Communication must be freed from clickbait and misguided thinking, head of Catholic church tells journalists
Pope Leo has had it with clickbait.
In the first six months of his papacy, Pope Leo has been a proactive supporter of journalism as “a public good that we all should protect”. “Communication must be freed from the misguided thinking that corrupts it, from unfair competition and the degrading practice of so-called clickbait,” he said on Thursday. Clickbait is a form of sensationalist, hyperbolic headline that entices online readers to click into a story by omitting key information. Reading a speech in Italian, the pope also highlighted the work of journalists reporting from the frontline in Gaza and across Ukraine. “Free access to information is a pillar that upholds the edifice of our societies, and for this reason, we are called to defend and guarantee it,” he said. “Current events call for particular discernment and responsibility, and it is clear that the media has a crucial role in forming consciences and helping critical thinking”.
He also spoke out about the influence of AI.
“Artificial intelligence is changing the way we receive information and communicate, but who directs it and for what purposes? We 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 said. He nominated “transparency of sources of ownership, accountability, quality and objectivity” as key to news media. “I urge you: never sell out your authority,” he said.
AMEN!