Second National Congress of the Clergy

Catholic priests march along Roxas Boulevard on the last day of the Second National Congress of the Clergy, Jan. 29, 2010. AFP

THE national media spotlight shined intensely on the 2^nd National Congress of the Clergy, as the Catholic media joined forces in giving them blow by blow account of the event.

At least eleven Catholic news agencies have collaborated in a social media effort to cover the congress from print, broadcast, to online and then feed it to the mainstream media.

As a result, the NCC2 generated an unprecedented number of stories in the country’s major newspapers, television and radio broadcasts over the 5-day event.

The congress-related mentions on the Internet had also reached around 500,000 over Yahoo alone after the five-day event.

The gathering was also shown live on major broadcast networks and cable news channels.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, NCC2 Media Committee co-coordinator, said the NCC2 being an event of the Church and not only of the clergy, thus the need for media coverage.

The media coverage, he said, was very instrumental in making the lay faithful “journey with their priests in prayer, reflection and renewal”.

“The media, especially the Catholic media, believes that it can help bridge the clergy in congress with the praying, listening and learning Christian community in their homes,” Quitorio said.

The Catholic Media Network (CMN) with 51 radio stations nationwide broadcasted some parts of the clergy congress; and so did Radio Veritas with some of its morning programs aired right from the World Trade Center.

The Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) video streamed selected parts of the event through the internet facilities provided by CBCPWorld which, for its part, also maintained the official website of the clergy congress.

TV Maria documented the whole congress, while Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) broadcasted some video footages of the event.

CBCPNews podcasted the congress at www.cbcpnews.com/podcast and serialized news stories for global readership.  The Manila Archdiocesan Office of Communication covered the event by posting talks and photos of the congress at www.rcam.org.

The Mission Communications Foundation, Inc. recorded the closing ceremonies of the clergy congress at the Cuneta Astrodome for later airing at IBC Channel 13.   (CBCPNews)