Mangalore: Raknno hosts workshop on journalism for seminarians, religious

Report: Praveen Joy Saldanha & Royson Joel Fernandes
Pics: Rolwin Joy Aranha

Mangalore, Apr 9: Raknno Weekly to mark its platinum jubilee organized a two-day workshop on journalism – ‘Dharmik Sampark Sangham’ on Sunday April 7 and Monday 8 at St Antony’s Charitable Institutions, Jeppu. This workshop was aimed to awaken the ‘reader’ as well as the ‘writer’ in a priest, nun and seminarian.

Inaugural ceremony was presided over by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore. He in his message explained the need of involvement of religious personnel in communication and mass media and invited all the participants to respond to this need with positive outlook. He also emphasized the need to spread the value of Christ through media.

Cyril J Sequeira, the convener of Raknno platinum jubilee committee and well-known Konkani writer , gave the introductory talk. ‘As there very few priests and sisters who write or are involved in the media, there is a need to get involved and to reach the people through that’ said Cyril. Sr Mariatte B S Provincial of Bethany congregation of Mangalore Province gave a call to all the participants to be actively involved in the media apostolate. Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, the Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese, Fr George Crasta, the assistant director of St Antony’s Charitable Institutions, Jeppu, Fr Maxim Rosario, the coordinator of the seminar and Fr Francis Rodrigues, editor of Raknno Weekly were present.

A team of media experts like Fr Vincent V Menezes, former editor of Raknno, Joachim Pinto Vamanjoor of Daijiworld Weekly, Ronald Fernandes of Deccan Herald, Fr Mark Valder, former editor of Raknno, Fr Praveen leo Lasrado of St Joseph’s Seminary, Wilfred Lobo Padil of Amcho Sandesh, Dr Edward Nazareth, writer and story writer, Manohar Prasad of Udayavani were the resource persons.

Necessity of reading and writing by the priests and religious in the present scenario; news reports, church reports issues and subjects concerning the church personnel and mission; transmission of Christian values handling controversial issues and issuing clarifications; media awareness and critical media analysis; feature articles , special coverage and investigate reports; letters to the editor, importance, theory and practical; socio- moral religious teachings of the communicating church; creative writings in different literary forms; general tips and world of secular media; insights by an interactions with TV, web and print media personnel were some of the topics covered during the seminar. ‘Konkni Amcho Fudhar’ a street play was enacted during the seminar by the ‘Kalakul’ repertory of Mandd Sobann.

There was a special session of Insights by and interactions with TV, web and print media chiefs. Walter Stephen Mendes, proprietor of Divine Word TV Channel and partner V4 Media Network, Walter Nandalike, editor-in-chief of Daijiworld Media Network, Mohammad of Vartha Bharathi Kannada daily were in the media panel with very useful insights very much appreciated and responded.

Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Mangalore distributed the certificates of the participation and invited the participants to use every opportunity that is available and to become a keen reader and also a fine writer.