Undertaking new paths

Faith podcasts from the Clifton Diocese have won four awards at a media ceremony organised by the “Christian Broadcasting Council”, an organization which encourages Gospel proclamation through the electronic media. Over the past four years the Diocese has been awarded fourteen medals for new media broadcasts, including “Sony” Gold for the best ever podcast in the United Kingdom and a New York Festival World Gold Medal for the best religious program in the world. BBC described the dioceses of Clifton as “a role model of public service broadcasting in the new media world”. During the recent Ad Limina visit to the Holy See, the website – www.cliftondiocese.com – was recommended as an example of good practise by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. SIR Europe interviewed Father Robert King, Catholic chaplain of the of the university of Bristol, Vocations Director in the diocese of Clifton, coordinator of a popular podcast series and one the website’s creators.What is the reason for so much success?“We believe that a part of our mission is to make the best use of new media, of the internet, video broadcasts and podcasts. Out pastoral plan is titled ‘Called to be a people of hope’, with guidelines that encourage the Christian message proclamation in contemporary society with all communication tools available. We received extremely positive feedback by people from different social and cultural environments, retired workers, university students and children”.Why don’t the other diocese also undertake this initiative?“There is a tendency to limit oneself to what one is familiar with, to not undertake new paths. But once a new website has been created it’s hard to follow and update. It also involves the ability to provide the appropriate content, stories and faith witness…”.Do you avail yourselves of the professional contribution of your parishioners? “Indeed, the presence of parishioners like Mary Colwell, a freelance BBC correspondent who worked as the producer of a series on natural history for many years, encouraged us to have faith in our use of the media. Also Tom Bigwood, the diocese’ media coordinator, actively promotes media users’ training and encounters with media workers. He is the producer of the website, of its podcasts and of the radio and video broadcasts”. Do you believe that the Church could step up her commitment in new media technology? “The message of Benedict XVI for May 16th World Communications Day, ‘The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word’, highlights the duty of being faithful to the Church and the importance to put all communication tools to the service of the Gospel message. The Pope encourages using state-of-the art communication technology for Gospel proclamation. London’s ‘Catholic Communications Network’ which broadcasts news inside and outside the church, holds frequent vocational training courses on media tools. But these opportunities are not always valued as they should”.Your podcasts, the “Father King’s conversations”, are very successful. How are they prepared?“My job is finding people with significant human qualities and of their faith who are also willing to undergo a half-an-our interview. My office as chaplain in Bristol’s University enables me to meet front line researchers who are also practising Catholics such as scientists, writers and scholars. I try to understand these people’s underlying motivations as pertains to their faith and in their profession”.You launched a vocations campaign through the new technologies which gained major attention and recognition…“Thanks to the help of one of my parishioners, a graphic designer, who created posters and brochures on the theme of the vocations using clear words and images, and without being condescending, and showing what the vocation to priesthood truly means”.What are the disadvantages of the new electronic media?“The danger is its misuse. Everyone has the possibility of posting a video on youtube regardless of the quality of its content”.