Catholic media organizations in Africa met for a week-long conference in Kampala, Uganda. The goal of the SIGNIS-sponsored event on the theme Reporting on Migrants and Refugees was to find a common language to talk about the reality of these groups of people and move from stereotypes to a journalistic narrative more respectful of the truth. Of considerable interest was the conference’s workshop, aimed at urging both Catholic and non-Catholic journalists from various parts of the continent to seek unique African ways to speak about these groups of society, and to focus on compassionate reporting that preserves their dignity.
In his message to the assembly, Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communications, stressed the need for a type of reporting that builds bridges, breaks down walls, and works for social cohesion. He said he hoped that the results of the conference would contribute to shaping a different way of communicating information about migrants and refugees in Africa, strengthen interrelationships among media workers and foster a greater sense of responsibility in their news coverage.
Credit: Fr. Dieu-Donne Kofi Davor/SIGNIS Africa