Jo Siedlecka, Editor-in-Chief of ICN, The First Online British Catholic News Service

Francisco:  Ms. Siedlecka, what made you found Independent Catholic News in Great Britain, and when?

Ms. Siedlecka: There wasn’t a daily online  Catholic news service here. There were four Catholic printed weekly papers but nothing daily.

We set up on a voluntary basis in May 2000 in response to Tertio Millennio Adveniente, which called for lay people to play a more active role in the work of the Church. As journalists, we felt this project was one way we could make a contribution.

Francisco: Was it a difficult process to make this amazing Catholic media Apostolate become a reality?

Ms. Siedlecka: No. Setting up a simple website – with the help of more technical friends  – was not difficult or expensive. The hard part was and is keeping up to date with the news.   And it’s an ongoing process. We are always developing and adding features to the site.

Francisco: How have Great Britain and the Catholic Church reacted to ICN?

Ms. Siedlecka: Here in England and Wales only 9.6 percent of the population is Catholic. In Scotland, we are 14 percent.  In Ireland many more but their population is small. So I wouldn’t say ICN has much of an impact on the general population.

However, over the years, we seem to be getting more and more inquiries from the secular media. Over the weekend for example I had a call from the BBC asking about the arrival of St Bernadette’s relics.

Francisco:  What did you do before you founded ICN?

Ms. Siedlecka: I was a journalist. I trained in 1988 and got my first job on a local London paper. (Camden Chronicle) I didn’t go to church in those days.  (I stopped going around the age of 18) But in a way, my work led me back to the Church. When I got a local’ story which I thought might appeal to the national media (For example the visit of Mother Teresa to a local church) I would offer it to them as well. I also visited Catholic projects working with street children in Thailand which really affected me.

After four years on the Chronicle I went freelance and since then have worked for the BBC, Guardian, Independent, and others. In my work, I was always most interested in human rights issues: homelessness,  poverty, refugees etc.  I think that was what brought me back to practicing my faith – in 1996. After that, I soon started writing about Catholic issues. I’ve freelanced for all four Catholic papers here (sadly since Covid most of them no longer exist)  I also worked as a consultant for the Bishops Conference of England and Wales Media Office for a year. I was in Rome working for them when St John Paul II died.

Francisco: Where can you find ICN on the Internet?

Ms. Siedlecka: Our URL is: https://www.indcatholicnews.com

Francisco: How do you reach many of your readers in the developing world?

Ms. Siedlecka: We have contacts with church organisations and individuals in most parts of the world.

Francisco: What parts of the world does ICN reach?

Ms. Siedlecka: Wherever there is the internet.

Francisco: How do you choose what stories to publish?

Ms. Siedlecka: I pray each morning before I start.  Some stories are ‘diary’ ones – expected events. Others are sudden –  natural disasters/deaths/unexpected announcements, etc.  You have to keep your ear to the ground.

I get more than 2,000 emails a day – some with press releases – some with information about forthcoming events online or in person.  Ellen Teague who is the press officer for the Columbans often writes a great deal for ICN and we have a chat every day.  We try to get to as many events as we can.  There are several more good people who write for me on a regular basis.

Deacon Patrick van Der Vorst does a lovely ‘Gospel in Art piece every day.  Fr Robin Gibbons writes a Sunday Reflection.

Francisco: What are some of the challenges ICN faces each day?

Ms. Siedlecka: Sometimes it feels like I’m juggling several balls in the air at the same time – seven days a week.

Francisco:  How do you overcome these challenges?

Ms. Siedlecka: I really enjoy the work.  But I try to take breaks, delegate, see friends, go for walks, and swimming.  I sing in my church choir. I belong to the Jubilee Sailing Trust which has the only tall ship in the world adapted to teaching sailing to people with disabilities along with able-bodied people. Our ship the Tenacious has sailed around the world. I’ve accompanied several people with disabilities on voyages.  They were better sailors than me.

Francisco:  Like most Catholic media Apostolates you rely on donations.  How difficult is this challenge?

Ms. Siedlecka: Yes –  it’s not easy.   But ICN is not expensive to run. Fortunately, I don’t have a mortgage and don’t have dependents.  I rent a flat in an almshouse for the over 55’s. It was set up in the 19th century for the ‘decrepit deserving poor!’  The rent is not as high as commercial London rent.  So my outgoings are low.

ICN earns a modest income from advertisers and gets donations and grants from several religious orders and many individuals.  I never charge people for ICN. At the same time, I try to pay people who write for me – the lowest NUJ rate.

Francisco: What are some of the ways your readers can support ICN?

Ms. Siedlecka:  Pray for us, please.  Send us your news. Make a small donation if you can afford it.

Francisco: Who are just some of your main contributors?

Ms. Siedlecka: Do you mean financial contributors?

The Passionists give us a grant each year which covers the cost of the web hosting etc.

Francisco: How does the present Holy See help with the many challenges you face?

Ms. Siedlecka: I received news from the Vatican Media Office.  Ellen Teague and I have attended the brilliant ‘Church Up Close’ courses at the Pontifical University  Santa Croce in Rome. (I really recommend that!) They took us to the Vatican Media Office several times.

Francisco:  Is the successor to Father Federico Lombardi helping in these efforts?

Ms. Siedlecka: They issue daily news and the Vatican Media Office is always on hand to answer inquiries.  From time to time they hold conferences on media.

Francisco: How important is the Internet to the New Evangelization?

Ms. Siedlecka: I think it’s very important. The internet is a gift. It can also be very dangerous.    We need to use it wisely and charitably to spread the Good News.  In his last Message for World Communication Day, Pope Francis warned of the pitfalls of the internet and said ‘Nothing replaces seeing things at first hand’.

You can read that message  and lots more about ICN here: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/1

Best wishes and prayers

Jo

On that note, I would like to thank Jo Siedlecka for her valuable time in sharing her story about why she founded Independent Catholic News, the first Catholic News Service in Great Britain!