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Scope widens for Thomson Foundation alumni

by promod de silva

The Thomson Foundation (TF), the premier journalism training institute in the UK, has turned 40.

It has trained over 6,000 print/electronic media journalists from all parts of the world at its training facility in Cardiff, Wales and overseas. This writer had the privilege of attending a Thomson course in Sri Lanka and also visiting the TF centre in Cardiff last year.

To mark this Ruby jubilee, TF is publishing a special commemorative edition of its news magazine, "Scope", featuring a selection of those who have taken part in UK-based courses since 1962 - and posting special web pages, too.

TF is asking all ex-students help produce these very special pages by e-mailing its research unit at: [email protected]. If you haven't already done so, please do e-mail (or use normal mail : Publicity Centre, Wainfield Farm, Wainfield Lane, Gwehelog, Monmouthshire, NP15 1RG, United Kingdom), giving your name, the date of your course (and if you have it, the number) and, most important, details of how TF can contact you today, together with any reminiscences or anecdotes you care to include... A TF news release said:

TF was born in November 1962, though the first training course was not held until October 1, 1963 - almost one year later. The minutes of the Foundation's first trustees' meeting show that at that historic meeting was Lord Kilmuir (in the Chair) together with Lord Williamson and Kenneth R. Thomson (now the second Lord Thomson of Fleet and chairman of the Thomson Corporation).

They decided among other tings to appoint a director (Tom Neil) and acquired a large country home south of Glasgow in which they were to install a TV studio and control room "similar to those students might find in their own countries" together with living accommodation for 16 to 20 students.

It was in Cardiff that the first UK course was held - since the trustees decided that in the short term they would use the one of the existing training schools run by Thomson Newspapers in the UK. There were two such centres, Newcastle and Cardiff and they plumped for Cardiff."

'LTTE and IRA' launched

Daily News journalist Ranga Kalansooriya's first English book "LTTE and IRA" was launched last week at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi amidst a distinguished gathering.

Enterprise Development, Investment Promotion, Industrial Policy and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris was the Chief Guest.

The book is based on his research under the Reuters Fellowship Program at Green College, Oxford University last year.

The book focuses on the behaviourial pattern of the two organisations especially at the negotiating table. The writer, who has travelled extensively in the Northern areas to see for himself the horrors of war, also travelled to Northern Ireland and Ireland to study the conflict there. Kalansooriya got the opportunity of interviewing Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, several other prominent figures of the Northern Ireland conflict and also key players of the LTTE in Europe.

Minister Peiris, delivering the keynote address at the book launch, said the publication was very timely in the context of the current peace moves.

"The lessons he derives from his study are by no means reassuring, but they are carefully and honestly drawn.

At a time when terrorism is at the top of every agenda in government and the news media alike, this is a timely study that deserves to be read everywhere," says Godfrey Hodgson, Director, Reuter Foundation Programme at Green College in his foreword to the book.

Ranga Kalansooriya is currently the Assistant News Editor of the Daily News. The 'LTTE and IRA' is a Sanhinda publication.

Tribute to veterans

The Daily News Media Watch pays a tribute to three eminent journalists who died recently. They were M. A. de Silva, Sunil Kalubowila and Walter Nanayakkara. M. A. de Silva edited the Dinamina, the ANCL Sinhala daily from 1960 to 1964 and was instrumental in establishing Lankapuvath, the national news agency.

A former member of the Sri Lanka Press Council, he was also a well-known media trainer. He was a close associate of Prime Minister John Kotelawala and played an active role in Sri Lanka's entry to the United Nations.

He also worked as a consultant to veteran publisher Esmond Wickremesinghe for some time. He will be remembered by his colleagues and students as a tireless worker who always had the interests of journalism at heart.

Sunil Kalubowila was attached to the Divaina, where he excelled as a political reporter. He regularly covered the President, Parliament and Cabinet news briefings in addition to general news reporting at the news desk.

Walter Nanayakkara (66), who served a long stint in the Island and later joined the Daily Mirror, was also renowned for political reporting. Walter moved into journalism at the Sun/Davasa group of newspapers in the 1970s.

Journalism Awards

The Editors' Guild of Sri Lanka is seeking entries from print media journalists for the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2001.

It is open to all journalists including freelancers working for local newspapers published in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Entries should cover the period January 1 to December 31, 2001.

Among the awards are: Mervyn de Silva journalist of the year, D. R. Wijewardene Award for earning the appreciation of peers and public, Sepala Gunasena award for defending press freedom in Sri Lanka, D. B. Dhanapala scoop of the year, B. A. Siriwardene columnist of the year, sports journalist of the year, cartoonist of the year, photographer of the year and best young reporter (under 30).

The deadline for entries is February 15, 2002. Entries should be delivered to the Convener, Panel of Judges, 100, Barnes Place, Colombo 7.

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