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Media in South Asia

PRIME MINISTER Ratnasiri Wickremanayake addressing journalists from South Asia on Saturday spoke of their collective responsibility towards eliminating poverty in the region.

Speaking at the inauguration of the South Asia Free Media Association’s sixth anniversary the Premier also expounded on the role of the media while dwelling on the rapidly expanding media industry.

He also spoke of the need of mediamen to cultivate a social consciousness. Premier Wickremanayake who is known not to mince his words also touched on the concept of media freedom.

He said many Sri Lankans viewed media freedom as a licence by some to cater to sectarian and anti-national interests. He qualified his statement though by saying not all media practitioners here belonged to this category.

Expanding further on the topic the Premier dwelt on tendency of the Western media to amuse and titillate saying this should not necessarily be the role of the Asian journalist who should play a more serious and responsible role.

True, there are many common features where Asia’s journalists could come together such as tackling poverty and the fight against terrorism.

What is therefore required is a watertight mechanism where journalists in the region could share their knowledge and resources towards such endevours.

Measures should also be devised to enable journalists of South Asia to expand contacts so that common interests could be promoted.

Intra-SAARC Visa restrictions should be eased for journalists and more exchange programmes must be initiated among the region’s newspapers, some of which are world famous.

It goes without saying that the role of the media has undergone a drastic transformation in the past two decades both in subject matter and outlook.

While the Premier’s contention that South Asia’s journalists should form a bloc is welcome, the question is whether the rapidly changing frontiers of journalism would permit such a course.

After all, journalism too has succumbed to globalisation, with news becoming a commodity sold 24/7 on worldwide satellite and Internet networks.

The end of the Cold War and the realignment of hitherto hostile nations too has seen a shift in the overview of the South Asian scribe.

Burgeoning global conflicts and political turbulence have become our daily staple to such an extent that the modern journalist is required to make several adaptations and veer off the beaten track. It has thrust him into an unenviable role to provide information to the public without losing credibility.

Members of the media are faced with multifaceted challenges as never before and the quest for seeking information has even put his life on the line on many an occasion while trying to keep the public informed of unfolding developments.

Nothing has highlighted the plight of the journalist more than the numerous abductions and executions of mediamen on assignments in war torn Iraq and Afghanistan.

Like their colleagues the world over the role of the Lankan journalist too has assumed a special significance in the context of the ethnic conflict. With this paradigm shift the media in Sri Lanka has been thrust into the forefront to play the role of the fourth estate only behind the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.

By and large Sri Lanka has a vibrant media culture and the preponderance of media institutions that are critical of the Government speaks volumes for the free run enjoyed by media practitioners to ply their trade in a climate of non-interference.

Of course there had been abberations along the way and Sri Lanka cannot be unique in this connection. What is needed is a right balance between freedom and responsibility.

A free press is a powerful tool that shapes public opinion. Thus there is a need for certain safeguards that should be resorted to in the dissemination of sensitive information. Above all it should be worthy of its description as the watchdog of the nation.

Teamwork, motivation key to success of Air Force

THE number of replicas of many aircraft manufactured worldwide adorning his room gives a clear picture that he has a passion for aircraft. Air Vice Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke who commands the Sri Lanka Air Force has been living with aircraft for 52 years with his father too, having commanded the Air Force. In an exclusive interview with the Daily News at the Sri Lanka Air Force headquarters, he says the task before the Air Force is challenging. But it has faced the challenge before it effectively, forcing the enemy go on the defensive after their air attacks were neutralised.

Full Story

From Sri Lanka to Slough

SIMON Hoggart spends a blissful time in Sri Lanka, experiencing the real beauty of the island.

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Remembering Rajiv Gandhi

Today marks the 63rd birth anniversary of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

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