Radio a potential medium ,says Archbishop Celli

(April 28, 2011) “The radio has long been a key medium of communication in the life of the Church, and the emerging digital technologies have made it more potential, allowing it to reach even wider audiences”, said the President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, made these remarks on to the 17^th Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union,(EBU,) that began at Vatican Radio in Rome on Thursday. He said “The Radio has been described as a generous medium. It allows us to listen, as we perform other tasks, which would not be possible with other media, which require that we focus our attention on text or images. The Radio can be listened to when driving. It is particularly a useful medium for those, who wish to engage audiences at a deeper level and invite them to encounter with the Word of God. The radio has the capacity to stimulate thought and reflection, to inform and educate. The prelate said the media are called to serve human dignity by helping people live well and function as persons in community. The Media does this by encouraging men and women to be conscious of their dignity, cultivate a sense of mutual responsibility and grow in personal freedom and in respect for others freedom.
Archbishop Celli stressed that public broadcasters must try to give expression to the widest possible range of voices and opinion but should also seek to foster dialogue, where people of different views work together to form a consensus about those values that best promote the well being of people and society. The Church, he said would wish to be present in this dialogue. In conclusion, he stressed that broadcasters in particular, must seek to uphold the highest standards of objectivity and truthfulness.