Use your pen to build, not destroy society,cleric urges journalists

DAR ES SALAAM: MAKONGO Juu Roman Catholic Church Parish Priest, Father Joseph Masenge, has reminded journalists to use their pens as tools for building, rather than destroying society.

The appeal was made during the celebration of the 18th Sunday in the Liturgical Year, which also marks World Communications Sunday in the Catholic Church.

Preaching at St Martha’s parish, Mikocheni area in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Father Masenge emphasised that journalists have a unique responsibility to uphold truth, justice and social cohesion.

“A journalist’s pen is more than a writing tool… it is a powerful instrument that can either save a nation or lead it astray,” he said.

He urged media professionals to report truthfully, fairly, and with the intent of building unity.

He noted that during times of national hardship, journalists have the power either to inspire hope or to incite conflict, depending on how they exercise their craft.

“When our nation faces various challenges, your pens can bring hope and unity, or stir hatred and division. Use that power with wisdom and discernment,” he stressed.

Father Masenge also reminded journalists to uphold ethical standards in their profession, emphasising the importance of integrity, professionalism and accountability for every word published or broadcast.

“It is your duty to ensure your reporting builds bridges of understanding, not hatred,” he added.

He further encouraged journalists not to remain mere spectators but to actively participate in spreading the good news of Christ, using their talents for the good of both society and the church.

Speaking of the issue of social media, Father Masenge warned that it has increasingly become a platform for the spread of misinformation and deception, which can lead to unnecessary panic and conflict.

“The spread of false information can cause unnecessary anxiety and unrest. We must learn to filter news and share what uplifts and brings hope,” he said.

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During the celebration, a message from the late Pope Francis who died in April this year was read, highlighting the communication challenges in today’s world.

In the message, the late Pope observed that in an environment dominated by a few powerful information sources, communication has often turned into a weapon rather than a bridge for mutual understanding.

“Communication today often fuels strong emotions, deliberate misinformation, and hostility that disrupt unity, peace, love, and solidarity,” the message read.

It was released as the official message for the 59th World Communications Day, observed on August 31, 2025.

Pope Francis also pointed out that the misuse of digital technologies has contributed to scattered attention, limiting the ability of communities to listen to one another and collaborate for the common good.

Pope Leo XIV echoed the social message of the day, emphasising the need for hopeful communication that reaches society’s most marginalised such as prisoners, the poor, migrants, and victims of war and conflict.

He encouraged journalists to become ‘gold miners’ of stories of goodness and hope hidden beneath the surface of daily events.