Jubilee of the World of Communications (3)

 The Decree of the Second Vatican Council on the Means of Social Communication, Inter Mirifica, acts as a kind of introduction to the much more detailed Pastoral Instruction, Communio et Progressio, that was prepared at the request of the Council Fathers. (In passing, it is worth looking at n.21 of the latter and recognising how pertinent are the questions that it raises, though the Instruction was written in days well before the widespread use of the internet.)

Inter Mirifica n.5 includes the following paragraph (I have slightly adapted the translation from the Vatican website against my reading of the Latin original, and added the bold):

The first question has to do with "information," as it is called, or the search for and reporting of the news. Now clearly this has become most useful and very often necessary for the progress of contemporary society and for achieving closer links among men. The prompt publication of affairs and events provides every individual with a fuller, continuing acquaintance with them, and thus all can contribute more effectively to the common good and more readily promote and advance the welfare of the entire civil society. Therefore, in society men have a right to information, in accord with the circumstances in each case, about matters concerning individuals or the community. The proper exercise of this right demands, however, that the news itself that is communicated should always be true and complete, within the bounds of justice and charity. In addition, the manner in which the news is communicated should be honest. This means that in both the search for news and in reporting it, there must be full respect for the laws of morality and for the legitimate rights and dignity of the individual. For not all knowledge is helpful, but "it is charity that edifies".

The keynote event of the main programme for the Jubilee of the World of Communications is a session "In Dialogue with Maria Ressi and Colum McCann", which is also followed up by a session "Communication and Hope" that afternoon.

Maria Ressa was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for "efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace."  A notable aspect of her journalism has been her criticism of the rule of President Duterte in her native Philippines. A full account of her life and activity in the field of journalism can be found at Wikipedia: Maria Ressa.

Colum McCann is an Irish writer of fiction and non-fiction. His most notable non-fiction work is American Mother, published in 2024. It tells the story of Diane Foley, the mother of the journalist Jim Foley, who was held captive and then executed by ISIS. Colum has also co-founded an initiative Narrative 4 which uses shared story telling to build empathy within communities. An account of Colum McCann's life in journalism and as a novelist can be found at Wikepedia: Colum McCann.

In their contributions to the Jubilee of the World of Communications, Maria Ressa and Colum McCann are able to offer a considerable witness to the work of journalists in relation to the reporting of world events.

UPDATE: The text of Colum McCann's keynote address can be found here: Jubilee of the World of Communications: Colum McCann. That of Maria Ressa is here: Jubilee of the World of Communications: Maria Ressa.