Panel discusses media control, large corporations and religious diversity

Media control, manipulation and the growing advance of the communication of the Churches were some of the themes discussed in the panel “Media corporations, Culture and Religious Diversity”, presented this morning (12) at the Methodist University of São Paulo. This event is part of the 6th Conference on Media Religion and Culture, opened this Monday by Adolfo Peres Esquivel, the 1980 Peace Nobel Prize winner.

The first lecture, entitled “Banishing Miracles: Politics and Policies of Religious Broadcasting in Nigeria”, was presented by Dr. Azonzeh Ukah, from the Department on Religious Studies of the Bayreuth University, in Germany. In it, the Professor discussed the control of the means of communication by the Government of Nigeria. “In 2008 , there were 291 radio and TV stations in the country, out of which 213 were controlled by the Government, and the others belonged to loyal groups connected to the State Parties, that is, a mediatical cartel, Ukah explained.

According to Azonzeh, until 2004, it was forbidden to any TV Channel to spread religious programs. However since 1993, there is a national Law of how the emission of religion must or must not be presented on TV”. One of the established restrictions is that a religious group is not allowed to attack another one, besides the groups are not allowed to talk about miracles without corroboration. The problem is that no one knows how a miracle can be defined or proved. All religions must have equal opportunities for broadcasting, but they cannot surpass 90 minutes a week”, he remarked.

In the second lecture this morning, “Corporate Youth Culture and the Gods of Nature”, Dr. Sarah M Pike from the Department of religious Studies of the California State University (EUA) discussed the matter of the paganization of the media by large corporations. According to Sarah, the media corporations have been deceiving children and showing the good side of the pagan religious. “Young people are resistant to films that show violence and sexuality, but do not accept criticism to Harry Potter, Captain Planet and the Golden Compass. Our children are being exposed to a competition of pagan religions and witchcraft”, Sarah comments.

Finally, Dr. Leonildo Silveira Campos, from the Methodist University of São Paulo presented the lecture “New Brazilian Pentecostals in the Media: Visibility, Challenges and Scandals.” According to Campos, in Brazil the control of the media by the government is loose, however the control of the means of mass communication is linked to politicians and corruption and also the new Pentecostals.” Consequently, the political scandals and corruption, made many representatives lose their mandates, but one of the biggest TV channels belongs to only one Church, Universal Kingdom of God and there are 90 TV stations linked to Record Television Network. “Folha Universal” is one of the newspapers with largest circulations in Brazil, with the publication of more than two million issues weekly, said Campos.

Yet, according to Campos, the donations of the followers support the means of communications. So the churches use the theory of the sacred blessings achieved through the sacrifice of the people’s money. “The pastors work to achieve their goals and productivity. Money washing occurs with the churches in the media,” accused Campos. 

SUZANA TORRES