Bulletin n°. 93 march 2018

Dear brothers and friends,
For a long time we have been talking about fake news in all sectors and levels of society, information and communication: in politics, in the economy, in the Church, in traditional and digital media. ‘Fake news’ means an unfounded information, based on non-existent or distorted data, and aimed at deceiving and even manipulating people. What several years ago was only a suspect has now been confirmed as a sad reality: we are agents and witnesses to the growth of a social system built on false information.

Digital technologies and today means of communication – which are like extensions of our humanity and express the quality of our relationships – may become the cause of situations and even sins that influence the credibility, trust and communion between people.

The message of Pope Francis for the world day of communications "The truth will make you free (Jn 8:32). Fake news and journalism of peace", already in the title shows the path that those working in the field of communication must follow. It will lead to the growth of a healthy coexistence, and favour the meeting between people and nations, and overcome a journalism that multiplies the lies and move away from peace. Given that these are professionals, whose feelings and ideas are multiplied by the media, the Pope states: "The best antidotes to falsehoods are not strategies, but people: people who are not greedy but ready to listen, people who make the effort to engage in sincere dialogue so that the truth can emerge; people who are attracted by goodness and take responsibility for how they use language”.

Salesian communication has at its centre and as its priority the people, not the technology. We understand communication as a relational fact, without ignoring the consequences and the anthropological influence of new technologies. For this reason, according to our mission as communicators of good and true news, we must evangelize and humanize technologies, by putting them at the service of peace.

In all our ways of communication, as evangelizers and educators of the young, we must sow in their hearts the love for the truth that makes people free. "That is why education for truth means teaching people how to discern, evaluate and understand our deepest desires and inclinations, lest we lose sight of what is good and yield to every temptation", says Pope Francis.

I invite you in your respective Provinces to promote and study the message of the 52nd World Communications Day. Definitely, it is necessary, timely and deep for all our contexts, because we all need such antidote against the virus of lies: let us be purified by the truth of Jesus and his Gospel.

Together with the members of the Department for Social Communication, I wish you a very HAPPY EASTER.

Fr Filiberto González Plasencia ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ www.sdb.org

“The truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). Fake news and journalism for peace ... That is why education for truth means teaching people how to discern, evaluate and understand our deepest desires and inclinations, lest we lose sight of what is good and yield to every temptation.

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