WARRI/Nigeria: Members of the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, CAMPAN, had been told that they a bearers of great responsibility, which must collide with their faith and their jobs, but must be guided by their faith as Catholics.
Giving this admonition on Sunday, June 23, 2019, the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Warri, Rev. Fr. Dr. Benedict Ukutegbe restated the importance the Catholic Church places on the media; noting that the media is a strong tool for Evangelization and the propagation of the Gospel of Christ to the whole world, when he addressed the members of the association.
“As Catholics working in the media, you have great responsibilities; hence there is need for a perpetual union between your Catholic faith and your profession”.
He noted that God needs every individual skill, Talents and Treasures for the work of Evangelization, adding that if God gives any individual a talent or gift, it is because God wants such individual to use it to the glory of His name through service
In his words, “The Church realises the indispensable role of the media in her mission”. He urged Catholics in both the traditional media and the social media to ensure they are guided by the faith they profess in the course of carrying out their duties.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Ukutegbe who doubles as the Cathedral Administrator of Warri and Director of Social Communications for the Diocese, took time to highlight some of the aims and objectives of the body. He said as a professional body with high reputation and esteem, the church places huge value on them so that they can mobilize all Catholics Professionals in the media for the service of God and the Church in Nigeria.
The Communication boss further disclosed that other aims that prompted the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria CBCN, to established the body includes; To defend the Catholic values at all times and correct any misrepresentation of the Church in the media, to use all available media for evangelization and for the communication apostolate of the church, To initiate and promote ecumenical and interreligious collaboration and dialogue in communication activities.
Other aims and objectives he mentioned include; To encourage communications that promote Christian values, Justice, Fairness, Peace and human rights among others.
He appealed to members to be professional in their reportage and ensure they hold tenaciously to their Catholic faith at all time without compromise.
The meeting was well attended by media professionals from both the prints and the electronics/social media (Online) platforms from Warri and environs.
Meanwhile an Interim Executive was constituted to organise the body until election is held properly to occupy all positions. Those constituted include Godwin Utuedoye of SouthernVoiceng Online as the Coordinator, Julie Okolo of DBS Warri as Secretary, Dennis Otu immediate past Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Assembly as the PRO and Nushe Louis of DBS Warri as the Treasurer.
