Communicate the Family: Challenges and Opportunities for Associations

The conference Communicate the Family: Challenges and Opportunities for Associations was held at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome on June 7, 2013, in collaboration with the Forum of Family Associations (link) and the Fiuggi Family Festival (link). The initiative aimed to emphasize the need for especially media and institutions to speak about the family in the present day by listening and correctly interpreting the voices and needs of the families.

Too often, family associations, institutions, media and even the families themselves fail to relate to each other; and when they do, they are speaking different languages even though they are looking at the same reality. It is therefore necessary that these various actors develop a stronger, clearer relationship where communication is the key for a correct analysis of the root issues, and solutions to challenges and common problems can be obtained. This is all the more pressing today with the reawakening of the presence of the family in civil society, shown in the recent pro-family manifestations in France, Italy, and Spain, ironically against the deafness of the political classes and filters and misrepresentations by the media.

The following figures were among the guest speakers present: Francesco Belletti, President of the Forum of Family Associations, professors Norberto González Gaitano, José María La Porte and Daniel Arasa of the University of the Holy Cross, Antonella Bevere Astrei, President of the Fiuggi Family Festival, Luciano Moia, Editor-in-Chief of Avvenire, Maria Mussi Bollini, Vice-Director of RaiRagazzi (link) and RaiGulp (link), and film director Fernando Muraca.

Particularly interesting and significant was the testimony of two young Italian families. Through their short yet emotional video projection they demonstrated how it is possible to communicate the family on the web in a joyful, simple and direct way, with few resources but great ideas and enthusiasm. In this case, the birth of their third child gave the lead to the project. The video can be viewed here. Enjoy!