Lankan Tamil journalists receive training in Chennai

Journalists from Sri Lanka, who recently completed a six-month training programme, received their diplomas and special awards from Union Minister for Textiles E.V.K.S. Elangovan and Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner P.M. Amza at a function in Chennai on Saturday.

Denmark-based International Media Support (IMS) and Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) had selected 20 Tamil journalists for training at SRM University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

They all work in Tamil media in Sri Lanka's 'mofussil' areas - the term used in Sri Lanka is outstation - and were only familiar with Tamil.

Most of them had joined the media straight out of school with no training.

Historian and dean of the journalism school S. Muthiah recalled that the syllabus they had drawn up for the fledgling school was not entirely suited for the needs of these journalists with two to 25 years of experience.

Elangovan said that journalism was the moving force of contemporary events, and that it had the duty of safeguarding freedom. SRM University Chancellor T.R. Pachamuthu said journalism was one of the pillars of democracy.

Amza said that it was incumbent on journalists to be impartial and report both sides of any story.

Tamil is one of the official languages of Sri Lanka - it lives and flourishes there, he said.

Former Central Vigilance Commissioner of India N. Vittal said journalism should reflect society faithfully, monitor trends, and mentor change to create history.

The most poignant words were reserved for Sri Lankan journalist Prem, whose article from the lab journal Mr. Vittal quoted: "The course gave us the grammar of what experience had taught us.

It laid the foundation for journalistic practice beyond war and contradictions."

The SRM School for Journalism also plans to offer short-term courses for Tamil journalists who would like to hone their skills, vice-chancellor P. Sathyanarayanan said. The school is now offering a Bachelor's of Arts programme in journalism.

The IMS is co-funded by the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian Governments to help improve professionalism in media across the world.

The SLPI runs Sri Lanka's only school of journalism, a press complaints commission, and a media and advocacy unit.

This programme was conceived to make a change from within the media, especially as this generation has grown up in the midst of conflict of which the media has also become a part, said Ranga Kalansooriya, Director-General of SLPI. The Hindu