Media: Eyes of the World

Due to technological progress, and this time, due to the crisis brought by the pandemic, the media’s role in influencing public opinion is constantly increasing. With this reality, the media’s role is very crucial. Thus, it is important to re-echo the major role of media and its opportunities with its hidden dangers.

The Second Vatican Council emphasizes that the context of communication must be truth and must be communicated honestly and properly. No wonder why, in his message for this year’s 55th World Communications Sunday, Pope Francis devotes his message to the invitation to “come and see” (Jn. 1:46), which can serve as an inspiration for all communication that strives to be clear and honest, in the press, on the internet, in the Church’s daily preaching and in political or social communication.

The Pope explains that the internet, with its countless social media expressions, can increase the capacity for reporting and sharing, with many more eyes on the world and a constant flood of images and testimonies. However, the Pope also points out the risk of misinformation being spread on social media. “We have known for some time that news and even images can be easily manipulated, for any number of reasons, at times simply for sheer narcissism,” the Pope says.

The Pope exhorts that all of us are to be witnesses of the truth. This means that we must communicate only what is true and authentic. We must not force our own opinion to become the truth. For instance, many months ago, we were dreaming ang praying for a vaccine. Now that the vaccine is already available, people are curious and suspicious; they are in the dilemma whether to be vaccinated or not, because there are so many news against the vaccine.

We need to purify our words, especially in social media, because these may cause chaos in society. Thus, the Pope is reminding us to be responsible for the communications we make, for the information we share, for the control that we can exert over fake news by exposing it. (JEB)