5th Column
Tainted ethics
View(s):My Dear Keheliya,
I am writing to you because I thought I must do so soon. I heard that you are proposing a ‘Code of Ethics’ for the media and from what we have heard about this ‘code’, we may not be able to write anything at all, if you have your way!
It is not that this ‘Code of Ethics’ is unnecessary. As you said, we have twenty-six television stations, a hundred and eighty newspapers and two hundred and twenty-five Members of Parliament, not to mention sixty-six ministers so there must be some code to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected.
But I found the ‘code’ that you have drafted to be quite interesting and I am worried that if it is adopted in the way that you want it to be, you chaps who are politicians-especially those of you in the Blue camp-will hardly get any publicity!
For instance, your friend GL will not be in the news at all because your ‘code’ says that the media should not carry any news items that ‘affect foreign relations’. We know from experience that this is what happens whenever GL speaks, so we will have to leave him out entirely!
Then your ‘code’ says that there should not be any reports that would ‘lower the standards of public taste and morality’ or anything that is ‘obscene or defamatory’. Obviously, we won’t be able to report a word of what your colleague from Kelaniya, Mervyn, says and I feel sorry for him.
Then, Keheliya, when you drafted that ‘code’ did you think that asking us not to write about people with ‘physical illness or disability’ and about ‘individuals in hospital’ was necessary? Of course, I know that you must have meant well, but we will lose a significant percentage of our news stories!
For instance, we wouldn’t be able to report a word about General Sarath’s many visits to hospital or for that matter even Azath’s recent brush with the authorities. And, just imagine living without those exciting updates about the state of young Duminda’s brain. Ah, wouldn’t Hirunika be devastated?
You also need to be careful about who else will be affected by your ‘code’, Keheliya. You would not have realised how far reaching its consequences are, but you may even have to black out news related to Mahinda maama if this ‘code’ is adopted and I will tell you why.
Do you recall that, when Mahinda maama was recently asked about the date for elections to the provincial council in the North, he said it will be decided by his astrologer? Now that will have to be blacked out because your code says we should not ‘encourage superstitions or blind belief’!
Your ‘code’ is not totally about individuals either; it would affect our daily life as well: if it was in use, we wouldn’t have heard a word about Mahinda maama’s concession to those using a lesser amount of electricity because it says we shouldn’t provide information which ‘misleads the public’.
You must also remember, Keheliya, that if your ‘code’ was used properly, it would also affect a lot of other organisations and not just the media. I would suggest that you check with your own Lords and Masters whether they are happy about that.
Why I say so is because your ‘code’ bans ‘derogatory remarks on religious groups or communities or promoting communal or religious discord’ and anything that is likely to ‘incite violence’. So, for instance, we wouldn’t be able to write a word about the ‘Bodu Bala Sena’ or ‘Sihala Raavaya’!
I know, Keheliya, that your intention in introducing this ‘code’ is to create a better media in our country but you must also be very careful about how you do that. For instance, if your code had been in use when you were impeaching the Chief Justice, you may not have been so successful.
That is because your ‘code’ says we should not report on what may ‘amount to contempt of court’. So, you would have had to cancel all those malicious and slanderous television programmes the state media carried against Her Ladyship in the run-up to the impeachment, if this code was enforced!
Think about all this, will, you, Keheliya? I am sure you are working towards creating a ‘free’ media and that is why you want this ‘code’ for them. But sometimes you will need to be careful about what you wish for and as I have pointed out, your chaps on the Blue side may end up with no publicity at all!
Yours truly,
Punchi Putha.
PS-Of course, the good news is that even if the ‘code’ is implemented, there will never be a shortage of publicity for you. Why, the code does not ban news about ministers falling from their hotel balconies or their sons raiding their school at midnight and then getting away scot-free, does it?
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