• Panel discussion on media freedom and social responsibility notes the duty of the media, the State and the people to create a conducive environment to fulfill the 4th estate’s role beyond being an information provider 

The media is not, and should not be, merely a part of the society that reports news. It has always remained a key driver of social change, and it continues to be one. However, with the evolution of societies, technology and economies, the media should identify the responsibilities that are associated with its great power. In the present Sri Lankan context, in which socio-economic challenges have grown in an unprecedented manner, the Sri Lankan media paying attention to their roles and responsibilities is crucial.

As was discussed during a recent panel discussion titled “Media Freedom, Professional Ethics, and Social Responsibility” organised by the Government Information Department, creating an environment in which that responsibility could be fulfilled is the duty of not only the media but also the State and the people. The discussion was attended by the Sri Lanka College of Journalism Director M.J.R. David and senior academic  Colombo University’s Sri Pali Campus Prof. Tudor Weerasinghe.

Media freedom

During the discussion, the freedoms of expression and publication, which have been guaranteed through the Constitution, were discussed in relation to the media. The speakers paid attention to both what these freedoms mean to the media and also whether the freedoms that the media is entitled to are sufficient. “The discussion on freedom in different contexts is a perennial one,” Prof. Weerasinghe said in this regard, adding that although freedoms have been guaranteed in various ways, the question is not about the existence or entitlement of freedom, but the limits of these freedoms. Expressing his opinion saying that the topic of media freedom is a more complex and sensitive one than other types of freedoms that pertain to politics, religion, and the economy, he added that imposing limits on media freedom or censoring the media has always attracted more attention, as the media is a significantly large and important institution among other social institutions. “The mass media was born as a result of social evolution. Before that, the people’s freedom to think had been recognised, although certain limitations may be applicable to the freedom of expression. However, when connecting with a certain group or a community, especially through the use of digital frequencies which are considered public property, these freedoms entail a certain responsibility in terms of how the exercise of these freedoms impact social institutions and benefits the society. The absence of such responsibility would make it impossible to maintain a society or a certain community. The exercise of freedoms of speech, publication and expression became more complex with the emergence of the media.” Prof. Weerasinghe added that the concept of freedom is related to needs, and that in the evolution of the discussion of freedom, two questions have arisen. They are, ‘for what we need freedom’ and ‘from what we need freedom’. This discussion, he added, is still ongoing in the world and has a lot to do with the media sector as well. In a context where the media has become an institution that links the people and rulers, especially during times of social unrest such as the prevailing socio-economic crisis, the media’s responsibility has increased, according to him.

Media’s social responsibility

The speakers stressed that with media freedom that could have a significant impact on many aspects of the society, comes a certain responsibility, and that in the current socio-economic context, it requires greater attention. Discussing this responsibility, David opined that the media is an extension of the people’s experiences and expressions, and that the media, therefore, is essentially the people. “This extension, at this moment, should be used responsibly, mindfully and creatively, because Sri Lanka is going through an unprecedented crisis. This is the responsibility of all parties.” Speaking of Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen’s book titled ‘Development as Freedom’, David opined that a place devoid of freedom does not develop, and that there are ample examples to prove how media freedom contributes to the resolution of social issues. He added that although the media’s role goes beyond merely sharing information, entertainment, or disputing others’ opinions, that role is not always visible. Noting that when the people’s participation entered the media, or when people became the centre of the media’s role, many things changed, he noted, adding that the media is for the people, not the owners of media institutions or the Government. “I think that the challenge that we are facing is creating a fair social discourse in a manner that represents the people’s opinions as much as possible. This discourse depends on our future. How to set right what has gone wrong and how to take that correction forward are priorities, and what we need is a people centered, active media use. I think that it is important to create a better media use, because there are a lot of social issues that need to be resolved through a discourse on the use of the media”.

Limitations and regulations

The same way that the media contributes to social development, it could also hinder social development. Both depend on how the media is used. Noting this, the speakers noted the importance of having in place limitations to the manner in which the media can be used. Given the significant influence that the media has on many aspects of the society, it was noted that such limitations would be useful in ensuring that the media is on the right path.

“The media operates with a multitude of objectives, one of them being contributing to human’s survival and social development. It is to fulfill those objectives that media freedom has been ensured, and the media should operate within that responsibility. However, neglecting that objective to pursue other objectives may result in the collapse of the society and morals. That is where the need to regulate the media emerges, not censoring or limiting,” Prof. Weerasinghe said, explaining that the media use that did not represent the people in the past led to the idea that media freedom should come with great responsibilities. He explained that while journalists should have the freedom to report what happens in society, both the journalist and the media institution that they represent have a responsibility regarding what is reported. “The space that countries have provided for media freedom could vary from nation to nation. The media has a crucial, unprecedented responsibility to fulfill.  The media should be aware of the history, values, attitudes and social challenges of the society in which it operates. If the media neglects that duty, it is a problem of freedom. I am not saying that crimes do not need to be reported. However, if the media sticks to reporting things such as crimes only for the sake of reporting, instead of propelling the society forward, that is an issue. If that responsibility is ignored, media freedom would also be hindered. As an important social institution, it is the media’s conduct that decides whether it would have freedom, to what extent would it have freedom and in what form.” Prof. Weerasinghe opined that if the irresponsible and harmful use of the media obstructs the society’s collective survival, that warrants interventions by the State as the foremost social institution, and that various attempts, some of which included laws and ethical grounds, have been made in the past to regulate the media. Creating the kind of media institutions that the society needs is important, according to him.

Meanwhile, David opined that although advanced technology emerged, there is a question as to whether the advanced discourse on media freedom exists. He added that this is a complex issue, because, this is a matter of many ‘power projects’, in which the Government uses the media to establish its powers, businesses use the media to increase their profits and to stabilise, and journalists contribute to this project as per their opinion. According to David, even though not as organised as the other parties, audiences too are also a part of this project.