World Catholic Association for Communication

OFFICIAL NAME

SIGNIS. The World Catholic Association for Communication

ALSO KNOWN AS

SIGNIS

ESTABLISHMENT

2001

HISTORY

The World Catholic Association for Communication, known as SIGNIS, was established in 2001 from the merger of two longstanding international Catholic associations which had received pontifical encouragement from their very beginning. The International Catholic Organisation for Cinema and Audio-Visual was established as the International Catholic Organisation for Cinema (OCIC) in April 1928, while the International Bureau for Catholic Radio was established in June 1928, and became the International Catholic Association for Radio and Television (Unda) in 1945.

Bringing together Catholics already working as professionals in the media was the objective that kept together those organisations. The interest of Catholics in the new media was understandable. They saw the opportunities offered by them to present their views and opinions on life and the world and so they naturally became involved in promoting education and values.

On 24^th October 2014, SIGNIS was erected by the Pontifical Council for the Laity as an international association of the faithful and has, since then, integrated some members of the now defunct International Catholic Union of the Press (UCIP).

IDENTITY

The mission of SIGNIS is to engage with media professionals and support Catholic Communicators; to help transform cultures in the light of the Gospel; promoting a culture of peace, human dignity, justice and reconciliation.

ORGANIZATION

SIGNIS is a worldwide association. Its members are national associations grouped by regions of the world. There are six regions: Africa, Latin America, North America, Pacific, Asia, and Europe, as well as an International Group, composed of international organisations. In addition, individuals and institutions can become associate members. All the regions and the international group are represented on the Board of Directors that decides the policy of SIGNIS. The members of the Board are elected during world or regional assemblies. The administrative headquarters of SIGNIS, the General Secretariat, is in Brussels. There is also an office at the Vatican, SIGNIS Services Rome, which provides technical and pastoral assistance to Church and secular organizations all over the world.

WORKS

The activities of SIGNIS cover journalism, TV, cinema, digital, radio and media education: promoting films or television programmes (it has juries at the important international film and TV festivals: Cannes, Berlin, Monte Carlo, Venice, Ouagadougou...), creating, producing and distributing radio, TV and video programmes, building broadcasting studios, supplying equipment, offering Internet services by satellite, training professionals, encouraging the use of new media, promoting media education, etc. SIGNIS and its members have committed themselves to harness the power of the media to promote peace in all ways possible.

PUBLICATIONS

SIGNIS Media, quarterly

CineMag SIGNIS, quarterly

WEB SITE

www.signis.net

HEADQUARTERS

SIGNIS General Secretariat

Rue Royale 310

1210, Brussels, Belgium.

Phone: +32 (0)2 7349708
Fax: + 32 (0)2 7347018
sg@signis.net

SIGNIS Services Rome

Palazzo San Calisto