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WHAT MAKES JOURNALISM ‘CATHOLIC’? �

With:

Barb Fraze

Laura Ieraci

Paul Schratz

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TELLING TRUTH IN CHARITY:�INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLIC JOURNALISM

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CANADIAN CATHOLIC NEWS

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SPECIAL TOPICS & SUMMER INTENSIVE

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WHAT MAKES JOURNALISM ‘CATHOLIC’?

Topics

Name

Ownership

Journalist

Approach

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JOURNALISM VS. CONTENT CREATION

  • All journalism is content, but not all content is journalism.

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  • We don’t “create” journalism. We “do” journalism.

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JOURNALISM VS. CONTENT CREATION

  • Freedom of the press: right to practice this process without intervention, obstruction or censorship from the state or other interest groups.

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  • Good journalism: based on excellent execution of the process, which leads to credibility

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‘HYPHENATED JOURNALISTS’

  • Journalist-activist
  • Journalist-apologist
  • Journalist-advocate
  • Journalist-reformer
  • Journalist-evangelist

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    • Drop the hyphen and just do journalism well.

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SOCIAL FUNCTION OF JOURNALISM

  • Informs and educates the audience, so they can live out their duties and participate in society (church) responsibly. Information awakens agency.

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  • Contributes to meaning-making in society.

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  • Helps shape public discourse/debate/policy.

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  • Exercises right to question authority on behalf of a community.

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  • Documents issues and events

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JOURNALISM & EVANGELIZATION

  1. Pre-evangelization: Speaks about how basic human desires for security, love, and acceptance find fulfillment in God: Why do I exist? How did this world come to be?
  2. Proclamation of the Gospel: Directed toward non-believers and lapsed Christians and makes known the need for salvation in Jesus Christ. The aim is conversion.
  3. Initial catechesis: Introduces the life of faith, liturgy, and love of God. It’s for those coming into the Church.
  4. Post-baptismal catechesis: Leads people deeper into living the Christian life, receiving the sacraments, praying and spreading the Gospel themselves.
  5. Continuing catechesis: A systematic presentation of the truths and practice of the faith, nourishing an adult faith through deeper study and ongoing conversion.

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‘THEOLOGIES’

Catholic

Journalism

Pastoral

Journalism

Social Justice (CST)

Journalism

Eucharistic

Journalism

Incarnational

Journalism

Redemptive Journalism

Peace Journalism

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THEISTIC ETHICAL FRAMEWORK

  • Inherent dignity of all people, made in God’s image and likeness.

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  • Utmost care is due in order to respect this inherent dignity.

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  • Process governed by Christian morality (Bible and Church teaching, Ten Commandments, Great Commandment, etc.)

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CATHOLIC JOURNALISM: MEDIA MODEL

Market-led Media Model:

Driven by reader interests

Public Broadcasting Media Model:

Driven by educational, developmental mandate

(higher pleasures)

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Catholic Media Model:

Points to the highest pleasure: Theosis

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HOW DOES JOURNALISM SERVE THE CHURCH?

Acts on behalf of Catholic community to ask questions of civic leaders; leverages power of the press for the community; puts Catholic concerns on the agenda

(TOTC)

Informs/inspires people, conversations, decision-making within the church

Informs/inspires response in the world in faith (prayer, giving, ministry)

First draft of church history.

Helps keep leaders, institutions and their members accountable

The Catholic community needs the press; ally, if properly understood. (e.g., Le Devoir)

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