Social weeks. Varagona (Ucsi): “The position paper on the 5Ms of journalism in Trieste”

In view of the 50th Social Week of Catholics in Italy, SIR interviewed Vincenzo Varagona, national president of the Italian Catholic Press Union (Ucsi). The interview, in addition to describing Ucsi’s presence in Trieste, was an opportunity to also talk about the future of journalism, between AI and ethics.

President, the 50th Social Week of Catholics in Italy opens in Trieste. An appointment, as always, of significant importance for the Church and for associations involved in the cultural field. First of all, in what terms will UCSI be present at the five days?
We have our own delegation, but above all we present ourselves, for the first time, with a specific event, which is also proposed as a training opportunity, with credits recognized by the Order of Journalists. The event is part of a path in which, in addition to the Odg, we have involved the Italian National Press Federation (Fnsi), therefore category institutions, but also Movements that are growing, such as the Constructive Network, Slow News, Mezzopieno. A path towards a new professional style. Our contribution is summarized in a position paper that we delivered in preview to the president of the CEI, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and which we will officially present in Trieste.

In addition to the 5Ws, you have made a further proposal to convey the 5Ms (“More”), to promote responsible journalism: between the right to information and respect for public opinion, how to concretely implement this position paper?
This work starts from afar, precisely from the Ucsi School of Assisi: It was curated by a group of young colleagues who do not give up in the face of the crisis of confidence and credibility that we are going through. Pope Francis asks us for more and this is our first response. We interpret it as a challenge for the entire category, but also for public opinion, on whose help we count very much.

And it is precisely the words of the Pontiff, pronounced at the very recent G7 in Puglia that have not gone unnoticed: “Science and technology are extraordinary products of the creative potential of us human beings”. As communication operators, what are the ways forward for a journalism that knows how to deal constructively with the potential of AI without suffering the ethical backlash?
Radio was presumed dead. The books were left for dead. These media not only continue to exist, but in some way they experience a new ‘youth’, because they have been able to carve out an original role for themselves, compared to the dominant molasses. Here, man and woman, with respect to Artificial Intelligence, are called to avoid some important risks: fear, first and foremost. We know that the most dangerous choices are made precisely in the wake of the fear, for example, that our work will be replaced by a machine. However, there are styles, spheres of behavior, where AI will never be able to reach. Of course, we need to quickly address the problem of the human governance of algorithmics, as defined by Father Paolo Benanti. The stakes are very high, but this needs to be addressed by international decision-making levels.

We are talking about the Ucsi National School of Assisi, a training event that gathers, year after year, more and more consensus and participation from young people motivated to spend their communication and media talents in the ecclesial context…
It is one of the highest moments of our associative life, named after Giancarlo Zizola, with an open gaze on Europe and the major international information themes. It is not for nothing that our point of reference, even after his passing, is David Sassoli. The Training School is a strong experience, with the participation of young colleagues from all regions and it is our bet on the future. In each edition I notice a growing enthusiasm. The next one will take place from 18 to 20 October.

Looking ahead, what initiatives are planned for Jubilee 2025?
It’s all connected: Synod, Social Week, Jubilee. We see it, not surprisingly, as an opportunity for change. Those who frequent Rome in recent months are witnessing, not without discomfort, a logistical revolution. We ask our colleagues who are preparing for the Jubilee to experience this season as an extraordinary opportunity for change. We will participate in the three days that is being prepared with the Dicastery of Communication, but also with the Italian Episcopal Conference. The heart of the Jubilee will be the meeting with the Holy Father on the morning of January 25th. For three years as Ucsi we have been celebrating Saint Francis de Sales, Patron Saint of journalists, with a national event: on this occasion we would like to share it together with the category institutions and movements with which we have begun a journey. We experienced a beautiful moment last June 12th, with a very energetic contamination between constructive journalism and the world of counseling. We are in a work in progress, in which the Jubilee can be a unique opportunity for novelty and rebirth.