NEW DELHI, (Indian Catholic News) — The chairman of the Indian bishops’ communications office has hailed Magimai Pragasam’s election as SIGNIS World vice president as a source of pride for the Church in India and a significant moment for global Catholic communication.
“Dr. Magimai Pragasam’s election as Vice President of SIGNIS World is a source of pride for the Church in India. His experience and commitment to Catholic communications will strengthen SIGNIS’s global mission of promoting ethical, human-centred communication,” said Bishop Rayarala Vijay Kumar of Srikakulam.
The election took place during the SIGNIS World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, held Aug. 3-8. SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication, represents media professionals and communicators in more than 100 countries.
Bishop Kumar, chairman of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India’s Office for Social Communications and ecclesiastical adviser of SIGNIS India, also described the election as recognition of Pragasam’s decades of service and leadership.
“His election to one of the highest leadership positions in SIGNIS World is a well-deserved recognition of his decades of dedicated service, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to value-based and faith-filled communication,” Bishop Rayarala said.
Pragasam brings decades of experience
Pragasam is a communication professional, academic, trainer and filmmaker with more than 25 years of experience in communication and media. His work includes media production, training and research, particularly communication for peace, community development and social transformation.
He holds master’s degrees in sociology and mass communication and journalism and a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Madras. He has also studied communication and media in Britain, France and India.
Pragasam has conducted international training programs and workshops for media professionals, development activists and government personnel in Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, France, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
Within SIGNIS, he has served as secretary and treasurer of SIGNIS Tamil Nadu, vice president of SIGNIS India, vice president of SIGNIS Asia and a member of the SIGNIS World Board.
“His wealth of experience, professional expertise, and strong commitment to spreading the Gospel of Catholic Mass. SIGNIS, which provides ethical, humanitarian perspective and gospel-inspired information, will certainly strengthen the global evangelism campaign,” Bishop Kumar said.
Bishop Kumar also congratulated the newly elected SIGNIS World Board of Directors and expressed confidence in its leadership, hoping they lead the World Catholic Association for Communication amid an increasingly digital media landscape by fostering dialogue, peace, justice and factual information exchange across cultures.
The new leadership team includes Father Walter Ihejirika of Nigeria as world president, Pamela Aleman of Canada as second vice president, Adriana Racasan of Romania as treasurer, and Peter Rachada Monthienvichienchai from Thailand as secretary general.
Read the bishop’s statement.
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