Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale92

NUNTIUS

Recurrente XLI Die Internationali Communicationum Socialium.*

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. The theme of the Forty-first World Communications Day, "Children

and the Media: A Challenge for Education", invites us to reflect on two

related topics of immense importance. The formation of children is one.

The other, perhaps less obvious but no less important, is the formation of

the media.

The complex challenges facing education today are often linked to the

pervasive influence of the media in our world. As an aspect of the phenome-

non of globalization, and facilitated by the rapid development of technology,

the media profoundly shape the cultural environment.1 Indeed, some claim

that the formative influence of the media rivals that of the school, the

Church, and maybe even the home. "Reality, for many, is what the media

recognize as real".2

2. The relationship of children, media, and education can be considered

from two perspectives: the formation of children by the media; and the

formation of children to respond appropriately to the media. A kind of reci-

procity emerges which points to the responsibilities of the media as an indus-

try and to the need for active and critical participation of readers, viewers

and listeners. Within this framework, training in the proper use of the media

is essential for the cultural, moral and spiritual development of children.

How is this common good to be protected and promoted? Educating

children to be discriminating in their use of the media is a responsibility of

parents, Church, and school. The role of parents is of primary importance.

They have a right and duty to ensure the prudent use of the media by

training the conscience of their children to express sound and objective judg-

ments which will then guide them in choosing or rejecting programmes ava-

* Die 24 Ianuarii 2007. 1 Cfr Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter The Rapid Development, 3. 2 Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Aetatis novae, 4.