Children and the Media

I'd like to share with you Pope Benedict's message for the 41st World Communications Day.

Theme: "Children and the Media:
A Challenge for Education"

May 20, 2007


Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. The theme of the Forty-first World Communications Day, "Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education", invites us to reflect on two related topics of immense importance. The formation of children is one. The other, perhaps less obvious but no less important, is the formation of the media.

The complex challenges facing education today are often linked to the pervasive influence of the media in our world. As an aspect of the phenomenon of globalization, and facilitated by the rapid development of technology, the media profoundly shape the cultural environment (cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter The Rapid Development, 3). Indeed, some claim that the formative influence of the media rivals that of the school, the Church, and maybe even the home. “Reality, for many, is what the media recognize as real" (Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Aetatis Novae, 4).

2. The relationship of children, media, and education can be considered from two perspectives: the formation of children by the media; and the formation of children to respond appropriately to the media. A kind of reciprocity emerges which points to the responsibilities of the media as an industry and to the need for active and critical participation of readers, viewers and listeners. Within this framework, training in the proper use of the media is essential for the cultural, moral and spiritual development of children.

How is this common good to be protected and promoted? Educating children to be discriminating in their use of the media is a responsibility of parents, Church, and school. The role of parents is of primary importance. They have a right and duty to ensure the prudent use of the media by training the conscience of their children to express sound and objective judgments which will then guide them in choosing or rejecting programmes available (cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, 76). In doing so, parents should have the encouragement and assistance of schools and parishes in ensuring that this difficult, though satisfying, aspect of parenting is supported by the wider community.

Media education should be positive. Children exposed to what is aesthetically and morally excellent are helped to develop appreciation, prudence and the skills of discernment. Here it is important to recognize the fundamental value of parents’ example and the benefits of introducing young people to children's classics in literature, to the fine arts and to uplifting music. While popular literature will always have its place in culture, the temptation to sensationalize should not be passively accepted in places of learning. Beauty, a kind of mirror of the divine, inspires and vivifies young hearts and minds, while ugliness and coarseness have a depressing impact on attitudes and behaviour.

Like education in general, media education requires formation in the exercise of freedom. This is a demanding task. So often freedom is presented as a relentless search for pleasure or new experiences. Yet this is a condemnation not a liberation! True freedom could never condemn the individual – especially a child – to an insatiable quest for novelty. In the light of truth, authentic freedom is experienced as a definitive response to God’s ‘yes’ to humanity, calling us to choose, not indiscriminately but deliberately, all that is good, true and beautiful. Parents, then, as the guardians of that freedom, while gradually giving their children greater freedom, introduce them to the profound joy of life (cf. Address to the Fifth World Meeting of Families, Valencia, 8 July 2006).

3. This heartfelt wish of parents and teachers to educate children in the ways of beauty, truth and goodness can be supported by the media industry only to the extent that it promotes fundamental human dignity, the true value of marriage and family life, and the positive achievements and goals of humanity. Thus, the need for the media to be committed to effective formation and ethical standards is viewed with particular interest and even urgency not only by parents and teachers but by all who have a sense of civic responsibility.

While affirming the belief that many people involved in social communications want to do what is right (cf. Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Ethics in Communications, 4), we must also recognize that those who work in this field confront "special psychological pressures and ethical dilemmas" (Aetatis Novae, 19) which at times see commercial competitiveness compelling communicators to lower standards. Any trend to produce programmes and products - including animated films and video games - which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray anti-social behaviour or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion, all the more repulsive when these programmes are directed at children and adolescents. How could one explain this ‘entertainment’ to the countless innocent young people who actually suffer violence, exploitation and abuse? In this regard, all would do well to reflect on the contrast between Christ who “put his arms around [the children] laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing” (Mk 10:16) and the one who “leads astray … these little ones” for whom "it would be better … if a millstone were hung round his neck" (Lk 17:2). Again I appeal to the leaders of the media industry to educate and encourage producers to safeguard the common good, to uphold the truth, to protect individual human dignity and promote respect for the needs of the family.

4. The Church herself, in the light of the message of salvation entrusted to her, is also a teacher of humanity and welcomes the opportunity to offer assistance to parents, educators, communicators, and young people. Her own parish and school programmes should be in the forefront of media education today. Above all, the Church desires to share a vision of human dignity that is central to all worthy human communication. "Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave" (Deus Caritas Est, 18).


BENEDICTUS XVI


© Copyright 2007 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Essay Contest for Young People

The Center for International Private Enterprise is inviting young journalists and students (between 18 to 30 years old) to participate in its international essay contest. Application deadline: May 31.

There are three categories, organized by theme: Citizenship in a Democratic Society, Educational Reform and Employment Opportunities, and Entrepreneurship and Leadership. There will first, second and third prizes for each category, and each of those nine prizes is worth an honorarium of US$1,000.

Join na kayo, young people:-)

Igorot Vote?

Is there such a thing as an "Igorot vote" here in Baguio City?
If there is, who among our local candidates (particulary those seeking a seat in Congress) could benefit from it?

Three weeks ago, I met a group of friends, including a female friend who works as an accountant in the US. She was a youth leader in her barangay when she was still here and she has maintained close contact with young leaders in her community. Our talk shifted to politics and she asked us who is our candidate for representative in Congress. Two said they're going for Atty. Joe Molintas while one was pro-Congressman Mauricio Domogan.

"Domogan's camp fears that the Igorot vote will be divided into two," our friend shared, citing her sources. And if that's the case, it might prove to be a close fight between him and Molintas, she explained. We ended our evening on a lighter topic but the concept of an "Igorot vote" stayed with me for weeks.

A few points before anything:

1. "Igorot" is a generic term which refers to the people from the Cordillera region.

2. Baguio is now a city of migrants, with lowlanders outnumbering Igorots. Ibalois are the original inhabitants of Benguet, of which Baguio City used to be part before it became a city.

3. This is the first time that Congressman Domogan, who is proud of his Igorot roots, will face another Igorot as a contender for a seat in Congress. Although Domogan comes from Quirino, Ilocos Sur, he traces his roots in Mountain Province. Molintas is an Ibaloi from Benguet.

Here are some questions which can only be answered this coming Monday:

1. Will Igorots vote based on their ethnic affiliations or will they go beyond it come election day?

2. Will Ibalois support Molintas? Will Domogan continue to be supported by his kailians from Mountain Province?

3. Who will deliver the votes for either of these two candidates? How close will the fight for the congressional seat be?

May the best candidate win this Monday:-)

Anna Politkovskaya: Journalist Par Excellence

This is a belated post in observance of World Press Freedom Day last Thursday, May 3. But I couldn't pass up the chance to honor Anna Politkovskaya, this year's awardee of the UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. In life and in death, she pursued journalism with passion and commitment. May all journalists be as courageous as Anna in pursuing the truth.

I'm sharing with you parts of an article written by Cristina L’Homme on Anna's heroism entitled Anna Politkovskaya: Murdered Because She Stood Alone.

For the first time this year, the UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was awarded posthumously, to the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Despite fear and threats, she continued to cover the situation in Chechnya until she was murdered. She used to say “Words can save lives.” She was convinced her testimony could help mentalities evolve. Yet words finally killed her. Anna Politkovskaya was murdered on Saturday 7 October 2006, shot down as she was coming home, on Lesnaya street in Moscow. Her last article on Chechnya, unfinished, was published by her newspaper Novaya Gazeta (circulation: one million) a few days after her death.

To pay tribute to her courage and commitment, the Director-General of UNESCO, on the recommendation of an independent international jury, decided to name her laureate of the UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize posthumously, a first in the prize’s history. The chairman of the jury, Kavi Chongkittavorn, hailed Ms Politkovskaya’s “incredible stubbornness”, which pushed her to continue “chronicling events in Chechnya when the whole world had lost interest in that conflict”. “This prize means a lot to us, her colleagues at Novaya Gazeta. It help us and allows us to continue working,” declared Viatcheslav Izmaylov, journalist at Novaya Gazeta, assigned the investigation on her murder. “It represents recognition and is important for her children.”

...“If all journalists had been as courageous as Anna Politkovskaya, she wouldn’t have been killed,” affirmed the head of the journalists’ union in Russia on the day of her funeral, “because those who killed her would have hesitated at the thought that another journalist would take her place. She died because she stood alone.”

Read more about her heroism here.

The Baguio Midland Courier Is Now Online

The region's first newspaper is now online!

The Baguio Midland Courier's online edition was launched last April 29 to coincide with its 60th anniversary. We can read the feature stories published in their anniversary supplement in their website. Check out What Have We Done to Our City by Leonie San Agustin, A Look at the Northern Youth Vote by Dazzie Zapata, Ibaloi in International Media by Liza Galao, and 60 Things to Do and Places to Visit in Cordi by Mari-An Santos. For those of you who are interested in what the Midland has to offer, just click the link in the News Sources part of this blog.

Congratulations to Sir Charlie, Lea, Dianne, Joel, Melody, Roldan and Aries, and the rest of the staff!

Ford Foundation Fellowships

Here's a great fellowship program for any one of you who's interested in pursuing a graduate degree which you can use to make positive changes in your community.

The Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) awards graduate fellowships to candidates who have demonstrated social commitment, leadership and academic achievement. The IFP reaches out to a new generation of potential leaders from groups and communities that have traditionally lacked access to higher education and know at first hand the problems facing their countries and communities. Worldwide, IFP is being implemented in 22 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, as well as Russia.

The Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP), in partnership with the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC), is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for the fifth round of competition.

Applicants are expected to have earned a baccalaureate degree with above average grades, with at least three years of relevant work experience that relates to the proposed graduate study program and to the kind of work or community service that one plans to do after completion of studies.

Applicants are also expected to pursue studies in academic fields that parallel the Ford Foundation's grant making goals to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation and advance human achievement.

Only those working and/or living outside Metro Manila are eligible to apply. Women, members of indigenous cultural communities, and those working with social development organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Schedule for 2007/2008 Selection
Deadline for submission of full application forms - 31 October 2007

Interview by the National Selection Panel - May 2008

Start of academic year for selected candidates - September 2009

Click here to contact the IFP office nearest to you.

For more information, visit the IFP Philippines website.