World needs free, rigorous and objective information: Pope Leo

The world needs free rigorous and objective journalism otherwise people will be unable to distinguish between fact and fiction and true and false as in totalitarian rules Pope Leo said on ThursdayHe said free access to information is a pillar that upholds the edifice of our societies For this reason we are called to defend it freedom of press and guarantee it he saidIn an address to invited executives of global news agencies at the Vatican the Pope said journalism should be freed from unfair competition and from the degrading practice of socalled clickbait he said PTI executives were among those presentHe added that news agencies are at the frontlines of protecting the right to accurate and balanced informationPope Leo is a strong proponent of free press and immediately after being chosen to the position he had met journalists from around the world to appeal for release of imprisoned journalistsThe Pope said the communications sector cannot and must not separate its work from sharing the truth as he urged news agencies never sell out your authorityUnderlining the medias crucial role in forming consciences and helping critical thinking he said it is a paradox that in the age of communication news and media agencies are undergoing a period of crisisSimilarly those who consume information are also in crisis often mistaking the false for the true and the authentic for the artificial Yet no one today can say I did not know he saidPope Leo the first American to occupy the throne of St Peter also called for vigilance to ensure that technology does not replace humans pointing out that Artificial Intelligence is changing the way information is receivedAlgorithms generate content and data at a scale and speed never seen before But who controls them Artificial intelligence is changing the way we receive information and communicate but who directs it and for what purposesWe must be vigilant in order to ensure that technology does not replace human beings and that the information and algorithms that govern it today are not in the hands of a few he saidThe Pope emphasising the need for free rigorous and objective information referred to American historian Hannah Arendts warning in her 1951 book The Origins of Totalitarianism that the ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer existHe also underlined the important role of news agencies in the era of increasingly pervasive digitisation of mass mediaAs you well know those who work for a news agency are expected to write quickly under pressure even in very complex and dramatic situationsFor these reasons your service requires competence courage and a sense of ethics This is invaluable and must be an antidote to the proliferation of junk information he saidThe Pope also highlighted the importance of transparency of sources and ownership accountability quality and objectivity saying they are key to restoring the role of citizens as protagonistsHe also lauded the journalists reporting from various conflict zones and paid glowing tributes to those who died in the line of dutyEvery day there are reporters who put their lives at risk to inform people about what is really happening In times such as ours marked by widespread and violent conflicts many have died while carrying out their dutiesThey are victims of war and of the ideology of war which seeks to prevent journalists from being there at all We must not forget them If today we know what is happening in Gaza Ukraine and every other land bloodied by bombs we largely owe it to them he saidThese extraordinary eyewitness accounts are the culmination of the daily efforts of countless people who work to ensure that information is not manipulated for ends that are contrary to truth and human dignity he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever