Youth Speak News is poised to undergo a multimedia evolution in the coming months. The change involves removing a designated youth page from the weekly printed publication and allowing the articles and stories written by the youth to appear anywhere in the paper.
However, YSN is not completely lost and disregarded, as it will move exclusively online where the writers and editor will have creative freedom in presenting their stories.
I believe some of the benefits of such a transition was articulated by theologian Christine Anne Mugridge in a 2008 interview with Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) discussing the seminal work of a theology of communication — using technology to help create an encounter with the living Christ — found in John Paul II’s pontificate.
Mugridge said technology can be used “as an organic theological instrument to better understand both interpersonal and social communications specifically in relationship to the communication of Christ both inside and outside the Christian community.” And such a development can grant the Church and its disciples “the opportunity to communicate her message in a more meaningful manner in her mission.”
With an online-focused platform, a writer can include more multimedia elements in his or her article — this means videos, appropriate photos and memes accurately reflecting and representing the general feeling and thought of the topic that can be included in the conversation. This is a reflection of an ever-growing language that is reflective of the youth culture.
The advancement here does not imply an online publication is better than a printed one. The betterment comes in the reach the outlet has to its readers. The youth still read. In fact, the youth are finding more and more ways to access their reading materials. The newspaper’s choice to move the section will just cater to the growing number of online readers.
The approach of the newspaper remains the same: to include Catholic youth in the conservation and allow them to showcase their faith. The move will attract the new generation of readers that rely heavily on the Internet for everything: news, entertainment, information on events, reading for pleasure, etc., This move is an exciting invitation for the youth to be much more involved.
With technology in our hands and information at the scroll of our thumbs, everything has become accessible. One can no longer claim that they have no access to the information they need. There is much information everywhere and creating an online platform gives access to information a lot faster. Moving to an online platform collates the information in the language and ecosystem that the youth speak and understand. This means that locating articles will be faster, finding information will be faster, and ideas shared even more.
If there was one thing that the advancement of technology has brought about the world, it’s the ease of communication and conversation. With information at ready, a conversation begins. Because the Internet has allowed one’s network to become much more extensive, a conversation can occur simply by posting online. It helps to nurture a more discerning audience and more inquisitive believer.
Overall, nothing will really change. The medium will just shift into a more digitally focused platform.
I find this change inspiring! Though I will miss the thrill of seeing what one has written in physical copy, I very much welcome this change. I am looking forward to this!
(Ducepec, 24, is a recent Bachelor of Science graduate from the University of Toronto.)