181. Convergence Newsroom Journalism, the Way Ahead
Picture by Jorge Moraga
"A standardized definition of news convergence remains elusive even as buzz about the term increases among media scholars. A debate often occurs between those people who see convergence simply as a technological development driven by newly available digital tools and others who say convergence must be defined in terms of fundamental changes in storytelling." From: An Experimental Case Study of Catholic News Service by Anthony Clifford LOBO
The above is taken from Father Anthony Lobo’s introduction of his thesis on Convergence Newsroom Journalism which gained him a suma con laude MA degree in Social Communications, with specialization in Journalism from the Salesian University (UPS), yesterday 8 October.
Even though Convergence Journalism is an up to the last minute study in the shape of reporting news in the future, it is not the main reason I have blogged about this event as I intend to leave this to those who are working up front in this field. What I intend to highlight in this blog is the figure of the Protagonist, Father Anthony, a Mumbai Salesian missionary who has in past years paid service to our three parishes during vacation periods, here in the province of Treviso in Northern Italy.
Our Parish Priests, we have two of them, have encouraged the media to participate behind church doors. The media may I explain is basically me with my camera, blogs and social network contacts. Of course, with the added presence of Father Anthony, the media was given free rein to record liturgical events and thus I was able to bring to the world of Internet also that part of life which had always been neglected- namely religious worship.
In his thesis, Father Anthony explains that his experiment “ focuses on the reporters’ and editors’ attitudes towards convergence and on cultural resistance against change; one of the major challenges for the process.” He also states that: “The emergence of convergence as a different way of thinking and doing journalism led us to seek out how it is being tried in newsrooms and how it could be applied to Catholic News Service.”
This innovative way of reporting news could also apply to the Catholic Church at a local level. Hence photos, recordings and reporting of liturgical events at one’s church could be translated through local level newspapers, weekly bulletins, newsletters and parish websites. This not only enriches the understanding of the liturgy but also keeps community life more compact and vigorous- it helps people to connect.
Hence, be not afeard when you see a camera in your church, it is not meant to distract your thoughts from God but to protract them when you close the church door behind you.
The Parishioners of the churches of Sarmede, Cappella Maggiore and Anzano would like to thank Father Anthony:
The Parishioners of the churches of Sarmede, Cappella Maggiore and Anzano would like to thank Father Anthony:
For blessing the palms in the courtyard
for having washed our feet
For having guided us For The Way of The Cross
For having lit the Paschal Candle
For your Homilies
For your Communions
For your Blessings
For your Company
For Father Anthony in the presbytery with our two parish priests
Related Articles:
From my blog:
Comments