Journalists need professional recognition
Disna MUDALIGE
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Minister Rambukwella
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Journalists should be given professional recognition and measures
should be introduced for them to be accepted as professionals, said Mass
Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
He said that Professionals' Associations in the country do not accept
journalists as professionals. The Minister noted that one of the main
targets of the government is to arrange the background for journalists
to be recognized at professional level by improving their knowledge and
experience in the field.
He was addressing the Esidisi Mass Media Scholarship Awards Ceremony
held at the Ministry auditorium yesterday. Scholarships were granted for
media training programs for 2011 to 71 selected media personnel
representing both government and private electronic and print media
institutions.
This was carried out in accordance with a pledge in the Mahinda
Chintana policy. Optimum value of the scholarships will be Rs 100,000
and these are given on non repayment basis. The Minister also said that
art and media have a high position in the journey to make this country
the knowledge hub.
"Images of journalists are immortal and they are a sensitive group.
Journalists provide their valuable leadership in any kind of
revolution."
"Journalists have a high responsibility and they should understand it
properly. The past few years was a period we underwent the most number
of severe crises in recent history," he said.
"To face these challenges we all have to go beyond our routine duties
and responsibilities while contributing to take the country forward. In
a critical stage like this, journalists have a high responsibility and
they must carefully select the limit of their reporting," he noted. He
pointed out that media could bring about an attitudinal change in the
society and it has the duty to convert the minds of people to believe in
the strength of nation.
"There was a time in the past that people gave up their hopes about
the future of the country. They attempted to send their children
overseas. However, we can have hopes about a secured and brighter future
today. At this stage, media has the responsibility to correct the
attitude of people that we are a proud and victorious nation," he said.
Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary W B Ganegala said that
Rs 50 million is provisioned through the budget for the welfare work of
journalists.
Measures are underway to introduce a pension scheme and to provide
cameras and laptops at concessionary prices for journalists, he said.
Ganegala said that even though only 19 scholarships were granted last
year, the government has now paid attention to provide more facilities
for them to raise the status of journalists anticipating a quality
service in return. |