Earlier this week, an Italian magazine leaked Pope Francis’ first major encyclical on climate change. Just like we saw most recently with Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and his “bro with no ho” comment, the mic is always on and someone is always listening, or in this case reading. What you say will be heard by someone. What you write will get shared—whether you want it to or not.
What’s the lesson in today’s 24/7 news cycle and ubiquitous access to information? You can’t control when the story goes public, only how you respond. What’s most shocking is that the leak made news at all. It’s long been accepted that information will leak earlier than you want: there’s even a whole website devoted to album leaks.
The Vatican’s statement noting “that it is not the final text” would have been a good lead into itself with a “we hope you’ll read the official encyclical when it comes out on Thursday.”
We couldn’t agree more with one Vatican official who noted, “It has happened before, and it will undoubtedly happen again.” Yet some officials called for “journalists to respect professional standards.” Unfortunately, we’re living in an age where that seems to contradict the forward-thinking and modern image the Pope has henceforward put forth. Journalists? Professional standards? That’s too fuzzy of a line in today’s world.
The media landscape is different and the appropriate response is to well, adapt.
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