Zagreb, (IKA) – The traditional meeting of the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, and the chairman of the Committee of the CCB for Mass Media, Archbishop Ivan Devčić of Rijeka, with editors and journalists of the Croatian media who cover Church events, was held on May 25 at the Secretariat of the Croatian Conference of Bishops in Zagreb. The head of the Press Office of the CCB, Zvonimir Ancić, who moderated the meeting, extended greetings to the media representatives. He announced the exclusive news that had arrived from the Vatican, which was delivered by the president of the CCB, Dr. Srakić, that Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the request for resignation from Msgr. Slavomir Miklovš, the bishop of the Križevci Eparchy (Diocese), and that the Most Reverend Nikola Nino Kekić had been appointed as his successor.

In greeting those present, Archbishop Srakić pointed out how this is “a unique opportunity to meet together and reflect upon the exceptionally important role of the media in contemporary society as well as the relationship between the Church and media. I want to thank you because despite difficulties you attempt in your professional approach and the existing ethical norms to use your profession for promoting the general good. It is precisely at this time of crisis that we need independent, courageous and responsible journalists more than ever.” The archbishop also spoke about several negative phenomena. “Unfortunately, the market imposes itself today as the sole ethical standard, the generator of all ‘values,’ the reality to which everything else must be subordinated. Thus, in the media we note how the desire for profit is placed before the right of the public to receive complete, true and accurate information. Even the truth, the fundamental principle of the profession of journalism, is often avoided, and space is given to information that is neither objective nor credible. There is no market for which journalists should not adhere to the generally accepted journalistic standards.” In the wake of this year’s message from the Pope on the World Day of Communications, Archbishop Srakić urged journalists “not to tire of promoting a culture of respect, dialogue and friendship among people in our Homeland.”

The communicologists Dr. Jerko Valković, professor at the Catholic Faculty of Theology in Rijeka, and Dr. Jelena Jurišić, assistant professor of communicology at the Center for Croatian Studies, addressed those assembled. Dr. Valković spoke about the Pope’s message this year for the 43rd World Day of Communications, New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship, commenting upon the Pope’s highly positive and open attitude toward these technologies and the culture of communication, “as they respond to a fundamental desire of people to communicate and to relate to each other,” and the Pope even speaks about the “instinct for communication.” The title of Dr. Jurišić’s presentation was New Media – New (Old) Journalism. She spoke about the convergence of media, which means the amalgamation of classical media, telecommunications and other types of new technology, especially the Internet, in transmitting multimedia content to the final user in ways that differ from traditional broadcasting and its goals. She mentioned the growing number of Internet users in Croatia and the increase in television viewing. All this creates the converged journalist, i.e. a multimedia journalist who does everything: text, photography, audio, video and graphics. With the new media, the old responsibility remains, said Dr. Jurišić, i.e., the responsibility of the owner, journalist, public and authorities. She urged a return to high quality journalism.
Following several short questions, the meeting ended with an expression of the desire to deepen mutual understanding between the media and Church.