- Fundraisers 2025
- Archeparchy
- Our faith
- Offices and ministries
- News
- Events
- Archive
- Parishes
- Youth Protection
From June 24 to 27, 2025, the city of Phoenix, Arizona hosted the annual Catholic Media Conference (CMC) — the premier event for Catholic media professionals in the United States and Canada. This year, the conference brought together more than 300 journalists, editors, and communications specialists who explored the pressing challenges and new opportunities facing Catholic media in the digital age.
The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia was represented at the conference by Halyna Vasylytsia, a multimedia journalist for the archeparchy.
Key topics included the role of media in evangelization, the importance of truthful reporting, combating misinformation, the use of artificial intelligence in journalism, the growth of social platforms, and engaging diverse cultural communities. The conference opened with a solemn Mass celebrated by Bishop John Dolan, the ordinary of the Diocese of Phoenix. Among the distinguished speakers were prominent leaders in Catholic media, including Jeanette De Melo (EWTN News), Gretchen Crowe (OSV News), and James Rogers (USCCB). A special highlight of the program was the Gabriel Awards ceremony, honoring the best Catholic television and radio programs, films, and multimedia projects that bring Gospel values to society.
Particular attention was given to the challenges and opportunities surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in media. Participants discussed the importance of maintaining a “ healthy paranoia” — carefully verifying sources to avoid spreading fake videos or news that could undermine trust in Catholic outlets. This is especially critical today, as trust is becoming the new “currency” in the world of communications, and Catholic media have a unique mission to be spaces of truth and reliability where people can once again find confidence in the spoken and written word. At the same time, speakers emphasized that AI is not only a risk but also a powerful tool for creativity and optimization — helping to generate new ideas, explore innovative approaches, plan productions, and even adapt messaging to reflect the unique voice of a particular individual.
The conference is organized by the Catholic Media Association of the United States and Canada and stands as the largest professional platform for Catholic journalists, digital communications specialists, and all those engaged in evangelization through media.