Time for resurrecting mainstream media and trenchant public opinion

Winston Churchill, after reading Bartlett’s ‘Book of Familiar Quotes,’ had said “It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.” 

Reportedly, Churchill was also a fan of George Bernard Shaw, who is credited for the quote “He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.”

However, based on his achievements, it is unlikely that Churchill ever thought that he knows everything at any stage in his life. On the contrary, he was reportedly an avid reader and is globally credited for his wit, spontaneity, and oratory skills.

Nearly 80 years ago he had told American lawmakers, “In my country, as in yours, public men are proud to be the servants of the State and would be ashamed to be its masters.” 

In Sri Lanka, it is hard to imagine how or why some lawmakers embarked on political careers or were elected. Was it their belief of knowing everything and because, as Bertrand Russell said, “Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man”?  

Their responses and reactions to several economic and social issues recently highlighted in the print media— meritocracy, criminal justice, import restrictions, port city—suggest that it is a bit of both. For instance, one politician’s response to the Bar Association complaint about the deaths of two citizens in custody was “No one should take the law unto their hands…” Nothing about what he can and will do to prevent it from ever happening.

Another recently said, “Our aim is to bring Colombo Port City to the list of 10 economic zones of this nature.” The list of 10 in terms of what? Land area, Foreign Direct Investment, employment? Or is it empty rhetoric? The media reported, but never questioned these statements. 

Public opinion on mainstream print media reports on these issues is also off target, if not absent. For instance, the editorials published between 20 and 26 May 2021 in the newspapers that provide online response platforms, had zero comments. 

Six persons commented on the IGP’s order to treat curfew violators fairly and nine on a politician’s apology to the President about a Mayor. On the IGP’s order one citizen simply asked “Why?” and another commended the IGP and suggested preventing media from being around the Police check points. About the Mayor, one said it is a cover up and another commended the President, perhaps for saying, “We should not let incidents of this nature happen in future.” 

A media report sometime back on the call for proposals from the public on the MCC compact drew seven comments. They varied from “no” to “what kind of joke is this?” Are these comments helpful to anyone? On the contrary, Washington Post’s opinion of 27 May 2021 had 84 comments, within three hours of its publication, most with alternative views and suggestions.

Is the lack of opinions on editorials and sarcasm on ordinary reports in Sri Lanka because the public do not care, tired of empty rhetoric, fearful of reprisal, or bored of the dated and biased print media? If one listens to the conversations in a typical gathering of males in Colombo, it is more like “all of the above”.

Early British philosopher Jeremy Bentham believed that “public opinion is a useful check on the authority of rulers” and “to the pernicious exercise of the power of government it is the only check”. 

Of course, some have argued that politicians use public opinion for bolstering their policies and decisions or pandering to voters. Be that as it may, public apathy and sarcasm will not help bring about change that many say is needed to safeguard their liberty and realise their aspirations. Citizens must engage in governance by expressing their opinions in a constructive, decent manner and sharing knowledge, even under pseudonyms. 

The mainstream print media must support them by assuring at least two elements of journalism—obligation to the truth and loyalty to its citizens. Irrelevant and arcane op-eds alienate readers, promote fake news, and perpetuate authoritarian decision-making and nepotism.   

Prianka Nalin Senevirate, PhD, PE