“We work in the social communication sector. This is a significant field of activity that constitutes one of the apostolic priorities of the Salesian mission. Our Founder had an instinctive grasp of the value of this means of mass education, which creates culture and spreads patterns of life; he showed great originality in the apostolic undertakings which he initiated to defend and sustain the faith of the people. Following his example we utilise as God’s gift the great possibilities which social communication offers us for the education and evangelisation.” (Constitutions 43)
From the beginning of the province until 1990s much work done in the field of social communication were on behalf of the diocese of Kohima in particular and the dioceses of the North east India in general. Fr. Vattoth Thomas, Fr. Peter Paul, Br. B.O. Anthony, Fr. Karthikapallil Tom were at the forefront of media ministry in the early stages. In October 1996, Fr. Jonas Kerketta sdb returned after completing his licentiate in media and communications from UPS, Rome. In November 1996 he was appointed to Salesian College as teacher and in-charge of the youth ministry of the institution. It was at this time that he was appointed province delegate for Social Communications, taking over from Fr. M.D. Varghese, who had occupied the post for a relatively short time. During this time that he ventured out conducting Media Awareness Programmes (MAP) and journalism courses for the pre-novices, novices, students of Philosophy and homiletics for deacons at Sacred Heart College, Shillong. Besides these, he went around the schools and colleges in the province conducting media awareness programmes and journalism courses. Most of these programmes were conducted single handedly.
He was closely associated with BOSCOM-India since 1997 and has actively collaborated in its ventures. He attended all the national level general body meeting of UNDA/OCIC (now re-christened SIGNIS) from 1998 to 2002. Since 1997 Fr. Jonas has been contributing articles to some national and regional papers like – The Catholic Herald, Shillong Times, Nagaland Post, Nagaland Page, Eastern Mirror, The Sangai Express etc., and to news agencies like SAR News and UCA News. From 1997 to 2003 he was the editor of Dimapur Links, the newsletter of the province of Dimapur. He was also a visiting lecturer at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong in the year 1998 and 1999. It was in 1999 that his stint at audio-cassette production began with Sunawa Vachan and since then the number of his production has been on the increase.
Since then the sector has been better organised. Presently we have a full time Social Communication delegate in person of Fr. Tarcisius Toppo who coordinates the work of social communication in the province.
Don Bosco Communications, Dimpaur Today
We are at the forefront of media initiatives aimed at empowering the numerous communities, tribes, languages, dialects and cultures of the region. We consider it our obligation and privilege to recognize and respond sensitively to the geographic, social, economic and anthropological context of the region.
The challenges we face arise from the specific situation of the region – international borders, growing youth power, social unrest, rising unemployment, substance abuse, high HIV / AIDS-risk, lack of infrastructure, lackadaisical pace of progress, and the variegated conglomeration of tribes, cultures and ethnic groups.
DBCD is convinced of its role in ameliorating the situation through its media interventions, and bringing rights awareness, peace, justice and prosperity to the region.
VISION
DBCD envisions an empowered society in Northeast India that is proactively open to, and critical of, the media
OBJECTIVES
- Create an informed society capable of making morally sound choices
- Include all stakeholders to quicken the process of holistic development of the region
- Ensure economic security and a sense of dignity among various groups and sections of people
- Harness youth power to promote a culture of peace
- Understand and promote ethnic cultures of the region
- Strengthen and promote the ideals of Christianity
STRATEGIES
- Promote Catechesis as a means to the full development of the individual
- Facilitate the work of animation and catechesis with audio-visual aids and printed materials
- Train and facilitate Church personnel, Salesians, lay collaborators and young people in media related activities
- Assist the Province in documentation with the help of audio-visual and print media.
- Influence policy decisions that respect spiritual values and human rights
- Work towards forming public opinion on ethical issues
- Engage in activities that enrich the communication environment
- Network with local, regional and national media institutions for the overall growth of the society
- Create ethical media professionals and critical thinkers in the region
- Invite the young to a life of spirituality to confront modern media impact
- Challenge and empower the young to be agents of peace and communal harmony
- Train local youth in employable media and journalistic skills
- Research and enhance the use of alternative media
- Challenge ethnic cultures and lead them to adapt to the changing times
- Create opportunities and facilities for value-based publications and productions in regional languages
- Assist and support individuals and institutions in their media ventures for preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the region
- Prepare a forum for the voiceless and empower the marginalized
- Engage in advocacy on behalf of vulnerable sections of society - women, children and the young.
ACTIVITIES
Training Modules
Basic skills in journalism/ writing, editing
Script writing for audio-visual programmes
Training in street theatre/script writing
Media Management Programmes: Training the Trainers
Media education for youth and youth leaders
Modern and traditional communication skills
Training in youth and ethnic media
Pastoral communication skills
Basic computer skills for media productions
Publication skills and Web designing
Awareness/Advocacy Programs
Media Awareness Programmes
Film appreciation/ media analysis
Issue based action plans
Production Services
Production of full length feature films, short
films, Documentaries,
Innovative media projects
Value based audio-video productions and publications
Production for Pastoral Communication
Albums, Event Videos,
Multi-camera live-coverage of events on location
School photos, School magazine DTP, layout and designing
Contact Us:
DIRECTOR
Don Bosco Communications
P.B. 2, Dimapur – 797 112
NAGALAND – INDIA
Tel: 03862/ 234205
Mobile: 09436015956
