Interview with the Head of the WMF Communication Office (24-10-2005)

Valencia - The World Meeting of the Families will face the challenge of integrating the Pope's message in mass media, avoiding both "simplifications" and "prejudices". This challenge includes not only every media informing about the event, but also the Communication Department of it, according to its Director, Javier Arnal, in this interview with Zenit.

Arnal was appointed less than a month ago by the Patrons of the 5th WMF Foundation (regional and local authorities, as well as the Archbishop of Valencia). He is a 48 year-old journalist.

Convoked by the Pope, the event could gather more than a million people in the Spanish city of Valencia, 1st-9th July 2006.

Arnal is also delegate of Valencian Radio and Television and teaches at University of Castellón.

WMF will be in less than 250 days and previous editions gathered more than a million people. How are you organizing communication tasks for this event?

We face communication, even more in the present media culture, as the right path to achieve the goal of this Meetings. They are a world mobilization of support to family as it is enlightened by the Church's doctrine.

Of course, the presence of Benedict XVI will be the highlight of this mobilization, but these previous months are necessary to prepare, join, strengthen and spread so many Christian initiatives in favour of the family. Contacting with us will enrich them and everyone else. We conceive communication as an interactive task, suitable to our society - We not only send information, but also get it… A non-stop reciprocal flowing that benefits families. Just as St. Paul went to the Aerophagus of Athens, because public opinion and the consequent decisions were generated there, now the Church is well aware that the first Aerophagus are mass media.

Which is the main challenge that WMF has to face?

You're demanding a quick summary of my entire job and that of many others for a long time. I thank your for it because I think that the biggest challenge is that every media integrates the teaching of the Pope about family, avoiding both simplifications and prejudices, adapting it to the specific characteristics of their public. Pluralism of cultures, languages or races shouldn't be an obstacle for it. In short, it means integrating message and media. That's the challenge for the Office I run and also for each one of them.

The Meeting and conclusive Mass of 5th that could be chaired by Benedict XVI will have been preceded by days of Eucharistic celebrations for language groups, a theological and pastoral Congress, another one about children, and some other religious and cultural events including a Festival. Is it difficult to communicative so many aspects of a world event?

It's certainly a variety of things, but we don't consider variety as a difficulty, but more as an opportunity to take them all as different ways for the effects of this Meeting to reach people all over the world. To all humanity, not just Catholics or Christians. Christian family is a treasure that has brought happiness to millions of people for more than twenty centuries.

The fact of Valencia being the "capital city of the world" for families during some days seems to contrast the lack of protection that family is suffering in Spain nowadays. Can communication task become a vehicle for values from one reality to another?

Family has been, is and will ever be the great solution for society. To support family is to support ability to love, to support children, to support human rights. As an institution, it should have life by itself, because it really is an axis for society. Authorities should therefore be part of that support. We could talk for long about the causes for that small present protection, not only in Spain but also in other countries, but I don't think we should consider ourselves as "victims", because family has enough strength to defend itself. Communication task in this Meeting aims to spread Christian family values. It's not again anyone or anything . Christian family should be respected, external and internally - sometimes, irony or silence are a way used by intolerant laicism. The Church has the right and the duty to spread its message. It is an "offer", never an imposition.

Which tools are you planning to use for the information task in religious and general media?

The website (www.emf2006.org) can be read in seven languages and it is the main interactive channel for information and communication. It is our great ally to organize and communicate the Meeting! The news agency of the Archbishop's office (AVAN) is also a way to inform of the main aspects of it. During and before the Metting, as long as it is possible, we also try to make the job for every media easier, with personal or group interviews and, of course, through press conferences. Each media deserves a personal attention and, as journalist with experience in different kinds of them, I am trying to configure an office able to respond quickly and properly to what each one of them demands.

What does your appointment as Director of Communication of the 5th WMF mean for you?

I see it as a huge responsibility. Let me add a joke about something so important - It is really the responsibility of those who have chosen me for it! For every journalist, such a challenge is something to feel proud of, but it is not me who has been looking for it - if anything, I have tried to "avoid" it-, it shows a great deal of trust in my work. My human and professional career is well known, and also the relationship I maintain with my colleagues, my personal convictions, my personality, my own style to create team work. It is obvious that all that helps me to detect the keys for this event, to "tune" to it, because otherways it will not be possible to reach a right way to communicate it.

The theme for this meeting will be "the transmission of faith in the family". Do you think there is also a responsibility for media in the transmission of faith?

In my opinion and generally speaking, that responsibility does exist. The great tragedy in our times is, no doubt, the gap between culture and faith. Faith should be part of the culture, it can't be reduced to the private field. A journalist is supposed to tell about reality, about "news", and hundreds of millions of catholics who practise their faith deserve a greater and better information about what they are trying to live. In fact, faith offers rich and exciting contents for every man. This meeting is also a chance for media to think about their job, because they should not only mirror reality, but try to configure a more "human" public opinion. Religion is, after all, the most human aspect of men.