WCC NEWS: Media and communicators, let’s speak out on “Digital instruments – Blessing or Curse?”

Media and communicators are invited to an online “press club” event during which they can speak candidly on the theme “Digital instruments – Blessing or Curse?” 29 February 2020, Jerusalem: 26-year-old Mohammad Bashiti (right) shows his home in the Shu’fat village in Jerusalem to participants Kristin (left) and Charlotte (centre) in the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), where he has just had a part demolished. As building permits are notoriously difficult, in some cases impossible, for Palestinians to obtain, demolition of houses stated not to have the relevant permits is common in the area. This time, the family lost their living room, two bathrooms, and kitchen. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 07 September 2021 As part of the upcoming International Symposium for Communication for Social Justice in the Digital Age, the special session will offer media and communicators an opportunity to talk about the challenges and frustrations of their daily jobs in a world that is hurting for peace and justice. Panelists will lead the discussion on the impact of the digital age on professional public interest journalism and the ways in which media, churches and other civil society organisations can bring about positive social change in the face of financial and political challenges. Media representatives and communicators will be invited to think and share about key questions such as: Should journalists actively advocate for social justice? How do we define social justice in the digital age? How can media and concerned society work together? The press club event will take place in the evening of the first day of the “Communication for Social Justice in the Digital Age” international symposium. It will follow presentations by international leaders on digital justice, and contribute to the discussions in the following days on public space in the digital age and our vision for the future–including a collaborative plan of action. The press club and the symposium are bringing multiple sectors (church and ecumenical, grassroots, media, academics, politics) together to discuss the common challenges and opportunities of our digital life. The symposium is co-organised by the World Council of Churches and World Association for Christian Communication, and by Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World), Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (Evangelical Church in Germany), Evangelische Mission Weltweit (EMW) in Deutschland (Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany), and World Student Christian Federation-Europe Region. Event starts: 13 September 2021 - 19:00 Event ends: 13 September 2021 - 20:30 Panel: Holger Starck, Die Zeit Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith, Bread for the World, USA Margit Stumpp, member of the German Bundestag and spokesperson for media and education policy, Parliamentary Group Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen Felix Samari, Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria communications officer Moderator: Geraldine de Bastion, Berlin    Press Club at the International Symposium for Communication for Social Justice in the Digital Age Event: Communication for Social Justice in a Digital Age Symposium: Communication for Social Justice in a Digital Age Please, register to the Press Club at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtc-yprj4jHdZxj6jWcv8L-z0zPkYZwas9 See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland