Newspaper Supplement Electio
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The Parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2 will have a decisive impact on Sri Lanka's future political path. Selecting the country's lawmakers is a critical process and the media, ideally, will enable people to make intelligent decisions. But will the media fulfil their social responsibilities fairly, and in accordance with accepted standards? The editors of local leading newspapers speak their minds: TheBehaviourofTheBehaviourof NewspapersNewspapers The Centre for Policy Alternatives has made a study in regard to the behaviour of the newspapers on the general election. This study included all the main newspapers published in Sinhala, Tamil and English from February 17, 2004 to February 24, 2004. The FairElections?FairPress results of that study are briefly as follows. hree state owned dailies - Dinamina, Thinakaran and Daily News Leader publications had the highest percentage of the total coverage Guide - had minimum unfavorable coverage of UPFA respectively (21.85%) unfavorable to the UPFA. 8.01% was favorable to the UPFA and T 2.10%, 0.00% and 1.50%. Dinamina and Daily News had the 11.02% was favorable to the UNF. There was no unfavorable coverage of highest favorable coverage given to any party by a daily newspaper for the UNF. Ourselves UPFA. Daily News had 32.38% Dinamina had 26.75%. Their favorable Other than Sudaroli and Thinakural all non state dailies had more coverage to UPFA was significantly larger than the unfavorable cover- favorable coverage than unfavorable on UPFA. All non state dailies had Sunanda Deshapriya age. more favorable coverage than unfavorable coverage on UNF as well. DeclareSupport PermitAllViews RemainImpartial Spokesman for the These three dailies had the highest unfavorable coverage to UNF Dailies Divaina and The Island had the same amount of favorable published by any daily newspaper. Dinamina had 20.13%. Thinakaran coverage on UPFA and UNF while Daily Lankadeepa and Lakbima also Lalith Alahakoon Siri Ranasinghe A. Sivanesa Selvam Free Media Movement had 8.72% and Daily News had 12.57%. Their favorable coverage to UNF came close to equal coverage on both main parties. Editor-Daily Mirror Editor-Lankadeepa Editor-Thinakural was 11.5%, 9.44% and 7.46% respectively. Except for Thinakaran the Tamil dailies Thinakkural (17.45%), Virakesari (8.68%) and Sudaroli other two dailies had more unfavorable coverage than favorable coverage (15.98%) all had more favorable coverage for TNA. ewspapers can help political ach media institution has a right to he editorial policy at a time of elections should be to present of UNF. Tamil dailies had 2 editorials and 5 front page lead stories favorable to parties at any time and not support, in accordance with their own to the people all aspects of opinions. As Tamil newspapers State owned dailies and weeklies TNA while two editorials were N only at an election, on the policies, the political parties which T we always pay special attention to the problems of the Tamil E had 12 editorials and 3 front page unfavorable to Hela Urumaya. basis of their political ideologies. It is accord with their policies. If a newspaper is people. However we also give coverage to Sinhala politicians and lead stories in favor of UPFA while State Media (Printed) Daily Lankadeepa had the highest not something to be done in secret. I impartial, it must see how it can maintain its Sinhala political parties. We must not be partial. My view is that if the Non State Media (Printed) 2 editorials and 2 front page lead favorable coverage (7.26%) for Hela believe that it can be done openly. It is readership. It is a serious problem. On the editor of a newspaper wants to support a political party he must resign Favorable to UNF 28% Favorable to UNF 50% stories were unfavorable to UNF. 4 Urumaya while Daily Mirror, Divaina not essential to tell the readers directly other hand the newspapers too are a from the newspaper and join that political party. front page lead stories were and The Island all had more than 5% which particular party a newspaper commercial undertaking. An investor spends a We always take steps to expose racism. Even Sinhala racist ideas are unfavorable to SLMC, which is a favorable coverage on Hela Urumaya. supports. The readers will know it. Take large amount of money and starts a newspaper sometimes published in our newspapers. The idea is to aquaint the Tamil coalition partner of UNF. There were Ravaya had the highest coverage a country like England. There are in order to render some service and, to say the people with these ideas. no UNF favorable editorials or lead (16.93%) in support of Free and Fair newspapers which support the Labour truth, to develop it and to make a profit. For stories in State print media. elections. Party and there are newspapers which that purpose it is necessary to increase its Front page photographs in State Favorable to Favorable to 6.35% of total election coverage of support the Conservative Party. sales. That is the fundamental aim. What media show a clear pro UPFA bias. UPFA 72% UPFA 50% daily Thinakkural was favorable to the However it is not possible for policy should be adopted for the purpose of Out of 6 Dinamina issues monitored, UPFA while 12.80% was favorable to newspapers belonging to the govern- increasing sales? In a society with people he security of media personnel when 4 had front page photographs covering the President (UPFA) while there the UNF. ment to be subservient to political parties. Those newspapers are public holding various views, if we align ourselves with one section only, the other they publish ideas against politicians were none in the front page covering the Prime Minister (UNF). 5.40% of total election coverage of daily Sudaroli was favorable to the service media. They must be independent. They must be open to all sections move away from us. That will have an adverse effect. Then the T or the government must be ensured. Daily News ran the news of 04 SLMC MPs joining the UPFA on three UPFA while 10.32% was favorable to the UNF. political parties. business will fail. There are many newspapers in history which have collapsed At a time of elections the media have a days as front page news, twice as lead stories. However, no response from 8.97% of total election coverge of Daily Mirror was favorable to the Although ours is a democratic country, political parties exert various in this way. particular task. Is it necessary to have some SLMC was published. UPFA while 17.79% was favorable to the UNF. pressures on the media. We, therefore, try to be as independent as Therefore a newspaper must become a forum for all shades of opinion. They control for guiding the administration of the It is evident that state media had a pro UPFA and anti UNF bias in their Daily Island and Daily Mirror had the highest coverage (approxi- possible. In developed countries the percentage of those who vote is must be allowed space. There should be space for criticism. However, when media at such a time? In many countries there reporting during the period monitored mately 8.00%) in support of Free and Fair election. between 40% and 50%. Often people are unaware that an election is even presenting news, it must be truthful. There should be no distortion. It is wrong to are no rules and regulations to control the media Non state media had 11 editorials - Lankadeepa 03, Daily Mirror 02, Daily Virakesari had the highest coverage (6.24%) on election educa- taking place. But in our country 60% to 70% of the population vote. At concoct news to suit one's own ideas. That also will drive the readers away. Even at election time. The Island 03, Lakbima 03 on free and fair elections. tion. the same time many acts of violence also take place. Political leaders act when a newspaper acts conscientiously, some news items might hurt particular ChangetheSystem However in some countries there are laws in an almost dictatorial manner. The newspapers in countries like ours political parties and can then be misinterpreted by them. It is something Victor Ivan and regulations to ensure equal opportunity for all political parties and candidates at election have to function in such an environment. There is pressure exerted on the newspapers have to face and there is nothing that can be done about it. However, Editor-Ravaya newspapers too. That is why we try to be as independent as possible. those who are facing an election must be given proper coverage. One person time. In Russia there is a judicial institution for In addition to ethnic conflicts now there are also religious should not be given more coverage than another. lthough elections to decide who should get governmental power this purpose. In Malawi the elections controversies in our country. In such circumstances the newspapers must If a party is to be supported it should not be done stealthily. I see nothing wrong are held from time to time the political system in our country commission takes over the responsibility for act with a sense of social responsibility and in a manner not prejudicial in helping a party. That may be one's policy. The readers will understand what the A cannot be considered a democratic one. That has been a deciding implementing the recommendations. If the factor that has contributed to the decline in the country. elections commission has independence, this GuidelinesforElectronicMedia to any ethnic or religious community. line is. They will know what the opinion of the newspaper is.