State Of Phil Media And Soc Comm'n Ver 3

Media and Spirituality: The State of Philippine Media and the Challenges of Social Communication Towards Evangelization By: Titus Brandsma Media Program

Media Awareness: Basic Information on the Philippine Media SetSet-up Titus Brandsma CenterCenter- Media Program Research Phase 2: The Philippine Media Trends, Issues and Needs

(a survey on perceptions of media practitioners)

Reflections from the study: 1. Media defined – Media is power; – Trend of sexsex-and and--violence fare; increasing gap between the informationinformationrich and the informationinformation-poor; – Major formator and educator of the public especially the young; – Media is both a joker and a watchdog.

2. Media and politics – Used by politicos as electoral machinery to project their viability – LoveLove-and and--hate relationship

3. Media and business – Bottomline of media is “ratings”. – More of a political capital; – Ideal situation is where the owners of the media themselves are primarily media people themselves.

4. Media and academe – Question: how does education enable young people to learn from experience? Are lack of professionalism and critical thinking skills among students a trend or just isolated realities in Philippine education? – Education is shifted to technical and market--driven ones; market – For the young to adapt more successfully to rapid change, there’s a need to sensitize them to the possibilities and probabilities of tomorrow.

5. Media and the Church – Church is a part of the institutional power struggle; – Media shows apprehensions that Church people have their own agenda of extending the Church power; – Catholic Church – sees significance of its presence in the media world in terms of institutional power.

6. Media and their needs – Skills development, orientation and training and research; – Laws and policies on a better media climate; – Alternative strategies to be able to sustain quality productions are needed; – ChurchChurch-based media need to survive financially from the stiff competition; – Working condition of small media people; – Networking and building a community; – And, care for media practitioners.

Conclusion: Philippine Catholic Church Must reflect on the development of media (fast and revolutionary changes) For the Churches this means:

















Media shape the world of the people the Churches are serving. The Churches in their pastoral ministry should be sensitive to the “language” of the media and at the same time critical in adapting that “language”; Church leaders should enable themselves to deal with the media in an adequate way; seek help to media practitioners; Should critically review the image they project in the media world; Churches should develop a pastoral presence in the media world, rather than building a counter force.

Advertising Industry Rank

Top Advertisers

Advertisers

1996

1997

1998

Unilever/PRC

3

3

1

Procter & Gam.

2

1

2

Nestle Phils.

1

2

3

PLDT

5

4

4

Rank Brands

1996

1997

1998

PLDT

2

1

1

Sunsilk

5

5

2

San Miguel

1

2

3

Hope SKMF

15

4

4

Top Brands Advertised

Top Ten Product Categories

Product Categories Comm./Bus. Machine Rest./Fastfood, etc. Gov’t Agency, Int., Public Utilities Med. Prods/Equipment

1996 1 6 13

Rank 1997 1 3 8

1998 1 2 3

8

5

4

Summary of Radio Station (per Region) SUMMARY OF RADIO STATIONS (Per Region)` REGION

Region 4A Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 Region 6 Region 7 Region 8 Region 9 Region 10 Region 11 Region 12

NCR Ilocos Cagayan Valley Central Luzon Southern Tagalog Bicol Western Visayas Central Visayas Eastern Visayas Western Mindanao Northern Mindanao Southern Mindanao Central Mindanao

RADIO AM

FM

TOTAL

26 34 11 10 22 23 25 22 13 18 25 32 12 273

24 32 11 8 16 25 28 27 5 18 27 35 10 266

50 66 22 18 38 48 53 49 18 36 52 67 22 539

Number of AM/FM Radios 4%

17%

19% 11%

11% 17%

5%

16%

AM Luzon 100 stations

AM Visayas 60 stations

AM Mindanao 87 stations

AM Metro Manila 26 stations

FM Luzon 92 stations

FM Visayas 60 stations

FM Mindanao 90 stations

FM Metro Manila 24 stations

PRINT Newspaper Readership 50.00%

48.00%

40.00% 30.00%

29.00%

20.00%

Total Philippines

10.00%

Metro Manila

0.00% Total Philippines

Metro Manila

Social Communication


“We celebrate the blessings of speech, of hearing, of sight . . . in order to exchange with those around us the thoughts and sentiments which arise in our hearts.




We celebrate the gifts of writing and reading, by which the wisdom of ancestors is placed at our disposal and our own experience and reflection are passed on to the generations that follow us.




‘The marvels of technology which God has destined human genius to discover’ (Inter(Inter-Mirifica, 1) . . inventions which have immeasurably increased and extended the range over which communications may carry and have amplified the volume of our voice..” Pope John Paul II

Social Communication. . .


Social communication refers to all ways, means and processes of communication which are related directly or indirectly to human society.




Latin root ‘communis’ – communication means to have something in common, to share.




Christian sense – ‘communio’ that is ‘communion’ which finally leads to community




Only communication serving and leading to community is the real ‘social communication’ we are concerned about.

Studying Communication, therefore. . .
Means

studying people in their ways of exchange and sharing, relating and influencing each other for a common concern

Human Communication Functions:





Psychological aspects – ability of the individual to express himself Socio--cultural Socio aspects

Communication is– is–





Continuous Personal Circular Irreversible

Social Communication: The Development of a Concept Social Communication’: was coined and introduced by the Preparatory Commission on Communication that drafted the Decree, Inter Mirifica, of the Second Vatical Council in 1962. Origin of the name: “Modern Means for the Apostolate” “Instruments of Social Communication”

The Concept of Social Communication Giorgio Braga: “study of communicative processes within society” which, according to him, refers to semantic problems as well and is based on a sociology which puts communication at the center of the life of society.”

Puebla Assembly social communication as a “broad and deep dimension of human relation” which brings human beings “into interrelationship individually and collectively.”; saw social communication as “conditioned by the socio-cultural reality” of their countries;

History of Communication in the Church 4th Century : Christianity is the state religion of the Roman Empire and becomes the bearer of Culture in Europe (oral & written heritage of mankind) St. Augustine applied communication principles for the first time in Church history to cathesis (homiletics) Pope Gregory the Great presented in his ‘Pastoral Rule’ 591 communication principles.

Printing by Gutenberg (1450) changed the situation of the Church in the power system; changed the ways of doing, teaching and living theology (textual criticism of biblical manuscript); alliance of reform and counter-reform with printing: stamped an enduring mark on liturgy (missal);

Pierre Babin: “created a different way of communicating faith” - need to impart doctrine and firm moral teaching to the masses; - to train personnel; -’instruct, educate the humble people’ in the most concrete and practical way, by producing ‘short and precise treatises’

Shift to the audio-visual way of religious education: ‘stereo catechesis’ Political developments: French Revolution 1789 Revolution in France (1830, 1848) strong growth of anti-christian and anti-church elements which is also reflected in a growing anticlerical political press the pope lost his political power as a head of state in Italy good press is needed to defend the pope and church

Mid-20th century: Pope Pius XI & XII comes a more positive approach to comm’n

Church approaches to Communication (Mass Media) Attitude Trend I Suspicion and rejection Trend II Imitation and ambition Trend III Critical understanding

Action

Position

censorship and control

outside

use at all costs

marginal

Discriminating use & compassionate service

inside

Church and Communication Church Documents: 1. Christianae Republicae, 1766 On the Dangers of Anti-Christian Writings By Pope Clement XIII on Books and Publishing

2. Vigilante Cura, 1936 By Pope Pius XI on film Action: proposed in all countries of the world Catholic cinema offices and a film rating system according to moral standards. Impact: certain cinemas and films in the United States lost up to 40% of their income because of such a boycott. Focus: It expressed concern for moral issues in a communication medium which was considered more influential than the press.

3. Miranda Prorsus, 1957 By Pope Pius XII on electronic media of cinema, radio, television but not the press. Shows clear analysis and a positive approach to the electronic media, their potentials and to the pastoral needs arising from this. Noteworthy is the clear vision for future developments, the analysis of the effects of the electronic media and the consequences to be taken out of this for the pastoral part of the teachings of Pope Pius XII at other occasions.

4. Inter-Mirifica, 1963 Second Vatican Council Decree on the Instruments of Social Communication Positive Points: First official document on social communication by an ecumenical council Introduces World Day of Communication Introduces the expression “social communication” as a new name for the communication of the Church Lead to the publishing of an instruction on the pastoral dimension of communication – “Communio et Progressio”

The need for proper training and formation of church people, communicators and recipients, is clearly stated. The establishment of permanent institution for social communication at the Holy See is proposed.

5. Communio et Progressio, 1971 Pontifical Commission for the Means of Social Communication Sets the scene for concrete pastoral work in communications and has been accepted and incorporated as such especially also in the young churches of the so-called Third World.

6. Redemptoris Missio, 1990 “It is not enough to use the media simply to spread the Christian message and the Church’s authentic teaching. It is also necessary to integrate that message into the “new culture” created by modern communications. This is a complex issue since the “new culture” originates not just from whatever content is eventually expressed but from the very fact that there exist new ways of communicating, with new languages, new techniques and a new psychology.” Pope John Paul II

6. Aetatis Novae, 1992 By the Pontifical Council for Social Communications It treats some current challenges like the need for critical evaluation, communication and development and the right to information. Special emphasis is placed on pastoral priorities and the need for pastoral planning. Focus: Affirms that these mass media “by no means” detract from the importance of alternative media which are open to people’s involvement and allow them to be active in production and even in designing the process of communication itself.

The church rather “must take steps to preserve and promote folk media and other traditional forms of expression, recognizing that in particular societies these can be more effective than newer media in spreading the gospel because they make possible greater personal participation and reach deeper levels of human feeling and motivation” Training of pastoral workers and priests to minister to the “information-rich and the information-poor.”

Church Communication Structure Hierarchical structure National Offices International Offices Diocesan Offices Spokesperson/Press Officer Professional Organization SEE CHART

Challenges of the Church. . . A. The Local Churches and Parishes

Considerations: a.

Availability of materials: • Indigenous • Easy to use •

Effective

Examples: • Parish bulletins (announcements, reports on seminars, articles on values, feast days of saints and parish activities, even good homilies) • Black board newspaper • Oral announcements • Text brigade, for those with cellphones • Freedom wall (for the creative youth rather than vandalizing the school and other walls) • Simple newsletter (can utilize recycled papers)

• Theatre groups which can be utilized for dramas, using local/folk stories that can be applied for present day values education like parables (preferably those groups which need revitalizing, reenergizing, the not so exposed drama groups) • Studies/research on the local situation, what are the different folk/traditional media used within the community and think of ways how to relive it for future use.

b. Ability of the Local Church authority (PPC, catechists, lay ministers and church leaders • Training programs sponsored by the parish or given by organizations/institutions for free. • Continuous practice of media education in Sunday schools and catechesis. • Practice other strategies of teaching especially in catechesis. Make use of dance, dramas, ads/programs on TV/radio/print which can be a source of discussion in Sunday/catechesis sessions (are values presented? How? How are the values relevant in everyday life?)

• Public forums/debates on local issues or issues that need most attention not only by the local authorities but wherein students and the youth can also take part. • Network with neighboring Church leaders and even the youth (Carmel youth). Do activities together to build unity and cooperation.