austraLasia #2892
 
Media Forum brings Digital Age Awareness
by Remegio Harold A. Argante

PORT MORESBY: 19 July 2011 -- Bringing confreres together in the far-flung PNG-SI Delegation is a herculean task. Taking advantage of their presence, a Delegation Day, a Media Forum Day and the Salesian Family Day were sandwiched between the two confreres retreats. Here below a brief indication of something of an ongoing formation event for the Salesian Family that could inspire other provinces - a Media Forum.
    Digital natives… digital immigrants … digital tourists – these terms categorise the state each participant of the Media Forum currently belongs to.
    Dwelling on the theme for World Communications Day, “Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in our Digital Age”, the Media Forum for the Salesian Family got off to a lively start on 16 July, 2011, at the Emmaus Retreat Centre, spearheaded by Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb, President of SIGNIS Pacific and Delegate for Social Communications for the PNG-SI Delegation. The Salesian Social Communications System (SSCS) was highlighted during the occasion.
    The nearly 50 participants – Salesians, Aspirants and Salesian Family members - were led into an interesting and lively exchange of ideas on topics related to the implications of our digital world. The participants' sharing weighed the positive and negative impacts of the so-called ‘Digital Age’. Various video clips helped the participants think critically so as to avoid being ‘Media Gluttons’ reflected in the immense popularity of the social networks.
    The participants were divided into groups which gave them the opportunity to share their experiences of social networks. Some of them aired the need to be positive in sharing their views and comments on the net rather than being willing victims.
    The afternoon session was all about ‘Newspaper Analysis’ and the ‘Necessities of a Newspaper Article’ conducted by Fr. Edwin Genovia sdb. Once again the participants worked in groups and had the opportunity to analyse a newspaper article.  Representatives shared opinions on what led to the writing of the news, its accuracy and the writers ‘point of view’.
    The Media Forum has awakened in participants a desire to understand more about the implications the Digital Age has on our lives. Encouraged by Fr Raffy Galve sdb, PNG-SI Delegate, a Media Short Course is to be organized by the Social Communications team - Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb, Fr. Edwin Genovia sdb and Mayette Carvajal.  It will be conducted in Port Moresby from 26th to 30th September, 2011.

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