蜜桃交友

By Alessandro Gisotti

We need a kind of journalism that is less concentrated on "the mad rush for a scoop", and more on seeking the truth and to 鈥減ointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence".

In his Message for World Communications Day, Pope Francis urges communications professionals to return to the foundations of their calling, or rather, their "mission" to be, what he calls, "the protectors of news".

The theme of the message, "The truth will set you free. Fake news and journalism for peace", is particularly timely. Even though, as Pope Francis recalls, his predecessor, Pope Paul VI, chose the theme of information "at the service of truth" for his Social Communications Day Message in 1972.

Disinformation discredits people and foments conflicts

In the first part of the Message, the Pope analyzes the phenomenon of fake news. Fake news, he observes, is meant to "deceive and manipulate the reader". He notes that sometimes its dissemination can "influence political decisions, and serve economic interests". Nowadays, the distribution of fake news often relies on a 鈥渕anipulative use of social networks" that can cause it to go viral.

The tragedy of disinformation, says Pope Francis, 鈥渋s that it discredits others, presenting them as enemies" to the point of "fomenting conflict". He notes how fake news often has its roots "in a thirst for power" and how it "moves from one lie to another in order to rob us of our freedom".

Fake news is based on 鈥渟nake-tactics" and is never harmless

In his Message, Pope Francis invites everyone to counteract these falsehoods, and he stresses the need for "educational programmes" that can teach us to 鈥渢ake an active part in unmasking falsehoods, rather than unwittingly contributing to the spread of disinformation鈥�.

Referring to the Book of Genesis, the Pope observes how, at the heart of fake news lie the "snake-tactics" of the 鈥渃rafty serpent鈥� who 鈥渃reated the first fake news". The Pope writes how the Tempter practices a 鈥渟ly and and dangerous form of seduction that worms its way into the heart with false and alluring arguments鈥� 鈥� in the same way that fake news does.

According to Pope Francis, this biblical episode demonstrates how 鈥渢here is no such thing as harmless disinformation鈥�. On the contrary, 鈥渢rusting in falsehood can have dire consequences鈥�, because 鈥渆ven a seemingly slight distortion of the truth can have dangerous effects".

The search for truth is the most radical antidote to the virus of falsehood

Pope Francis quotes Dostoevsky, an author he greatly admires, when he writes: "People who lie to themselves and listen to their own lie come to such a pass that they cannot distinguish the truth鈥�.

鈥淧urification by the truth鈥�, continues the Pope in his Message, is 鈥渢he most radical antidote to the virus of falsehood". That is why Pope Francis identifies 鈥渇reedom from falsehood and the search for relationship" as the 鈥渢wo ingredients that cannot be lacking if our words and gestures are to be true, authentic, and trustworthy".

Journalists are the 鈥減rotectors of news鈥�

鈥淭he best antidotes to falsehoods are not strategies, but people鈥�, writes Pope Francis: 鈥淧eople who are not greedy but ready to listen, people who make the effort to engage in sincere dialogue so that the truth can emerge". He goes on to highlight the responsibility of journalists to inform.

Journalists, says the Pope in his Message, are "the protectors of news". Theirs is not just a job but a mission: "Amid feeding frenzies and the mad rush for a scoop, they must remember that the heart of information is not the speed with which it is reported or its audience impact, but persons鈥�.

Promoting a journalism of peace that builds communion

Pope Francis concludes his Message with a heartfelt appeal for a "journalism of peace". He specifies that this is not 鈥渟accharine kind of journalism that refuse to acknowledge the existence of serious problems", but a journalism 鈥渢hat is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans and sensational headlines".

The Pope describes a kind of journalism 鈥渃reated by people for people", a journalism that is 鈥渁t the service of all, especially those鈥�who have no voice".