MASS MEDIA AND THE WORLDS QUEST FOR TRUTH

INTRODUCTION The Mass Media in its dictionary meaning represents a means, an avenue of communication specifically designed to reach a large audience. It is a means through which man gets to understand the realities around and afar from him. On a more special note, the mass media sets out to communicate the truth truth behind realities. It is worthy of note that when we talk of the mass media, we cannot limit our perception to the television or the radio. It also includes newspaper, magazines and the internet (blogs, message boards, pod casts and video sharing) because individuals now have access to sources of information previously restricted to a select group of mass media producers. In this write up, we are faced with the question of truth: what is this truth? How can this truth be communicated? Who communicates this truth? Who receives this truth? TRUTH AND THE MEDIA: So Far, How Well? The mass media has paved its way and instituted itself almost in every village and in every home around the world thereby unifying the world. It has today constituted not only a world but also a culture and civilization... (stands as) the first Areopagus of the modern age... unifying humanity and turning it into what is known as the global village (John Paul II, Ecclesia in Africa n. 71). Now, the media has achieved its freedom, thereby to expose social injustices without fear or favour. But the mass media does appear to uphold freedom as the truly fundamental value and the really basic human right of humanity (thereby) greeting with some suspicion the concept of truth. Truth thus, has been seen as a limitation of freedom. (Ratzinger, Truth and Tolerance, 2003) The mass media seems to exercise its freedom of the press without considering the consequences of the fact that its understanding and use of freedom is devoid of the value of truth. In this sense, the media ought to serve freedom by serving the truth. It should not make itself a substitute for moral values, and should not make an indiscriminate appeal to the right to information without considering other socio-personal rights. It should, therefore, respect the dignity and rights of others thereby, recognizing that no freedom is absolute, including the freedom of expression. What Then Does This Truth Imply? The truth expected of the media is a general truth of human concern. The media needs to respect the dignity and right of man in search of the truth about his being and the world around him. The fundamental requirement of all communication is respect for and service of the truth. (John Paul II, Message for the 37th World Day of Social Communication n.3) This truth is therefore essential to be sought and spoken, not only in relation to facts and information but also, and more especially, regarding the nature and destiny of the human person, regarding society, the common good and mans relation to God. The mass media has an inescapable responsibility in this regard, since they constitute the modern arena in which ideas are shared and people can grow in mutual understanding and solidarity.

How Faithful Is the Media to This Truth? The various visual attractions have changed the mind-set of our people, children and adults alike. Most of our magazines and newspapers, both local and international, appear to have made it a point of duty not to advertise goods without the portrayal of some half-nude girls. For instance, what is the connection between an advertisement of a car, paint or even a company and a half-naked lady? Does this mean to attract customers? What type of attraction could such create? With this we can see the side effects of these advertisements on our society and children. Again, our home movies seem to believe that without sex in films or a show of nudity, the film would not boost the market. Is this not sheer social irresponsibility and promotion of falsehood? Critically assessing how faithful the media has been at the service of the truth, John Paul II says: the media often do render courageous services to the truth, but sometimes they function as agents of propaganda and disinformation in the service of narrow interest, national, ethnic, racial, and religious prejudices, material greed and false ideologies of various kinds (Ibid). They, however, obstruct freedom by departing from the truth, through circulating falsehoods, or creating a climate of unsound emotional reactions to events. For instance, frequent exposure of violent images and films can be confusing to children, who may not be able to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Our peoples present fetish and superstitious outlook and mentality are mostly the result of their orientation from the media, most especially, our home movies. The media houses, however, should make effort not to turn the media into an instrument of hatred, violence or falsehood. They should not be turned into an arena of false ideals and a means of immorality to our children, to whom our future the worlds future belongs. CONCLUSION: The Church and the Media Motion pictures have special power and significance. Easily accessible and deceptively delightful in various ways, they provide a sense of immediacy, render viewers rather passive and communicate much by suggestion so that they bypass critical reflection. To this regard, the document of the Second Vatican Council says, (we) should strive to instil a human and Christian spirit into these media, so that (we) may fully measure up to the great expectations of mankind and to Gods design (Vat. II: Inter Merifica n.3). The document continues that the Catholic church, since it was founded by Christ our Lord to bear salvation to all men and thus is obliged to preach the gospel, considers it one of her duties to announce the (truth) of salvation with the help of the media of social communication and to instruct men in their proper use. (Ibid n.3) This is to say that the Church should register disapproval of anything clearly and seriously offensive to Christian faith or moral while expressing appreciation for what is sound, constructive and in service of the truth. The media should on their own part seek to portray a world-view comparable with the Christian faith. They should not seek maximization of profits by falsehood but by the promotion of truth. The recipients, on the other hand, have the obligation to critically approach the messages conveyed by the mass media, while inappropriate standards, drawn from media should not be applied to communication of other kinds.