BIS Mumbai
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE # 3417
APPLAUSE AND PRAISE FOR FR. ANTHONY LOBO'S DOCTORAL THESIS
By Chris Valentino
ROME, MARCH 4, 2013: Fr. Anthony Clifford Lobo hailing from Mumbai, missionary in the Province of Mozambique, and recently appointed <![if !vml]>
<![endif]>professor at the Faculty of the Science of Social Communications at the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome successfully defended his path-breaking doctoral thesis "Media Convergence & Digital Ecosystems: A Case Study of the Italian Church's Institutional Media Networks (Avvenire - SIR - TV2000 - Radio InBlu) on 1 March 2013."
<![endif]>professor at the Faculty of the Science of Social Communications at the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome successfully defended his path-breaking doctoral thesis "Media Convergence & Digital Ecosystems: A Case Study of the Italian Church's Institutional Media Networks (Avvenire - SIR - TV2000 - Radio InBlu) on 1 March 2013."
This thesis, the first of its kind to propose a general purpose framework of media convergence and digital ecosystems to the Italian Church's Institutional Media Networks, identifies opportunities through research analysis for the UNCS (l'Ufficio Nazionale delle Comunicazioni Sociali) to further empower its networks which in turn can serve as a model for other Bishop's Conferences.
The thesis provides a comprehensive synthesis of the contemporary debates, studies and theories of Media Convergence, Digital Ecosystems and Institutional Networks while examining the attitudes of managers, editors and journalists by posing the pertinent question: "is there resistance to form a convergence media ecology due to fear of newer technologies that increasingly seek to change entrenched network practices and routines?" It further studies the model of Church communication networks (specifically the Italian Church) and the problematic nucleus of Church, communications and power while seeking to purpose an opportunistic framework for the future.
Fr. Lobo says: "it is my sincere hope that my research-contribution will initiate a paradigm shift primarily for the UNCS-CEI networks and be a model for the other Bishop's Conferences Networks as well." He further adds, "Of course, there are limitations such as lack of time and resources to embark on a nation-wide research project; reduced participation of managers, editors, journalists; biases; and recruiting for sampling, etc. Yet valuable insights emerge especially within the four institutional media networks and these can help better the current scenario."
The Defense Panel comprising Prof. Carlo Nanni Rector Magnificus of the Salesian Pontifical University, Prof. Fabio Pasqualetti of the Faculty of the Science of Social Communications, UPS, Prof. Ivan Maffeis Vice-Director of UNCS-CEI and Prof. Giuseppe Costa Director of LEV (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) was effusive in its praise for the tremendous effort and qualitative standard of the thesis research. A student pursuing research in Social Communications exclaimed: "Yes, it is a massive work, but the very fact that Lobo managed to get into these settings is commendable, and his proposal for change needs a concrete application in these convergent times!"
The Defense Panel comprising Prof. Carlo Nanni Rector Magnificus of the Salesian Pontifical University, Prof. Fabio Pasqualetti of the Faculty of the Science of Social Communications, UPS, Prof. Ivan Maffeis Vice-Director of UNCS-CEI and Prof. Giuseppe Costa Director of LEV (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) was effusive in its praise for the tremendous effort and qualitative standard of the thesis research. A student pursuing research in Social Communications exclaimed: "Yes, it is a massive work, but the very fact that Lobo managed to get into these settings is commendable, and his proposal for change needs a concrete application in these convergent times!"
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