More on journalists and journalism

An article was written by Mervyn De Silva during the American-Vietnam war following his visit to Hanoi. Mervyn, according to that article had met two Vietnamese men at a restaurant.

Mervyn De Silva	Chandraratne Manawasinghe	Meemana Prematilleke	Denzil Peiris

The subject had been the war. The two men in anger had been talking to Mervyn with fingers pointed at Mervyn. But Mervyn had observed that the direction of the pointed fingers were exactly in the direction towards America, though the two men were ignorant of that fact.

Mervyn De Silva started the article from the direction where the fingers were pointed at. What more creativity for the present and future generations if they really want to learn and trek on the path of journalism to be professionals?

During the past few days much was written about journalists and journalism by reputed columnists in our print media. All of them were very analytical in their comments. It definitely provided a platform to young journalists of today to really understand their profession in the true spirit of self-criticism.

I thought it is wise, to add a little more spice, for the taste of our young journalist generation, with the belief that they would learn what exactly is there for them in the profession called the Fourth Estate.

Enthusiasm

Journalists, in general, as my former colleague and friend, Malinda Seneviratne described in his column in the 'Lakbima News', a fortnight ago are better informed on a wide range of subjects around them.

That is correct in the context of well trained experienced journalists in the profession who have taken up the pen with enthusiasm and interest. How many of today's journalists make a requisite progress to achieve the objective of being a professional in the profession?

How many of them would answer that question in a polite, honest and reassuring manner? How many would answer those simple questions? Where the cause is the question that needs to be examined.

The late great Editor of the popular and prestigious Sinhala weekly, 'Silumina', Meemana Prematilleke once told an audience that he could find a dozen of young men who could write- 'Lamaya Gedera Giyeya'-(The child went home).

But lamented it was difficult to find one who could describe how the child went home (Lamaya gedera giye keseda?). What did Meemana Prematilleke mean? He meant that journalism was a profession that needed creativity.

In this era, the numbers of journalists in all three languages appear to have trebled over the past three decades. How many of them could be included in the category specified by Meemana Prematilleke is the question.

Talking about the print media today, we see more young men and women in the profession with less creative talents. They are more used to the 'Dictation Journalism' type where one writes a direct speech at a meeting.

Also many of them do not know where and what a Coroner's Court is. We cannot blame them for that. Why? Because their 'on the job training' today is not designed in an effective manner as in the past.

In the past, a trainee journalist began his 'rounds' from the Coroner's Court, General News, Hultsdorp Courts and Parliament coverage, which was subject to an apprenticeship period under a Senior Parliamentary Correspondent of the respective newspaper, to acquaint himself well on Parliamentary procedures and Standing Orders of Parliament.

Today we see more 'in-house' journalism rather than the traditional 'walking and hard talk journalism' that existed in the past. 'In-house journalism' is a costly exercise with the newspaper institutions being called upon to shoulder high telephone bills as 'in-house' working is more 'telephone journalism' with no personal identity contacts.

The journalist is identified by his voice by the person at the other end. Isn't such a process a tragedy to the profession? In the past, the telephone was permitted to get appointments or work on an 'on the rush' news story to meet deadlines.

Responsibility

Producing a quality newspaper with good reader content is the sole responsibility of those who steer them at 'top' editorial level. In that regard, a heavy responsibility is cast upon an Editor.

The experience, seniority and professionalism of an Editor give vigor to young journalists to become professionals in the future. Veteran Editor of yesteryear, newspaper legend who spearheaded the prestigious Daily News, Clarence Fernando disliked to see his reporters inside the editorial before the Provincial and City editions.

If he saw one, he would order him out to the 'field' screaming, "I want two 'top' stories for the first edition, city and a scoop for the late city." Clarence and Gamini Weerakoon were tough editors.

With them, no breath to reason why... only to do and die...If not, the portable type writer on their table was likely to find the aerial route.

Clarence Fernando once speaking on the subject of journalism remarked that if demotivated persons steer editorials, a newspaper room would be full of frustrated journalists be it the state controlled or private media.

Being the Editor of the state controlled Daily News, Fernando bravely described that if there was a regular slump in the readership figures, the reason was that the correct message was not driven to the people and dismissed the belief that State controlled newspapers cannot attract a wider readership.

True to his belief, the Daily News remains and yet holds the record as the newspaper with the highest circulation as a daily today.

Contribution

Recalling the contribution made to journalism in the past from the time of legendary D. B. Dhanapala, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the greats like Mervyn De Silva, Tarzie Vittachchi, Denzil Peiris, Earnest Corea, Fred Silva (whom I read while at school), Harold Peiris, Rex De Silva, Gamini Weerakoon, Nihal Ratnaike and Manik De Silva with renowned Sinhala Editors in the caliber of Meemana Prematilleke, Chandraratne Manawasinghe, Gunadasa Liyanage, David Karunaratne, Edmond Ranasinghe and B. A. Siriwardene, the controversial Editor of the now defunct 'Aththa' whose editorials were unparalleled in the element of criticism.

If I may address Mervyn De Silva as the doyen of English journalism, an expression and a sentiment that would certainly be welcomed and shared by many of his era, reading Mervyn's contributions of the past, are vibrant material for education on creative journalism, to the present and the future journalist generations.

Having read the late great Mervyn De Silva with much interest, once I picked an article written by him during the American-Vietnam war following his visit to Hanoi. Mervyn, according to that article had met two Vietnamese men at a restaurant. The subject had been the war. The two men in anger had been talking to Mervyn with fingers pointed at Mervyn.

But Mervyn had observed that the direction of the pointed fingers were exactly in the direction towards America, though the two men were ignorant of that fact. Mervyn De Silva started the article from the direction where the fingers were pointed at. What more creativity for the present and future generations if they really want to learn and trek on the path of journalism to be professionals?

In the true sense, Mervyn was a magnificent product, a unique creation, and an exceptional human being who led a quiet life. While being creative, the need is to adopt a more balanced approach when presenting issues concerning the people and the society. Journalists are free to criticize politicians or anyone for that purpose.

But, they should not stoop to low levels of digging into personal lives of public figures or individuals.

Indictments

Such indictments were never served on journalists in the bygone era. Also, boosting the image of individuals excessively causes double destruction. While it destroys that individual in a gradual process, it also destroys the credibility of the newspaper.

To serve readers and practice journalism in an independent manner is not an impossible task, be it the private or state owned media. It is the experience and quality of those who spearhead such editorials that measure and count.

In the state owned print media, gone are the days where Editors had to carry proof pages to the Palace.

Steering a newspaper editorial is a highly responsible job. Great editors of the past did not fear to face criticism to change themselves, to confront the challenge to redefine the role of the print media, in order to suit changing times.

My friend Malinda Seneviratne has very correctly pointed out that - "The ultimate judge is 'self'. And the ultimate test for a journalist with any integrity is the ability and willingness to be as inclined to self criticism as to criticism" - Journalists should be aware that the print media is the most vibrant media that could act to bridge societies, to realise common objectives, to bring all communities together in a multi-ethnic country like Sri Lanka. If one had read the weekly contributions to the then Ceylon Observer by legendary Editors like Tarzie Vittachchi and Denzil Peiris, he or she would see how an Editor focused his eye on issues of the nation and its' people.

Fourth Estate

The country needs a strong responsible Fourth Estate to face challenges at times of crises. Journalists must not solely depend on 'media defenders'. As Malinda Seneviratne correctly says, these 'media defenders' are not 'neutral' or 'objective' as they claim to be.

There are many 'self-proclaimed' defenders of media freedom today. As the cracking joke circulating among the scribes says - "If a Sinhala or Tamil journalist is attacked, you need to fund these 'defenders' to stage protests in local currency.

And if an 'English' media journalist is attacked you got to give dollars to stage protests". Malinda further puts it rightly stating that these 'defenders' have not come 'clean' nor confessed to their past sins.

Journalists, if they aspire to be professionals in their profession must do what's best in their job towards the nation and the society, stepping beyond political ideologies and party affiliations.

They should refrain from getting themselves 'baptized' with 'coloured' liquid. Columnist of the Asian Tribune, Janaka Perera in a recent article states that the irony is that many journalists who operate from 'safe houses' on and off come to the streets to demonstrate against the Government in the full glare of local and foreign television cameras'.

Should journalists become 'pawns' in the hands of 'defenders' is another question. Journalism is a broader profession for those who could think broader to fit into that wider scope.

In the present context, journalists of the day should spend more time on educating themselves on the profession they have chosen. Because there is a growing need to ensure that the language presented on print is correct and accurate both in grammar and vocabulary.

There is also an urgent need to have the basic-'three tenses' of the language used correctly on print. Otherwise, such incorrect material may appear as either 'horrible' or 'terrible' in the eyes of the reader.

Legendary editors of the past redefined editorial content to get closer to the readership. Also today we have, young Editors, qualified to their posts, some of whom are lawyers, fully dedicated towards such a noble cause with the intention of not only supplying information to the readership, but also providing educative material correctly in the language they command in their respective newspapers.

Professionals

The country experiences a period where there is a dearth for professionals in many important sectors close to the people and the society. No qualified Editor would wish to see his newsroom as an unhappy place with demotivated journalists, mainly junior reporters who frustrate experienced sub-editors with the incorrect use of the language, an obstacle to produce quality newspapers to a complex society.

Such a scenario is only likely to emerge if those who steer editorials lack experience, quality and content within themselves in the profession. But, they should not fear to criticise themselves to change themselves for the betterment of the profession as stated by the late Editor of the Daily News, Clarence Fernando.

Editors and journalists must be ready to confront the challenge of defining the role of the print media in these changing times.

Divergent interests should be greater than partisan interests to uphold the supremacy of the journalistic profession. Because, we, as Editors and journalists are compelled to deal with the 'unwashed', 'washed' and the 'perfumed' in this complex society.