The issue of “Guidelines to the Media” a need when idiots write!!

An objective person, who reads any of Sri Lanka’s written media will find that there is no remnant of journalistic ethic of objectivity and independence especially as in the good old days of DR Wijewardene’s Lakehouse, where there was no interference on Editorial content, and journalists of the highest ethical standards and pride in their profession were at the helm.

Today’s journalists have to survive in a cruel world to make a living and will prostitute themselves, (with a few exceptions) to their masters both owners and political. Today, politicians have their favorite reporters reporting on their days, this goes for both the government and opposition. With the Government controlling much of the Media, by definition we get a one sided view of the world, which is then fed to the readers, many of whom are unable to read between the lines and understand that they have been had!!

This lack of knowledge of the true face of media by the public who read and believe what they read is what is at the heart of the breakdown of journalism as a proud profession to be involved in.

The fact the Newspaper Ravaya has been able to survive as an independent is purely due to the stature of Victor Ivan who may not be able to pass this mantle to anyone else. Further as the readership is so small, “too many idiots read the papers” that it is not a threat to the Government and therefore allowed, in fact encouraged to print, so that their lie, of a free press can be proselytized to a skeptical world and believed by a gullible local audience.

I alluded to one of the problems with this type of journalism and the abuse of their privileges the editors engage in the previous blog entry. One can read it along with the article I allude to get a real life example of the level of sycophants and toothless fairies we have in the journalistic profession.

It is time we harnessed our youth to understand first what true ethics is and then teach them journalistic ethics and objective analysis. We do not have a good columnist in Sri Lanka today who we can be proud of!!

There is huge scope to change the Fourth Estate in Sri Lanka by ridding itself of the muck that tends to tarnish its every stage and replace it with new blood that is fresh, enthusiastic, objective and patriotic devoid of political prejudice reporting out of the gut of patriotism in the future of Sri Lanka only.