Comments on: War and Press Freedom http://www.groundviews.org/2008/06/03/war-and-press-freedom/ groundviews is an award winning Sri Lankan citizen journalism initiative Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:56:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Sarvan http://www.groundviews.org/2008/06/03/war-and-press-freedom/#comment-2856 Sarvan Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:18:24 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=873#comment-2856 In any journalistic reporting, neutral and unbiased mind and thinking are essential. In Sri Lanka, those with education inside the country, are mostly biased because they have received biased education with racial tone and fabricated history. The truth is never valued to the extent it is valued in the west. Resultantly, what we read are biased reports on news and not real news itself. To make the journalists real, they should be taught to value truth and speak the truth and nothing but the truth. But surely they will face the "bullet" if they do that because the Sinhala society itself is dangerously biased and racial. In any journalistic reporting, neutral and unbiased mind and thinking are essential. In Sri Lanka, those with education inside the country, are mostly biased because they have received biased education with racial tone and fabricated history.

The truth is never valued to the extent it is valued in the west. Resultantly, what we read are biased reports on news and not real news itself.

To make the journalists real, they should be taught to value truth and speak the truth and nothing but the truth. But surely they will face the “bullet” if they do that because the Sinhala society itself is dangerously biased and racial.

]]> By: sahasamvada http://www.groundviews.org/2008/06/03/war-and-press-freedom/#comment-2854 sahasamvada Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:49:21 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=873#comment-2854 post-script to Sahasamvada's comment: The era of manufacturing consent has given way to the era of manufacturing news. Soon media newsrooms will drop the pretense, and start hiring theater directors instead of journalists - Arundhati Roy post-script to Sahasamvada’s comment:

The era of manufacturing consent has given way to the era of manufacturing news. Soon media newsrooms will drop the pretense, and start hiring theater directors instead of journalists - Arundhati Roy

]]> By: sahasamvada http://www.groundviews.org/2008/06/03/war-and-press-freedom/#comment-2851 sahasamvada Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:21:34 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=873#comment-2851 As Blacker states, despite freedom of expression, particularly press freedom, being in a deplorable state, one cannot ignore the lack of professionalism and the constant usage of methods of sensationalism. Today, press sensationalism is partly responsible for harnessing the support for war, especially amongst the Sinhalese populous. The lack of professionalism and political bias further aggravate this situation making it really, a sordid affair. As the author states the press, and a free press at that, has the responsibility of informing the masses, which in turn should help them decide whether a war is justified. Unfortunately, in Sri Lanka the ethical standards of institutions and services that have been supposedly created for its people are in a state of decomposition with little hope of regeneration. As Blacker states, despite freedom of expression, particularly press freedom, being in a deplorable state, one cannot ignore the lack of professionalism and the constant usage of methods of sensationalism. Today, press sensationalism is partly responsible for harnessing the support for war, especially amongst the Sinhalese populous. The lack of professionalism and political bias further aggravate this situation making it really, a sordid affair. As the author states the press, and a free press at that, has the responsibility of informing the masses, which in turn should help them decide whether a war is justified. Unfortunately, in Sri Lanka the ethical standards of institutions and services that have been supposedly created for its people are in a state of decomposition with little hope of regeneration.

]]> By: sham http://www.groundviews.org/2008/06/03/war-and-press-freedom/#comment-2850 sham Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:52:19 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=873#comment-2850 raja , wasnt the "offical secrets act" implemented in UK during world war 2 which was some sort of censorship? i guess some thing good for the british wouldnt be good for us !!! raja , wasnt the “offical secrets act” implemented in UK during world war 2 which was some sort of censorship?
i guess some thing good for the british wouldnt be good for us !!!

]]> By: David Blacker http://www.groundviews.org/2008/06/03/war-and-press-freedom/#comment-2849 David Blacker Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:44:36 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=873#comment-2849 Also, Alllied troops would routinely tune in to Lord Haw Haw and Tokyo Rose. This isn't because either of those characters were telling the truth, but just for the chance to hear some criticism of one's own side. The same is true of the Axis populations listening to the BBC, the SL population checking out Tamilnet, and the US population watching Al Jazeera. It's nothing to do with freedom. Also, Alllied troops would routinely tune in to Lord Haw Haw and Tokyo Rose. This isn’t because either of those characters were telling the truth, but just for the chance to hear some criticism of one’s own side. The same is true of the Axis populations listening to the BBC, the SL population checking out Tamilnet, and the US population watching Al Jazeera. It’s nothing to do with freedom.

]]> By: David Blacker http://www.groundviews.org/2008/06/03/war-and-press-freedom/#comment-2848 David Blacker Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:41:38 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=873#comment-2848 The thing is, while press freedoms in Sri Lanka are woefully lacking, so is journalistic integrity and commitment to the truth. There is a glaring lack of professionalism among Sri Lanka's journalists, ranging from the reporting of hearsay to the shameless colouring of writing according to political loyalty. In addition, even when journalists were allowed to visit the frontlines, very few of them did, preferring to file reports from places like Vavuniya and Batticaloa, and shooting pix of soldiers in training. Most useful frontline reporting in SL has come from foreign journalists. Even during the Eastern ops last year, the only true 'free press' combat footage was by Al Jazeera. I've routinely heard SL journalists give excuses like "couldn't get a car" or "couldn't book a hotel" for their inability to cover incidents (like the Trinco riots a year or so ago) in the NE. I think press institutions need to look at the quality of their product even as they demand the right to put out that product. Having said that, I find your example of the BBC in WW2 to be rather amusing. There really was no such thing as a free press on the Allied side, any more than there was one on the Axis side. The only difference was that the Axis populations were more isolated, and therefore the propaganda that targeted them was less 'competitive'. Organizations like the BBC were subject to government censor, and were rarely allowed to criticize policy, strategy, or personalities. The thing is, while press freedoms in Sri Lanka are woefully lacking, so is journalistic integrity and commitment to the truth. There is a glaring lack of professionalism among Sri Lanka’s journalists, ranging from the reporting of hearsay to the shameless colouring of writing according to political loyalty. In addition, even when journalists were allowed to visit the frontlines, very few of them did, preferring to file reports from places like Vavuniya and Batticaloa, and shooting pix of soldiers in training. Most useful frontline reporting in SL has come from foreign journalists. Even during the Eastern ops last year, the only true ‘free press’ combat footage was by Al Jazeera. I’ve routinely heard SL journalists give excuses like “couldn’t get a car” or “couldn’t book a hotel” for their inability to cover incidents (like the Trinco riots a year or so ago) in the NE. I think press institutions need to look at the quality of their product even as they demand the right to put out that product.

Having said that, I find your example of the BBC in WW2 to be rather amusing. There really was no such thing as a free press on the Allied side, any more than there was one on the Axis side. The only difference was that the Axis populations were more isolated, and therefore the propaganda that targeted them was less ‘competitive’. Organizations like the BBC were subject to government censor, and were rarely allowed to criticize policy, strategy, or personalities.

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