SEOUL (UCAN): Some 300 media professionals from across five continents discussed the theme, Peace in the digital world, at the SIGNIS World Congress, the once-in-four-year gathering. Hundreds joined the sessions online.
At the end of their August 14 to 18 gathering in the South Korean capital, Seoul, the Catholic communicators said, “We urge media practitioners and citizens to take action to protect the human rights of civilians caught up in war and conflict zones.”
The job of media professionals was not to “just report events” but “engage actively in supporting victims of war and work towards conflict resolutions,” the statement said.
They also acknowledged that the digital divide increases the gap between the rich and the poor, “leading to inequality in accessing the fruits of the digital revolution.”
Meanwhile, the hyperconnected are “challenged with socioeconomic, cultural, political, religious, spiritual, and ecological disconnections” and they suffer from “isolation, confusion, and hopelessness. Online games, pornography addiction, overexposure to violence, and contents of divisive nature in media lead to destructive behaviours.”
The elements that the media should convey are goodwill and sensitivity…the media reports too much bad news, people get tired of it and want to hear some good news
Dmitry Muratov, Nobel Peace Laureate
The global gathering recognised the devastating effects of fake news such as communal clashes. “Vulnerable groups in the society are often the major victims of fake news,” they said.
The statement reiterated the organisation’s “genuine interest in marginalised people” and its commitment to “communicating true and meaningful information to promote their struggles.”
Hearing the stories of young people building peace in the world was “heartening,” the statement said acknowledging “their vital role in building communities and promoting peace through modern technologies using creative methodologies.
Russia’s Nobel Peace laureate, Dmitry Muratov, appealed for media freedom across the world while asking to resist the lure of state-sponsored propaganda and state repression.
Muratov, who won the 2021 Nobel, is the founder of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and addressed the World Congress online.
“It is important for me, for us, and for the media to consistently pay attention to the suffering of others,” he said.
“The elements that the media should convey are goodwill and sensitivity,” he added saying, “the media reports too much bad news, people get tired of it and want to hear some good news.”
