The media and peace promotion

MORE than twenty-five writers and mediapersons gathered recently at a special meeting convened by the Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA) with the objective of examining the role and responsibility of this important section of the Christian community.

Among the participants were Rev. Fr. Sriyananda Fernando - National Director of Social Communications, Rev. Sarath Hettiarachchi - Executive Secretary, Media and Communications Unit of the National Christian Council, and Dr. Vijaya Corea - Head of the Peace for All Ministry.

Also present were those from the fields of advertising and the print and electronic media as well as freelance writers.

Delivering the keynote address titled 'Christian Media Responsibility' on this occasion, Lynn Ockersz, Associate Editor - 'Daily News', highlighted the important contribution that Christian writers and mediapersons have to make towards the achievement of peace in the country.

'We have to remember that the media, whether State or private, are not doing their level best in this area. As never before, we are called upon to look at media presentations very critically as there are many distortions and even concoctions,' he said.

Speaking further, he exhorted Christian journalists to the sacred injunction in Romans Chapter 13 which states that 'one has to achieve what is good and as long as one does that one need not fear the state' and again that 'whosoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered.

Anyone who does so will bring judgement on himself. For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good but by those who do evil.'

Though the media should be committed to upholding the truth, we see that on quite a few issues at the present moment certain sections of the media are not stating what is factually correct,' he pointed out.

'For example the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) and the Joint Mechanism which figure prominently in the debates on the National Question.

In some sections of the privately owned media, the ISGA issue is portrayed as leading to a separate state and more recently the Joint Mechanism proposal is described as a Govt-LTTE arrangement which would exercise authority in all parts of the country whereas it will be operative only in the North/East and that too solely in the tsunami-affected areas.

'So clearly there are attempts at misleading the public and befuddling them, with the obvious consequences that it will be more difficult to arrive at a negotiated settlement because the opinion climate in the country will not be conducive to it.

Since so much depends on peace, the Christian media community must try to promote peace by giving the factual situation with regard to these important issues'.

The meeting participants also focused their attention on the moral degradation in society and the widespread practice of abortion. Special mention was made of the lack of advertising ethics which leads not only to distasteful and offensive public ads but also promotes consumerism while hurting the sensitivities of the poor.

Those present decided to meet again and to form a core-group that would examine these issues in greater detail and take appropriate action.