A compass for guidance

Kathpress is the Catholic news agency established in Austria 65 years ago by the Bishops’ Conference. It works for all the media not for Catholic media only and it’s one of the European Catholic agencies that cooperate with SIR Europe. Kathpress is also an important intra-ecclesial means of communication through the diffusion of the news bulletin to bishops, vicars, priests etc. "Good journalism needs interesting themes and people who embody these themes", said Paul Wuthe, director of the agency, spokesperson of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, in an interview with Sarah Numico, SIR Europe correspondent in Vienna. "Kathpress doesn’t only cover Church and religious news – Wuthe added -it also addresses important political and social themes which the Church is sensitive to".Director, what is the contribution of Kathpress to Austria’s ecclesial and media realms?"In Austria we are living a time of radical changes. While Christianity used to be a result of tradition, now Christianity is linked to a decision. Also personal relations with national institutions have changed. People draw close to the Church not because of her institution but because they meet true Christian witnesses, or because they have they have a personal relationship with God. In pastoral care the personal situation of individuals is more important than the local situation as a whole, thus pastoral care must focus more on social brackets than on geographic areas. Traditional structures must therefore be renewed. A second major inter-ecclesial question is related to the fact that 50 years have passed since the Council, and as often happens after a Council, we are discussing how we can appropriately understand Vatican II and its meaning. A third element is represented by pastoral questions which 50 years ago weren’t as urgent as they are today. I refer to coexistence instead of marriage, divorce, separated and remarried couples, have become a phenomenon of the mass society. In these situations how can viable answers be found? Another element is bound to the scandals of sexual abuses that have heavily damaged Church credibility and reliability, with consequences we are still unable to envisage. These themes are crucial also for us: providing accurate news and communicating openly is a contribution to problem resolution".What is the structure of the agency today and what has changed with the new technologies? "The more information there is, the more important is the role of our news Agency, that selects and communicates what is truly relevant, providing appropriate reading of events. As an agency, we have various news sources, including blogs and tweets, along with our news sources. On the other hand, we also use these channels to transmit Kathpress news. In this sense, we cannot be described as a typical agency that sells news. Our objective is to act as a lighthouse in the sea of information on the Church and on religion. Thus, not an exclusive source but an important point of reference".What can ecclesial media do for the new evangelization? "First of all it’s important to have a professional approach. Then, it’s important to have a special sensitivity for individual yearnings and hopes and have the courage to present models, examples and replies and meet these desires although they are not as visible. Church media should not go against the mainstream. It should be complementary, highlighting what would otherwise not be seen and not heard. It is important to also be critical, whenever necessary, and be authentic for the sake of truth and of persons and not out of love for an institution. Being useful, interesting and to also entertain should be three important aspects for successful communication (especially the latter, which there is a special want of) People do not wish to be convinced or manipulated. They want to receive an example, a help, so as to freely make an opinion for themselves. A major challenge is to be more creative with the new media, and this is also a great possibility for the Church. If people cannot be reached through a TV channel for economic reasons, it can be done all the same through Twitter and Facebook and through all those channels that provide the possibility to bear witness to faith. Perhaps this is the first time that there are new possibilities for proclamation. For me this is greatest challenge: how can I give believers the power to not only be media consumers, but also to be themselves actors through social networks?". How could the Church’s media in Europe be improved?"Plurality and diversity should be viewed as a richness and not as a problem. Our readership should be made aware of what is interesting in other Countries, showing the different ways in which faith is lived and proclaimed. This happens only when it is presented in a fascinating way. As regards Kathpress, I realize that 50% of the news items don’t refer to Austria. Cooperation is ongoing, but it must be improved".