Jan 24, 2018 - Technology
Pope Francis, the surprise fake news warrior
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Pope Francis warned of the dangers of fake news and called for the establishment of a "journalism of peace" in his newly-released message for World Communications Day 2018. In it, he calls on journalists to be wary of the frenzy for scoops, reminding them to reflect instead on the impact their work has on peoples' lives.
Go deeper: This isn't the first time that the pope has spoken out against fake news.
More from Pope Francis' message:
I would like, then, to invite everyone to promote a journalism of peace. By that, I do not mean the saccharine kind of journalism that refuses to acknowledge the existence of serious problems or smacks of sentimentalism. On the contrary, I mean a journalism that is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines. A journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, especially those – and they are the majority in our world – who have no voice. A journalism less concentrated on breaking news than on exploring the underlying causes of conflicts, in order to promote deeper understanding and contribute to their resolution by setting in place virtuous processes. A journalism committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence.
