CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Media is neither Free, nor Independent

S. Hewage

As I have pointed out in numerous previous occasions, the concept of “independent media” is an idea that we would like to have, but does not yet exist. What I mean by this is that media is not free from the point of view of its masters. Let me elaborate my point. To be free of value judgments one has to disassociate from his/her values while interpreting facts. Although facts themselves are independent from individual observers, they do not speak for themselves; they must be interpreted by those who present them. Therefore, how such facts are interpreted is dependent upon the individual’s own experience, beliefs, and values. After all, every individual is a member of a society with political, social, and cultural values. People do not live in social vacuums; rather they live in specific social contexts. Every media organization is own and managed by human beings, and they are members of the society.

In Sri Lanka, we have numerous journalists associated with a large number of electronic and print media organizations, which have mushroomed during the past ten years. Many of these journalists, as far as I can understand reading their comments and writings, have very strong political views and affiliations. In fact, I would contend that they are no more than mouthpieces of their political masters. Some of these organizations are financed by political organizations of local and foreign origin. The individual journalists working for these organizations blatantly represent their paymaster’s viewpoints. I have no problem with their chosen profession or the political affiliations, almost all media outlets around the world have such direct or indirect political orientations. Consequently, they are neither free, nor independent from their paymasters.

However, what troubles me is the attempt of these media organizations to hide behind the cover of “free” and “independent” media in an attempt to protect themselves from any liabilities associated with their malicious reporting. While these media organizations and their affiliated journalists are hell-bent in expressing the vested-interest of their local and foreign paymasters at the expense of other competing interests such as national security, public-safety, and sovereignty of the nation state, they want to carry the “holy banner” of “free media” and “independent journalism.” They must realize that they are neither free nor independent, and they have undertaken contracts from those who pay for their livelihood.

They work on behalf of their paymasters when they knowingly twist facts to suit the political agendas of those who fill their coppers. If politically motivated journalists broadcast fabricated news items that mislead the public endangering the lives of innocent people and causing public unrest to satisfy some sadistic pleasures of failed politicians, such reporters should not only be punished for public mischief but also be liable for any personal and property damage, psychological anguish, and lost productivity of the people owing to such reporting.

I have been reading about a recent incident that a Radio Network report caused panic in Thissamarama in southern Sri Lanka. The reporters of this particular network, without due diligence to verify the authenticity of their information, broadcasted a news item on their radio stations causing a massive security threat to local authorities. In the current political situation, given the sensitive nature of the particular incident and the potential political fallout that could be used by certain opportunistic politicians to generate anti-government propaganda, the government took the matter very seriously and suspended the license of the particular media institution.

While we should support whole heartedly the government’s decision to put this particular media institution out of business, we urge the government to go further to make a firm line between politics and public safety. These politically motivated journalists and media institutions must be punished just the same way as any other common criminal. They should be ordered to pay heavy fines for causing physical and psychological anguish to the public, and all other expenses of the law enforcement authorities resulting from such public mischief. As I stated at the outset, these journalists are neither free, nor independent. They are working hand in glove with their local and foreign paymasters, who have a diabolical scheme to control not only Sri Lanka, but the entire South Asian region. There is no such thing as “independent media” in the current globalized world. Those who preach such gibberish are kidding themselves.

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