The agenda involved three days in which Salesian communicators were able to address issues related to Artificial Intelligence, digital culture, the management of the "Salesiani Ecuador" brand and the positioning of the institutional image on the websites of Salesian Educational Centres (CES).
Fr Campoli shared three key aspects with the local representatives: firstly, the importance of networking and constant formation; secondly, a joint reflection on the guidelines and actions of the sector; and thirdly, he illustrated the immediate action necessary in the face of the challenges that communication currently presents in the digital world in which young people live.
He highlighted the best practices that are carried out in the communities and works of the Province, above all, in relation to the care of the institutional image, the production of photographic and audiovisual material in every presence, and the dissemination and participation in artistic proposals and the wide presence in digital media.
The formation topics were supported by teachers of the Communication and Multimedia Design course at the Salesian Polytechnic University (UPS) in Quito: Roberto Sánchez, Johanna Escobar and Carlos Martínez, who reflected with those present on the current issues of journalism in the context of Artificial Intelligence.
The days also included community cultural activities, such as the screening of five short films by students of the UPS in Quito who reached the final at the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival and a visit to the Don Bosco Editorial Group. On the occasion, Juan Carlos Vásconez, digital evangeliser of the "Catholic Link" initiative, spoke of the importance of implementing effective strategies to bring the evangelical message on digital platforms, attracting and interacting with the online community through an open dialogue on faith.
At the end of the meeting, Tatiana Capelo, ECU's Delegate for Social Communication, shared the reality of the communication sector in Ecuador, the importance of developing local communication plans, the profile of the local contact person and the need to work in a network to respond to the activities of the Annual Organisational Plan (AOP) that reinforces all the proposals of the Salesians' educative and mission in Ecuador.
A special thanks went to Fr Marcelo Farfán, Provincial, and Fr Juan Flores, Vice-Provincial whose style of closeness and Don Bosco's own "word in the ear" attitude encouraged local communicators to strengthen and recognise their communication work. Similar thanks also went to the Salesian Rectors for the accompaniment and support of the communication activities and for their participation in the meeting.
Fernanda Vasco, Salesian Social Communications
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