Florida Catholic | Diocese Celebrates World Communications Day

Diocese celebrates World Communications Day

Members of the media were hosted at recent receptions held in Naples and Sarasota.

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 06.06.08

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Communications Secretary Helen Osman speaks during a Diocese of Venice Media Appreciation reception May 19 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples.

BOB REDDY | FC
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Communications Secretary Helen Osman speaks during a Diocese of Venice Media Appreciation reception May 19 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples.

SARASOTA | The Diocese of Venice Communications Department celebrated World Communications Day 2008 by inviting local media to receptions in Naples and Sarasota during the week of May 19. More than 75 people attended the events.

The Sarasota event featured National Catholic Reporter columnist and CNN senior Vatican correspondent John Allen Jr., and the Naples event featured U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretary of Communications Helen Osman.

The informal receptions served as a way to thank the members of the press for their continuing coverage, and to educate them about the challenges of covering the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Venice in particular.

Adela Gonzales-White, the diocese’s communications director, explained the need to have all media inquiries go through her office as a way of ensuring that a clear and consistent message is released to the public from the diocese and that there is no confusion in the local media about the complexities of the Catholic Church.

The events also served as an opportunity to allow Bishop Frank J. Dewane a chance to meet some of the local media in a less formal setting.

The theme for this year’s receptions was Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States and the coverage of the media.

Allen was CNN’s lead commentator for the visit and serves as a full-time Vatican reporter. Osman helped plan and organize the visit for the USCCB during a five-month period.

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