Introduction

Panama has entered a new era since the invasion of Panama by the United States of America. The nation has extremes of wealth and poverty. The wealthiest 20 percent control more than 50 percent of the nation’s resources, while the poorest 40 percent control only 12 percent.

As the country goes on with huge projects such as upgrading the Panama Canal, journalists fear that the poor will be pushed further behind the back doors. Business and trade have become places of mere competition for amassing wealth rather than instruments for development of the entire nation and peoples.

As all professionals run for money and power, a great number of journalists who are concerned with justice, welfare and ethics thought it is necessary to get together and discuss these urgent issues. That is how this refresher seminar has been conceived.

Role of Catholic journalists both in the secular and religious media

When all run after money and power, the Catholic journalists have the duty and responsibility to take some time and distance to reflect, propose and guide. UCIP’s experience has shown that if the Church and journalists especially in the secular media join hands together they can work miracles. Benefiting from the great presence and ideals of the universality of the Church, the media men and women have to be better equipped to report in these contexts. It is one of the important pastoral aspects of Catholic journalism.

The refresher seminar therefore will analyse the theme and its multiple aspects with the help of experts, personalities and leaders from the Church, media, business, government, non-governmental organisations. This seminar is in line with Church’s priorities both pastoral and developmental such as constant awareness and education, option for the poor, good governance, and welfare of all peoples and ethnic groups who belong to the same universal Church.

Professors of journalism and journalists in the country together with their colleagues in other domains have been preparing the seminar for several years. They find it is urgent and necessary to do this event and thus promote greater reconciliation and harmony that form the foundations of lasting peace in the region.

Refresher theme

The theme of the event “Panama: Two Decades of Political, Economic and Social Transformation - Role of Catholic Journalists in the Secular and Religious Media” intends to discuss all the major related issues. The sub-themes include (a) contribution of journalists to the nation’s and the region’s development, (b) Their successes and failures; where and why, (c) Programmes of action journalists can envisage in the context of conflicts, (d) how to perform successfully with the minimum resources available, (e) freedom of expression amidst economic threats, (f) formation for development and peace, (g) human foundations and concepts of freedom, (h) historic panorama and present events (i) human rights, authority and public opinion (j) living testimonies of journalists.

General aims of Refresher Seminar

Here are some major objectives of the formation seminar:

1. Promote ethics and good stewardship of resources
2. Reduce and gradually eliminate poverty through the help of the media in view of justice
3. Offer ongoing formation to journalists so that they can take up these issues in everyday reporting
4. Promote awareness and decision-making on all levels
5. Defend all human rights
6. Facilitate just economic development, concepts and education through media initiatives
7. Explore ways of justice, reconciliation and peace
8. Consecrate permanent space and time for major issues in print and electronic media
9. Make leaders and other decision makers aware of the necessity of just distribution of resources
10. Encourage young people to find new dynamics for stable and healthy families and societies
11. Enable families for healthy living by reducing consumerism in everyday life
12. Empower journalists in all parts of the world to inform and shape better public opinion
13. Undertake and inform about exemplary initiatives, activities and performances
14. Initiate and maintain permanent observatories and vigilances through publications and broadcasts

Benefits

The Refresher Seminar will be beneficial on many levels. Here are a few of them:

1. Make journalists and other media professionals aware of the most pressing issues such as poverty and its consequences on good governance
2. Explore ongoing actions and future initiatives
3. Help prevent violence deriving from economic injustice
4. Enable people share their resources so that they may not engage in conflicts and wars
5. Enlighten business, religious and political leaders on the necessity of greater equality and access to resources in order to promote justice and maintain peace
6. Make recommendations to media professionals and leaders worldwide

Methodology

The study days are consecrated to explore the theme and its sub-themes with experienced speakers, resource persons and working groups. Keynote speakers are experienced journalists and experts from all walks of life. Working groups meet during the study days to explore the theme from precise geographical and concrete professional levels. Selected exposures during the refresher week give the participants, resource parsons and organisers to get a touch with reality and first hand knowledge. The refresher is also conceived to develop strong ties among its participants thus allowing them to build their own networks for future and to become competent.

Academic Credit

Organising the event in co-operation with various educational and academic institutions allows the programme’s trainers and participants to claim academic credits.

Local Organisation

Our colleagues in the host nation and outside, both individuals and institutions, especially media experts and enterprises, are responsible for the local coordination of the event. Their expertise and experience are essential to this refresher seminar.

Most sought after programme

The Refresher Seminar is one of the most sought after programmes of on-going evaluation and education among all professionals especially journalists, publishers and professors of communication.

Since the initiative began in 1991 demand is on the increase. The originality of the event has always attracted more journalists than expected. The idea of the refresher seminar is to give up-to-date, first-hand information to all who cherish responsible information and communication, and work towards world welfare.

The event provides a thorough and scientific analysis of recent history and current affairs so that journalists can rely on in-depth information to improve their work. Successful Refresher Programmes worldwide over past two decades have provided essential training for thousands of journalists and other professionals.

The increasing demand for such events around the globe and the relevance of the programmes has inspired many to join us.