On March 18th, OLSWA was proud to host a presentation by well-known Catholic journalist and senior correspondent for Sun Media, Brian Lilley. His talk was on the timely topic of “Catholics in the Media.” Lilley, who has been a political correspondent for ten years and is to host his own television program, “Brian Lilley Byline,” on Sun News beginning in April, certainly spoke from his own practical experience. He explained to the audience the vital importance of an active Catholic voice in the increasingly secular and biased world of journalism.

The primary reason why the Catholic viewpoint is necessary, he explained, is because our Faith is the bastion of truth. The Catholic journalist does not colour his reports with his own opinions, but instead makes objectivity paramount, presenting the headlines of the day as they took place and examining the issue fairly from all sides. Because Catholics tend to be counter- cultural, Lilley declared, they can often see events from a different angle than the mainstream press, and put forward views that often go unconsidered. Sometimes objectivity can be difficult, he went on, because we want to emphasize what we know to be right. “But when you are reporting on these things, you have to give what you hope the other side would give you. . . A good Catholic media worker would give full coverage to all aspects accurately, and show counter-protestors or people with an opposing view.” Such reporting does not undermine the truth, he continued, but rather honours it.

 There are a variety of methods by which Catholic journalists work, Lilley said, from specifically Catholic news agents writing for a religious audience to those working in the secular sphere whose Faith informs their work simply by ensuring that it promotes truth. Both of these methods of journalism, and everything in between, are useful to society and to the Church. “You can make a difference wherever you happen to be working,” he told the audience. “Sometimes by silent witness, sometimes just by standing firm.” Simply showing the truth as it stands, without comment, can be in itself a means of evangelisation.

After the presentation Lilley took questions from the audience, who were curious to learn more about his journalistic work, particularly his upcoming show. After the question and answer session, OLSWA President Dr. Keith Cassidy invited the faculty and staff to a reception for further conversation with Lilley. The invitation was also extended to those students interested in finding out more about what a career in journalism entails. OLSWA is grateful to Mr. Brian Lilley for his excellent presentation.