Port Moresby, PNG, 19 May 2025 -- The fourth program of the Media Education Seminar 2025 series was held at the Caritas Business College Hall on 17 May 2025. Focused on empowering students to become critical consumers and creative producers of media content, the program featured sessions on identifying fake news, understanding the Catholic Church’s social teachings in relation to social media, and creating 30-second short films on themes related to Catholic Social Teachings.
Thirteen groups participated, including eleven Catholic institutions, a parish group, and a youth group from Radio Maria, all accompanied by their respective animators.
The program began with a prayer session, where a representative offered prayers for themselves, the pressing global social issues that need to be highlighted in the media. The sessions commenced with Fr. Ambrose Pereira SDB, Salesian Social Communication Coordinator for PGS and EAO, introducing participants to Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected Holy Father. He then introduced the main sessions, stressing that change must begin within oneself before it can extend outward. He referenced the recent World Press Freedom Day celebrated on 3 May 2025, prompting participants to reflect on the question: "Is media truly free in Papua New Guinea?" Participants discussed and shared insights into the media landscape in PNG, identifying real-life examples and current challenges the media face to highlight these issues.
The next session, titled "Understanding the Reality of News," was led by Mrs. Sheryll Isoaimo. She compared traditional, professionally edited news with the often unfiltered and rapidly shared content of today’s digital era. “Today, there is no intermediary or censorship for much of the content we consume,” she noted. She went on to define fake news, explain its societal impact, and discuss misinformation, disinformation, and clickbait tactics. “With AI technology, it is now very easy to create fake news,” she added, emphasizing the importance of being a critical and responsible media consumer.
Following this, Ms. Charlotte Vada, Caritas PNG, Program Manager, presented on: “Catholic Social Teachings: Guiding Actions on Social Media.” She outlined nine key themes: Human Dignity, Distributive Justice, Subsidiarity, Promoting Peace, Participation, Preferential Option for the Poor, Common Good, Solidarity, and Stewardship. She urged students to uphold these values and to courageously embody them in their digital and daily lives.
The final session, the session that the participants look forward to, was presented by Mr Leo Paraha. It included practical reminders on filming techniques, before the participants engaged in creating 30-second video clips based on Catholic Social Teaching themes. These short films were later presented and evaluated after lunch.
The program concluded with a prayer and a word of thanks to all participants, animators, facilitators, and the principals of the respective institutions for their continued support. A special acknowledgment was given to Sr. Mazzarello Choi SCG, Directress of Caritas Technical Secondary School; and Ms. Mady Punsalan, Principal of Caritas Business College, for their hospitality, provision of the venue and refreshments.
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