… Journalism for peace should strive to overshadow threat of fake news – Bishop Niyuring
by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Catholic Bishop of Kano, Rt. Rev. Dr. John Namaza Niyuring (OSA), says
Peace Media calls for a journalism for peace in response to the threat of fake news against the background of the prevailing atmosphere of lies, deceptiveness, fraudulent impressiveness, apparent false pretensions and counterfeit appearances.
He made the assertion, while addressing Catholic Media Practitioners Association of National (CAPAM), Northern Region, in Kano, at a two-day Annual Conference, with the theme: ‘Peace Journalism and Interfaith Dialogue in a Divided Society.’
Represented by Vicar-General and Cathedral Administration of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Cathedral, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Adefemi Adegbola, the Bishop said, “Peace has always been among humanity’s supreme and highest values.”
According to him, “God, the Almighty Creator, is the source of peace and the guarantor of justice. He has a deep desire for His people to know what peace, happiness, and joy truly are, even in times of trouble.
“Holy Scripture tells us, ‘The Lord lifts up his face to you and grants you peace’ (Numbers 6:26). The Good News is that, God is always there to bestow peace upon His people. Again, Romans 14:19 says, ‘So, let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up,’” he noted.
He urged every journalist to promote a “journalism of peace,” and not the saccharine kind of journalism that refuses to acknowledge the existence of serious problems or smacks of sentimentalism.
The Bishop equally cautioned the media to practice journalism that is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines.
“A journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, especially those – and they are the majority in our world – who have no voice. A journalism less concentrated on breaking news than on exploring the underlying causes of conflicts, in order to promote deeper understanding and contribute to their resolution by setting in place virtuous processes,” he disclosed.
According to him, “A journalist should be committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence. Communication is a fundamental experience and a vital process of human life.
“The Church sees the media as a “gift of God” which, in accordance with his providential design, unites men in brotherhood and, so, helps them to cooperate with his plan for salvation.”
He stressed that, “The general principles of Christian Communication in the context of today’s communication problems should, therefore, be participatory, prophetic, create community, liberate, promote Christian values in the world’s communication and development needs, support and develop cultures.”
The Bishop further noted that, “Communication should place itself at the service of the common good and provide information, based on truth, freedom, justice, and solidarity.
“We must make our style of communication beneficial and not harmful. Since commitment to truth and reality is at the heart of journalism, Pope Francis appealed for respect of the culture of the people and their human dignity, while creating networks to ensure that the voice of the marginalized people is heard,” he stated.
“Communicators and Journalists carry awesome responsibilities. We work under appalling conditions. Some of us are silenced and lose our jobs; others are persecuted and killed for telling the truth. We have a responsibility to meet high professional standards.
“Our goal is to challenge falsehood and promote truth, because falsehood brings down and truth lifts up. We must give high priority to Christian values, ethics and principles and work to create a more just, people-centered and sustainable world order. Our work, according to Pope Francis, is not just a job but a mission. In today’s world, theirs is, in every sense, not just a job; it is a mission,” he stated.
“Our world is desperately struggling to find peace. So, as we are dealing with leadership problems, environmental crisis, financial woes and relationship troubles at international, national, State, Group or individual levels, we need to go back to God, the source of peace and the fountain of all blessings,” he noted.
Bishop John Niyuring further stated that, “The search for peace, at home, work, market, schools, hospitals, worship places and around the world, is more urgent than ever.
“Without peace, it will not be possible to achieve the levels of trust, cooperation and inclusiveness needed for societies to be resilient to shocks, manage disputes and adapt to changes in their environments.
“Regardless of our different perspectives to peace by the Christian, Muslim, Traditionalist, Hindu, Buddhist, rationalist, Socialist, fascist, and libertarian, the core elements of peace essentially and substantially remain the same – truth, justice, equity and freedom,” he said.
He expressed disappointment that, “Today, we are really deeply concerned with the growing religious and racial intolerance around the world, leading to hatred, division, prejudice and senseless killings.
“This is an absolute disgrace and shame on us, because this experience has caused us much anxiety, tension, pain and depression. We must realize that hatred and discrimination are degrading, violence is demeaning, religious racism and divisions are painfully subversive and repugnant.
“So, we have a duty of combating, through peace media intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief.”
He also expressed deep concern over hate speeches, increasing religious fundamentalism with its accompanying violence; concern about the exploitation of young girls, boys and women in sex industry through advertisements for a pleasurable luxurious life.
The Bishop noted, with disgust, that “Nowadays, truth is twisted by ungodly and unscrupulous leaders with such conviction that innocent citizens can be charmed by their lies,” and cautioned the people to be beware of false teachers, leaders and deceivers and refuse to be deceived, confused, misled and seduced by their lies.
The Bishop further called on governments of the world to release and free journalists and writers, who are political prisoners.
He said, the concepts of communication development, advocacy journalism, communication for human dignity and peace media should serve the struggle for the promotion of human rights and human dignity, environmental protection, peaceful co-existence, good and responsible governance.
“It should fight for the poor and the marginalized, and assist in fostering social justice, peace and participatory democracy. We students, media practitioners, teachers, activists, pastors, imams, traditional leaders and civil leaders must stand united to speak out more and more powerfully against violence and repression, even if it will inevitably bring us under criticism and outright persecution,” the Bishop stated.