As a suitable diet makes our body healthier, so proper use of media will make our spirit nobler.
Diet has become a favourite word to many people. Following a diet can develop self-discipline and self-control. But with fast food mentality and eateries everywhere we can easily buy any of our favourite dish. A health-conscious person is, however, careful in taking the proper variety and amount of food needed by the body. The goal of food diet is good health. A healthy body is the natural consequence of proper diet.
A good health disposes the person to the life of the spirit. It prepares one to get attuned to higher values other than merely physical beauty, wealth and honor. It conditions the soul to greater sensitivity to the voice of God manifested in various ways.
Diet for spiritual richness
In the world of communication today, mass media and new communication technology (NCT) overload us with information. Like food that is abundant we can suffer indigestion of the spirit from over exposure to radio and television programs, movies, music, newspapers, magazines, books, Internet websites and text messages. The choices at the click of a remote control and keyboard are overwhelming. It call to everyone to engage in a constant discernment. The values media present must be evaluated in the light of Christian moral teachings.
How to practice media diet
First, it is recommended that we get to know the type of radio/ TV programs and films that we listen to and watch; newspapers, magazines and books we read; Internet websites we surf; music we listen to; and short message sending (SMS) we engage in. It is not advisable to indulge in any medium without minimal knowledge of its producer, director, publisher, author, editor, sender and other media practitioners who have influence on the production. They control the content with their biases, their social, economic, political, educational and religious values. Text analysis in media is the process of interpreting codes, symbols, signs. Social, economic, political and religious implications are not easily noticed unless the audience is aware of the signs and codes used by the producers.
Second, be conscious of the length of time spent with media. Time management is the key in the use of media. As overeating can make the body sick, over exposure in media can distort our values. An increasing number of broken families, cases of incest, premarital sex, poor school performance can be caused by uncontrolled use of media.
The third strategy in media diet is observe a regular schedule in the use of mass media and NCT so as to have time for the things of the spirit. A quality time for personal and family prayer and the desire for knowledge of God is to be given priority.
Media diet leads to wholeness
It is fact that not all about media is good for the audience. We need to learn to appreciate radio/TV programs and movies that are beneficial for human and spiritual development. Discuss them with family members, friends and peers and evaluate them. It is surprising to experience how much learning we will have in the process. We will develop a critical mind toward ideas and ideology that are presented by media. Discussing media together can make us aware of things perceived by others that we ourselves failed to see. This is a practice in media literacy education, which can be done either alone or with others.
Media production has greater impact on the person more than any material product since they target the mind and heart. The ideas we have, the ideologies we believe in, and the sentiments that we experience, are greatly influenced by our exposure to media.