Catholic Journalists, Editors to Debate Role of Media to Promote Justice, Peace and Religious Pluralism at Pilar
By Our Staff Reporter PILAR, Goa, April 05, 2005: The Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA), the oldest 41-year-old Catholic press organization in Asia and affiliated to Geneva-based International Catholic Union of the Press (UCIP) will discuss, debate, and deliberate on the role of the media in promoting justice and peace for people of all faiths. The 11th National Convention of Christian Journalists, organized by ICPA will debate on the theme: The Role of Media In Fostering Justice and Peace Amid Religious Pluralism on Sunday, April 10, 2005 at 9. am at Pilar Seminary Auditorium. The keynote speakers are Mr S C Jamir, Goa governor, Archbishop Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrai, veteran Hindi film producer Mr Mahesh Bhatt, Mr Rajan Narayan, Editor of The Observer, Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash, director of Prashant, a center for human rights in Gujarat and other senior journalists. About 200 journalists, editors, publishers and professors of journalism and mass communication will discuss and deliberate on the ancient theme of religious pluralism and the need to promote justice and peace to the poorest of the poor, marginalized and the voiceless people of all faiths. ICPA will also confer annual cash awards to individual journalists, media institutions who have made significant contribution to promote, campaign for and defend human values, human rights and to promote the cause of the poor the oppressed and the marginalized people through mass media. The awards include the ICPA Father Jose Luis Careno Award, the ICPA Swami Devanand Chakkuungal Award for Hindi journalist/media house, the ICPA Father John Barret Award for Best SAR (South Asian Religious) News Reporter, the ICPA Award for Best Reportage on Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class and ICPA George Menezes Award for Outstanding Journalist (women category below 35 years). Founded in 1964, ICPA aims to promote and defend the right to information, freedom of expression and to uphold the ethics in journalism, to promote and safeguard the professional interests of the journalistic fraternity, to provide training in journalism and media education and promote language journalism. END. Fr. Peter Raposo