By Matters India Reporter
Guwahati: The need to highlight truth amid lies and promote peace in a troubled region was stressed at a meeting of Catholic communicators of northeastern India.
“As media people of our region we all have a very serious responsibility of bringing the truth to the people and use media to promote peace among the different groups of people of our region,” said Bishop George Palliparampil of Miao while addressing the members of Signis in northeastern India.
Signis (fire) is an international media moment recognized by the Catholic Church. Northeast is one of its 14 regions in India. The region held its annual general body meeting on July 8 at Inspiration building in Guwahati, the commercial capital of Assam state.
The Salesian prelate, who used to report for Catholic news agencies as a missionary priest in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, reminded the gathering that they lived in a world where the media influenced what people’s action, thoughts and views. He also raised concerns about the emerging trend of fake news media that injects people’s mind with poison of lies to polarize them.
Signis North East India has organized a series of trainings for the rural youth of this region to help them use media judiciously and have a critical look at the social media lest they fall victim to fake news.
The governing body of the Signis’ North East region has resolved to revive the Church activities in the region. To help this, it elected Salesian Father Johnson Puthenpurackal as its president. The priest heads the Don Bosco Institute at Kharguli, a Guwahti suburb.
Bishop Palliparampil chaired the meeting where Signis members from the region’s seven states attended.
The meeting also elected Sister Shiji, a member of Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, as vice president, Fathers Stephen of Jowai diocese and Felix Anthony of Miao as the screening committee members.
The new team intends to make media a powerful tool to make the Church more active and attractive to the young people who are always connected to the media.