--- title: "Tech Talk: Focusing on True News" description: On the Son Rise Morning Show, Lisa Hendey discussed the importance of Pope Francis' message regarding truth in news and journalism for peace. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/02/02/tech-talk-focusing-true-news/#) [FAITH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) # Tech Talk: Focusing on True News Feb 2, 2018 7:30:57 PM  |  by [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) ![Tech Talk with Lisa Hendey/Son Rise Morning Show (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tech-Talk-with-Lisa-Son-Rise-Morning-Show-1.png) On the February 1 episode of the [Son Rise Morning Show](http://sonrisemorningshow.com/), we discussed the importance of Pope Francis' message regarding truth in news and journalism for peace. [Pope Francis’s message for World Communications Day](https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/papa-francesco_20180124_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html) (celebrated this year on May 13), bears the title “The truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). During a week when we turned to news coverage of many events, including President Trump’s State of the Union address,this pastoral message from our Holy Father is more important than ever. “Fake News” may be a popular term these days but it’s not a new topic. Pope Francis references in his own message that of Pope Paul VI, whose 1972 Message took as its theme [*Social Communications at the Service of Truth*](http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/messages/communications/documents/hf_p-vi_mes_19720421_vi-com-day.html). Now, the incredible proliferation of technology means that more than ever, news spreads immediately and that we’re all involved in that proliferation. The Holy Father's message calls us to rediscover the dignity of journalism and our personal responsibility to spread the truth. When we yield to our own pride and selfishness, we can also distort the way we use our ability to communicate. Just this week, President Trump’s SOTU address was the most tweeted-about State of the Union in Twitter history. Data from Twitter shows 4.5 million tweets sent with #SOTU or #JointAddress during the speech, breaking last year’s record of 3 million. What, if anything, can be done to stem the tide of fake news? Pope Francis uses the biblical example of what’s perhaps the first account of fake news, Genesis’ story of the temptation in the garden (Genesis 3). He teaches us that "education for truth means teaching people how to discern, evaluate and understand our deepest desires and inclinations, lest we lose sight of what is good and yield to every temptation.” For us, this means employing quick discernment before we fall prey to disseminating “fake news.” Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook seems to be on the same wavelength as Pope Francis with some reforms he’s making at the mammoth social media site, according to [an announcement he made this week on his own Facebook feed](https://www.facebook.com/zuck?hc_ref=ARRad6W9EEd59o1Cs-O9xQnLyTXn4DmT9NNcWp6xC34mtMx6c9GY0RgicQiutmpUmgs&fref=nf). The fact that he’s employing his Facebook timeline to promulgate information is telling about the role of social media these days in how we obtain and share news. Zuck’s been on a campaign this year to make sure that Facebook is “not only fun, but also good for your well-being and for society." On January 29, he announced another shift in the algorithm, writing "We're making a series of updates to show more high quality, trusted news. Last week we made an update to show more news from sources that are broadly trusted across our community. Today our next update is to promote news from local sources.” A few of the biggest takeaways I’ve gained from a close reading of the Pope’s message: * I was very blessed by the closing comments of the message: > I would like, then, to invite everyone to promote a journalism of peace. By that, I do not mean the saccharine kind of journalism that refuses to acknowledge the existence of serious problems or smacks of sentimentalism. On the contrary, I mean a journalism that is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines. A journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, especially those – and they are the majority in our world – who have no voice. A journalism less concentrated on breaking news than on exploring the underlying causes of conflicts, in order to promote deeper understanding and contribute to their resolution by setting in place virtuous processes. A journalism committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence. (Pope Francis, [World Communications Day 2018 message](https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/papa-francesco_20180124_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html)) * I appreciate the biblical applications to real life situations * I also appreciate the reminder to pray before posting or tweeting: sometimes I remind myself to read a post aloud or to do extra fact checking before sharing. * --- *Copyright 2018 Lisa Hendey* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F02%2F02%2Ftech-talk-focusing-true-news%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F02%2F02%2Ftech-talk-focusing-true-news%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F02%2F02%2Ftech-talk-focusing-true-news%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Tech%20Talk%3A%20Focusing%20on%20True%20News) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F02%2F02%2Ftech-talk-focusing-true-news%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F02%2F02%2Ftech-talk-focusing-true-news%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lisa%20M%20Hendey%202024.png) ### [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of CatholicMom.com, a bestselling author and an international speaker. A frequent radio and television guest, Hendey travels internationally giving workshops on faith, family, and communications. Visit Lisa at [LisaHendey.com](http://lisahendey.com), on her Substack at [LisaHendey.Substack.com](http://lisahendey.substack.com/), or on social media @LisaHendey for information on her speaking schedule or to invite her to visit your group, parish, school or organization. [Find Lisa’s books on her Amazon author page](https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-M-Hendey/e/B002ZM9FH0). [**](http://facebook.com/lisamhendey) [**](http://twitter.com/lisahendey) ## Related Blog Articles [ Storytelling and the World Communications Day Message Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/01/30/storytelling-and-the-world-communications-day-message/) [ Pope Francis: Our Brother, Our Friend Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/11/13/pope-francis-our-brother-our-friend) [ A Saint, A Pope and a Baby Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/06/02/a-saint-a-pope-and-a-baby) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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