Social
Communications, which will be celebrated on the coming 24th
May, is entitled: “New technologies, new relations – How to promote a
culture of respect, of dialogue and friendship”. Internet is a ‘true
gift for humanity, we read in the message, for which it must be
accessible to everybody. The text of the Pope reiterates a topic dear to
the Catholic Church. He has already dedicated several documents to it,
in order to highlight the fact that it would be “a serious damage” if it
were not accessible to everybody, especially to the poorer and
marginalised children of God. Moreover the Holy Father reminds us that
“it is gratifying to see the emerging new digital nets, which try to
promote human solidarity, peace, justice, human rights, respect for
life and for the good of creation. These nets can facilitate forms of
co-operation among peoples of different geographic and cultural
contexts”.
The hints of reflection contained in the message of the Pope are not
few, and we have gone deep into them with Simona Borello, expert in this
sector, with a degree in science of communication and a thesis of
general linguistics on “Communication and Liturgy: for a linguistic
analysis of the Homilies”; from 2005 she is a collaborator of the
NOVA-T, centre of TV and multimedia production of the Italian Capuchin
Friars, for which she manages and promotes the Internet site; she minds
also the organisation and didactics of the courses on formation:
“Evangelisation & communication”, as well as of the missionary archive.
At present, Simona Borello is a member of the co-ordination of
“Chiccodisenape”, of the Meic Council and collaborates with the editing
of the “Foglio” in Turin.
To
you, how does the online journalism face the religious and Vatican
information?
“I do not think that the journalism faces in a particular way the
information concerning religious events, but I think that it confirms
also in the virtual world the necessity of “selling the newspaper” that
has characterised it on papery support. For this motive, the religious
phenomena, the ecclesial personalities, the Catholics events are
narrated in the measure in which they can give elements useful to
increase the number of the passages on the site (once we would have said
the “press run”). It is the matter of what is necessary for the
maintenance of the information on line, thus, we should consider it as
an unavoidable factor and, for certain senses, necessary for the
maintenance of the plurality of opinions. In this context, as it is
inevitable, we have journalists who operate with such a baggage of
knowledge as to allow an adequate comprehension of the situations that
are narrated, others, instead, have a lighter baggage.
This type of mechanism, however, should be known and interpreted on
behalf of the organs and the offices of the religious printing press, so
that they may take care of and organise the communication efficaciously,
in order to limit the possibilities of manipulation. I think it
necessary not to undervalue the importance of a professional planning of
one’s own communication, especially when the diffusion of the content is
wanted.
A secondary mechanism –but not for this less important- of this type of
situation is the construction of interesting personages from the
mediatic viewpoint, who become the unique reference points of an
experience or of an institution (for instance: often the religious
information relates only the activities of the Pope, despite the
enormous quantity of initiatives realised in the Diocese, by the
Congregations, associations and movements)”,
In which way do the new technologies represent a cultural challenge also
in the light of a critical and responsible use?
“Each means of communication causes inedited challenges to the culture
in which it gets integrated. I love to say in a joke: those who happened
to witness the birth of the printing press must have experienced a
dismay similar, if not stronger, than ours.
The true newness in our days is the fast diffusion of the new supports
and the easiness of utilising them. This makes extremely simple the
access to the means of communications and, on the other side, “compels”
us to a constant updating. However, I fear that this updating may be
done only from the viewpoint of technological characteristics, without
questioning oneself on the cognitive and cultural consequences.
It becomes ever more necessary to think about moments of specific
formation on the means of communication, for adults who may have more
difficulty of approach, as well as for the youths who use them in an
immediate manner, often without being aware of the consequences. It is
the matter of teaching them how to interrogate themselves with the
“right” questions, keeping a certain distance from the cliché of
common feelings, in order to go deep into the matter from the cultural
viewpoint.
In connection with this necessity, I think that the consecrated persons
can exercise a crucial role, by offering the testimony of using the
media with awareness, and by organising moments of formation together
with professional and expert people. It may be interesting to
communicate that, within the Festival of Communication, which will be
held in Alba, there will be two moments of formation on technologies,
open to everyone, organised by the Pauline Fathers in collaboration with
NOVA-T, the house of TV production managed by the Capuchin Friars”.
To you, which reflections are suggested by the theme chosen this year
for the World Day of Social Communications?
“I think that by focalising the attention on the link between the new
technologies, and the new relations, which they build up, we have
offered a hint for an opportune reflection on our ecclesial realities.
In fact, we happen to see the reiterated “apocalyptic and integrated”
dichotomy coined by Umberto Eco in the 60s: uncritical defenders and
prohibitionists, with notions often born from “hearsay” more than from
direct knowledge. Therefore, it is time for educators, catechists,
priests, sisters and friars to accomplish a course of observation, study
and confrontation.
All of us must be pioneers of curiosity: we cannot say that nothing
changes (it is never so when a new instrument enters the scenario of
communication), neither that the things we already knew have gone bad.
For instance, I have heard the supposition that the loneliness
experienced by adolescents is linked to lack of genuine relationships,
because their friendships are all bound to sms, to instant chat,
to social network. Are we sure that this is an adequate analysis?
Didn’t my generation. with the “fixed” telephone at one’s disposal, live
the loneliness of adolescence? Only one of the then hit would
suffice –for instance, The loneliness of the very young Laura
Pausini- to remember that it was rightly so.
Therefore, I think that our questions should have an ampler breath: How
do the new technologies influence the relational modalities? Does the
disposal of means of communication, that allow me frequent contacts with
others, strengthen or weaken my bonds? Can the experience of an
informative flux in constant evolution be in contrast with the building
of stable bonds? Are virtual friendships equal or different from the
real life? And so on and so forth”.
According to your experience, how do the consecrated persons see the
information on line?
“I do not think that we can express generalised opinions on this topic.
As it usually happens with the remaining population, there are competent
and passionate persons and others, instead, who are diffident and
unaware.
During the courses of my formation on this matter, I naturally observed
that younger persons found it easier to individuate the potentialities
of the informative means, but I equally noted how the education to a
competent use of them enables persons of all ages to use them.
For these motives, I have decided to offer my active support to courses
of formation promoted by NOVA-T. The project is called Evangelisation
& Communication, thought of to the end of empowering the
communication competences of consecrated persons (and the lay
operators), in view of the Gospel proclamation. It is the matter of an
occasion to grow in the knowledge of the contemporary world and to
individuate new ideas for evangelisation, in a rich context of
communication.
The offered formation is articulated in three proposals: To
evangelise with images, aiming at improving our knowledge about how
the contemporary communication functions, to get information on the
indications of the Magisterium, to seek instruments and modalities of
evangelisation; to communicate well, to evangelise better, to
learn the theory and the technical means necessary to project our own
choices of communication; Montage, from idea to practice, to the
end of experiencing the communicative and narrative functionality of the
various types of video, a language very much appreciated by the youths”.
How could the information on line be utilised by the religious to the
end of evangelisation?
“Vatican II teaches us that the proclamation of the Gospel must be
incarnated in history and in the life of the persons whom we want to
reach. For this motive, we cannot ignore the knowledge and the use of
the “electronic” means of communication at least for two reasons. The
first reason is that they are instruments used by many persons to share
pieces of information, emotions and experiences. The second reason is
that the presence of these means influences our society deeply: the
processes of learning, the decisional modalities, the diffusion of
fashions and so on and so forth.
Just to give an example, I shall linger a moment to examine the social
networks, which, after a beginning on the sly, have imposed
themselves as the major centres of aggregation on Internet. The
characteristic of these places is that of putting the person at the
centre, after years of supports foreseeing a participation through
pseudonymous. This takes us back to a modality of “traditional”
socialisation, though it amplifies in an exponential manner: we contact
afresh persons of the past from whom we went far for various motives,
the flux of communication with people whom we meet every day; we become
friendly with the friends of our friends, seen occasionally in some
birthday feast and no longer met again; we enter contacts with unknown
people because of common interests, persons who do not hide behind
pseudonyms, whom we see “face-to-face” and whose milieu is known to us
(interests, place of origin, friends, etc….)
Things of every kind may happen in these places: there is one who is
present because all are present, but is diffident even of showing one’s
own photo, another who exhibits even the photos of a stay in the sea or
of his infancy; there are persons who utilise it as a
political/cultural/religious battle-place, spreading texts and video,
and still another man who wastes time making tests on “which Disney
Princess are you?” and “Which historical personage would you have
married?”.
Being present in this context opens inedited possibilities: to enter in
contact with all that persons share and consider important (their
belonging to group A or to group B; the choice of a photo, the number of
friends, the quantity of written messages); to create new forms of
community around important events, that may be carried ahead in time; to
experience a stronger communication, using more means of communication
at the same time (video, photos, texts, chat…)
These considerations can be valid also for other means of communication
and are uniquely indications of a process: the “way” with which to use
them is, in fact, potentially infinite, because the great ductility of
the means of communication allows us to create original modalities,
thought of on purpose for the reality in which we live. For this reason
I think that there cannot be rules for the capacity of observing and
experiencing a modality of presence.
Thus, the Parish Priest will place on the face-book the photos of
the sportive camp. The boys can add their own comments and organise a
new initiative.
The friar will be able to send an sms containing a synthesis of te
Gospel to be a fast memorandum for those who have been for Mass and to
send it to those who have gone far from the weekly presence for various
motives.
A sister will be able to animate a blog, soliciting the
participants to express their opinion on questions of actuality or on
existential uneasiness.
And so on with creativity!
(The mentioned examples refer to true cases).
How is it possible to promote a culture of respect, of dialogue and
friendship through the information on line?
“The world of the “electronic” communication is a constant flux, in
which it is difficult to find reference points valid and authoritative
for everybody. What matters, therefore, is the possibility to create
such a zone as we return to with pleasure, because we find in it updated
contents, because considerations are taken and answers are given to left
over comments, with furnishing of interesting links.
These places allow the passage of a culture of respect, dialogue and
friendship, through a testimony credible in time: everyone can freely
express one’s opinion, all men and women are invited to have a
respectful attitude (without hierarchies and without prejudices), all
are encouraged also to be outside the given communication context.
This type of experience results, at the end, stronger and more sharable
that the statement of principles that, though right, are perceived as
vague and unhooked from reality.
In his message, the Pope exhorts us not to degrade the human being,
excluding all that my feed hatred and intolerance. Could you quote a
case on line, as an expression of the words of the Pope?
“I think that this statement may help us to highlight the importance of
formation for those who want to be educators and evangelisers in the
Internet epoch. Deepened competences on how the net functions and a
developed critical sense are necessary to stay near the youths helping
them to distinguish among the different types of contents, to verify the
sources of information, to understand how to interrogate oneself before
the different types of content.
Thus we can interact with the youths and discuss –in class, during the
catechism lesson or the retreat, on a group of face-book- on what
might be the idea of a person who is behind the video, who is maddening
on you-tube, on the velina calendar that is in the home page
of daily life, in the xenophobic joke that circulates through the
E-mail.
It is the matter of using one’s own critical sense, knowing what happens
on the net and facing its knotty points. It goes without saying that
this is what it means to be updated on what happens daily: visiting the
main sites, controlling the E-mail, peeping within one’s own
profile…..these are activities that surely require time, but that are
blessed in terms of acquired competences and hints for dialogue”.
Day after day we see the growth of Catholic sites in net. Analysing them
from your viewpoint, as expert in this sector, which and what kind of
merit and defects to they present?
“The quantity of Catholic sites in nets is truly impressive. I often
happen to consult the very useful portal
www.siticattolici.it managed by the
curate Francesco Diani, and I find a composite archipelago. Near well
cared sites from the graphic viewpoint, frequently updated from the
content viewpoint, rich in connection with useful sites, there are
“amateur” sites, with simple graphic and very rarely updated.
I think that it is always necessary to consider the perspective of the
presence in net, which implies the creation of places of different
types. To give some examples, if we want to present our own Institution,
we need a professional site, competently elaborated, in which we find a
whole series of information that may help the sailor. In this case it
may be opportune to approach a professional studio, as a long term
investment, that might furnish an adequate visibility. In fact, there
are too many sites of Congregations that finish by giving limited
information, by not being updated, by being abandoned as soon as “the
religious clever at internet” changes the convent. If we want to animate
a young or vocational activity, a blog may be enough, availing
oneself of the graphic interface gratuitously furnished, as well as of
the possibility of sharing a noteworthy number of material.
Another valuable characteristic is the simplicity in the construction of
sites and of the blog: often we find ourselves in coloured sites
with numerous chromatic tonalities, rich in animation, accompanied by a
musical column (which often it is not eliminable), supported by a
complex and complicated menu.
Finally, another point to pay attention to is the integration between
the site or the blog with the other realities present in the net: the
used network, the used names in the instant chat, etc.”.
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