Reflections on SL media on World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day fell yesterday (3 May). It’s over 30 years since the UN General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. While the day is marked as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom, it is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.

In Sri Lanka’s context, while the WFP day will be celebrated with token gatherings and discussion, there will be many issues that impact the media in the country that go unsaid.

In an interview to mark the day, the President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association Duminda Sampath, lamented the lack of discussions for and among journalists about ethics, welfare and other issues affecting them.

“Journalists always talk about others’ issues. But we have been unable to create a proper platform to talk about our own issues,” Sampath was quoted as saying.

Journalists in Sri Lanka, like in all parts of the world, face new challenges every day. This year, UNESCO awarded its world press freedom prize to all Palestinian journalists covering the war in Gaza. Worldwide, in conflict zones, in places of natural disasters, in hostile conditions, journalists go bravely where most do not dare to go. They do this in the line of their duty, and many have paid with their lives while engaging in their profession. 

The face of news has changed rapidly over the past decade or so. The domination of the print media is on a steady decline as most people access news through online platforms and television. But whatever forms of journalism they practise, other than the issues of safety and security of journalists, there are other important issues such as better pay, ethics, etc. which have taken a back seat. 

In Sri Lanka journalism is not recognised as a profession and there is no concerted effort to change this status quo. Making journalism a profession would require better academic qualifications, training and higher wages for media personnel.

Wages for those in the Journalist Trade are stipulated under the Wages Board Ordinance and hence extremely low. While all media organisations pay far better salaries than those stipulated by the Wages Board, they still fall far short of salaries that should be paid to those engaging in journalism. 

Due to this the retention rate of journalists in newsrooms is dismal and for a majority of young men and women who venture into the field of journalism, it is a stepping stone to more lucrative careers. Most media institutions do not allow unionisation and hence there is little avenue to speak up on issues concerning wages, welfare, etc.

The practice of ethical journalism in the county too has flown out of the window in recent years. For the print media, a Code of Professional Practice (Code of Ethics) of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka was adopted by the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka in 2015 binding newspaper publishing companies, editors and their journalists to ensure that the Sri Lankan press is free and responsible and sensitive to the needs and expectations of its readers, while maintaining the highest standards of journalism. It was a good start but adherence to these ethics has been far below expectations.

Where the electronic media and online platforms are concerned, there is no collective effort to frame a code of conduct and hence there have been many instances where reporting has fallen for below acceptable standards. These include reporting on women, children, victims of crime, etc. 

That said, Sri Lankan journalists, given their limited resources and, at times lack of institutional support, have bravely and independently been the voice of the people of this country and highlighted many social evils, exposed corruption and put their personal safety on the line for their job. 

While saluting them all, there is a dire need to do more to raise the standard of journalism in the country.