International Christian Organization of the Media

The International Christian organization of media (ICOM) ( Engl. : International Christian Organization of the Media ) is the successor organization to the UCIO and was established in March 2011. Its predecessor, the World Catholic Union of the Press (UCIO) was a Roman Catholic association of believers that was withdrawn from recognition as a “Catholic” international organization in 2011 by the Pontifical Council for the Laity . ICOM has around 1,000 members worldwide.

history

Various religious journalistic associations and organizations were founded between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century . In 1889 the International Association of Religious Journalists was founded. This was followed in 1890 by the establishment of the International Federation of the Union of Religious Journalists. In 1905 the International Association for Religious Journalism and Publishing was founded.

In 1927 French, Belgian, German, Swiss and Austrian journalists founded an “International Bureau of Catholic Journalists” which corresponded with the Holy See in the Vatican and promoted cooperation. The World Congress of the Catholic Press, which was held in 1930, led to the merger to form the “World Union of the Catholic Press”. After the Second World War , work was resumed in 1950 at another world congress in Rome . So in 1966 it was named the "Catholic World Union of the Press" (Union Catholique Internationale de la Presse - UCIP). In 1968 the German journalist Ernst-Alfred Jauch (1920–1991) was the organizer of the UCIP World Congress in Berlin. In 1987 the UCIP founded the “International Network of Young Journalists”, thereby promoting training and further education programs for journalists up to the age of 35. As an international Catholic organization recognized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the UCIP had advisory status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN and UNESCO.

Deprivation

In 2011, under the presidency of Bernhard Sassmann, the status of an international Catholic organization was withdrawn. The President of the Pontifical Council, Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko , informed the UCIP on March 23, 2011 that “it has lost its recognition as a Catholic organization. After consultations with the State Secretariat of the Vatican, they came to the conclusion that the world association could no longer call itself Catholic because of repeated violations of the statutes. The recognition as a Catholic organization will be withdrawn with immediate effect. "

Follow-up organization

In the aftermath of the letter from Cardinal Rylko, Sassmann announced his immediate resignation and resigned from all management positions. “He rejected the accusations of the Pontifical Council of Laity as unfounded. For his part, he accuses the Pontifical Lay Council of having made the momentous decision without having previously consulted or at least heard him as President. ”Since the beginning of May 2011, the organization“ operated ”under the name“ International Organization of Catholics in the Media ”( ICOM). The new organization held its first general assembly on November 23, 2011 in Verbania, Italy . A communication from ICOM emphasizes that this is "an initiative by Catholics that is open to professionals of all faiths and opinions". With the use of the word “Catholics”, the world organization also wanted to “attach importance to those values and convictions for which its members and friends would like to advertise all over the world”. At the world congress it was finally decided to name itself as the “International Christian Organization of the Media” (en: International Christian Organization of the Media) ICOM.

Self-image

The ICOM sees itself as a world forum for people who work for mass media in secular and religious journalism . Her aim is to bring together journalists, publishers and professors who work in the media sector. For example, the “contact network for young journalists” serves as an offer for training and further education. "The media professionals are convinced that face-to-face contact is extremely important for professional collaboration in our modern world where virtual trends dominate"

The self-image of the ICOM includes professional work, international and worldwide contacts as well as independent development. Likewise, she would like to practice free, creative and serious journalism in freedom. Critical but respectful journalism in the sense of the true spirit of freedom is sought. A modern, contemporary language and a contemporary view of world affairs are nevertheless the focus of journalistic activities. An important aspect is respecting people, their work and their living conditions. The aim of the ICOM is a globally networked communication , which is characterized by an examination of cultures and ways of life . This requires a critical evaluation of work and reality, which is supported by friendship and the greatest professionalism. An essential feature of the goal setting is the guarantee of moral principles and service to humanity.

Organization and dissemination

The ICOM comprises eight federations and eight regions . Federations are professional associations. Regions are geographically ordered associations.

Federations: Journalists' Associations, Daily Newspapers , Periodicals , Professors, News and Press Agencies , Religious Media, Publishers , Photojournalism.
Regions: Africa , Latin America , North America , East Asia , Southeast Asia , South Asia , Europe , Middle East .
ICOM members are: journalists, publishers, professors from the media sector; Publishing houses, media institutes and institutions and companies; Associations of media professionals, publications, publishers and institutions.

The organization continues to host world congresses , as previously carried out by UCIP. In 2013 the world congress was in Panama City and had the theme: "Challenges and Responsibilities amidst Globalization and Digitalization" ( de .: Challenge and responsibility in the midst of globalization and digitization).

Web links

Official homepage ICOM (international)
International Christian Organization of the Media (English)
Vatican: world union of the catholic press no longer "catholic"

Individual evidence

↑ Consultant status UNESCO International Christian Organization of the Media (ICOM) ( Memento from September 12, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
↑ Media report of the Austrian Bishops' Conference: Bernhard Sassmann is the new UCIP President [1]
↑ "The Catholic World Union of the Press (UCIP) is no longer Catholic!" In: Forum Weltkirche - magazine for church and society with a global view (June 20, 2011, 7/2011 issue), [2] , accessed on August 26, 2014
^ Message from Vatican Radio Vatican : World Union of the Catholic Press is no longer "Catholic"
^ New worldwide "Organization of Catholics in the Media" founded, in: Kathweb - Katholische Presseagentur Österreich [3]
↑ International contact network for young journalists [4]
↑ Compare: "Welcome!" At ICOM [5]

[1] Consultant status UNESCO International Christian Organization of the Media (ICOM) ( Memento from September 12, 2014 in the Internet Archive )

[2] Media report of the Austrian Bishops' Conference: Bernhard Sassmann is the new UCIP President [1]

[3] "The Catholic World Union of the Press (UCIP) is no longer Catholic!" In: Forum Weltkirche - magazine for church and society with a global view (June 20, 2011, 7/2011 issue), [2] , accessed on August 26, 2014

[4] Message from Vatican Radio Vatican : World Union of the Catholic Press is no longer "Catholic"

[5] New worldwide "Organization of Catholics in the Media" founded, in: Kathweb - Katholische Presseagentur Österreich [3]

[6] International contact network for young journalists [4]

[7] Compare: "Welcome!" At ICOM [5]