BIS: THE NEWS AGENCIES ARE GROWING!
MUMBAI: 22nd October -- BIS: In parts of Europe it simply means 'encore!', 'Let's have some more!'. In Mumbai it stands for Bosco Information Service, but could well take its cue from the other meaning also. Yesterday, 21st October, Fr. Francis Alencherry (General Councillor for Salesian Missions but presently in Mumbai for the Extraordinary Visitation) formerly inaugurated Bosco Information Service, the first news network in Salesian India devoted exclusively to the apostolate of gathering, disseminating and documenting news and information related to youth and the Salesian apostolate. Fr. Darryl D'Souza, Director of the Tej-Prasarini Communications Centre, is also the BIS Director. BIS, located at the Province Centre in Mumbai, serves not only Mumbai Province but all of Salesian India, and acts as a source for the worldwide ANS agency based in Rome.
The BIS agency becomes the fifth such unit of this thoroughly modern approach to rapid communications in the Salesian digital news network worldwide. 'austraLasia', based in the East Asia-Oceania Region is proud to have been a contemporary 'first' regional agency in this sector along with Bosco Link in the Americas. This was quickly followed by Rua Link in the UK.
It is interesting to see how the English-speaking world has developed this particular aspect of de-centralized news gathering and dissemination. It forms an essential element in what is increasingly being referred to as the 'Salesian System of Communication', which privileges networking that builds up and helps unify the Salesian Family.
'austraLasia', for one, wishes to say 'BIS' to this latest enterprise! May there be more!
