RADAR • COMMUNICATIONS

Meeting the staff of the Italian broadcasting corporation (RAI), Pope Francis highlights its mission— and by extension the mission of all communication media—to serve citizens by producing high-quality programmes and unbiased information for the common good.

“PUBLIC BROADCASTING MUST SERVE THE COMMON GOOD” (POPE FRANCIS)

BY LISA ZENGARINI | ROME

THE PRIMARY mission of a public broadcaster is to serve citizens by providing them with truthful and accurate information, education, and high-quality entertainment, Pope Francis said.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its radio launch, Pope Francis noted that the RAI’s history is closely intertwined with the cultural changes that have taken place in Italian society over the past decades, to which it has contributed significantly. “Indeed,” he said, “the media influences our identities, for better or for worse.”

He then reflected on two keywords of the RAI’s mission: service and public.

Offering truthful and pluralistic information

Pope Francis remarked that in the field of information, serving is essentially about “seeking and promoting the truth, for example by countering the spread of fake news”, as well as countering ideological manipulation which disrupts the social fabric. It implies avoiding any misleading reductionism, “remembering that the truth is ‘symphonic’ and that it is best attained by learning to listen to the variety of voices—as in a choir—rather than always and only shouting out one’s own idea.”

It also means “serving citizens’ right to correct information,” taking the time to understand and reflect, and “combating cognitive pollution, because information must also be ‘ecological’.”

Cultivating dialogue

The Pope also emphasized the need for guaranteeing pluralism “because, as St John Paul II already stated, ‘the truth […], even when it has been achieved —and this always happens in a limited and perfectible way—can never be imposed.’”

Pope Francis therefore urged the attendees to cultivate dialogue, “weaving threads of unity” in their work.

As for other media productions, including cultural and entertainment programmes, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of promoting the search for beauty, and values such as solidarity, safeguarding freedom, and endeavoring to ensure that every artistic expression ennobles the lives of all viewers.

The implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Pope Francis also spoke about the new information technologies, reiterating the need for preventive action and regulatory tools “to forestall harmful, discriminatory, and socially unjust effects of the use of systems of AI” and “to combat their misuse for the purpose of reducing pluralism, polarizing public opinion or creating forms of groupthink.” According to Pope Francis, the public nature of the RAI’s broadcasting underlines that its service “is connected to the common good.” It, therefore, involves most importantly “the commitment to consider and give voice, especially to the least, the poorest, those who have no voice, those who are discarded.”

“The truth is ‘symphonic’ and it is best attained by learning to listen to the variety of voices”

It also implies the vocation to be an instrument to enhance knowledge, to open people’s horizons, and “to educate young people to dream big.” The Pope, therefore, called on the media to pursue high-quality programming, rather than focus on high audience shares. He further remarked that communication” can play a fundamental role in our time in reweaving socially vital values such as citizenship and participation.” In conclusion, Pope Francis encouraged the public broadcaster “to promote unity and reconciliation in the family and in society, listening and dialogue, to inform and also to listen, with respect and humility.”

Source: vaticannews.va