A presentation made during a lecture to students at the Sri Lanka College of Journalism

1. Media & Political Reporting in Sri Lanka Sanjana Hattotuwa

2. Statistics

3. Modes of Information in Sri Lanka

4. Media and conflict

6. Media and Conflict What a jackass ! We must have more balanced coverage There is nothing wrong with our editorial policy ! I feel left out… What the hell is going on? Every single person here has a different perspective Why am I the only woman here?

7. Truth?

11. How do we perceive facts?

12. Modes of Information

13. Modes of Information

14. Modes of Information

20. Different worlds Truth? Objectivity? Accuracy? Impartiality? Responsibility? Mob Storm Attack Clash Hartal People Rally

21. Editorial Positions - March to August 2004

22. Content selection

23. 02 17 86 Other 02 18 04 Development Related 04 16 03 Human Rights 00 07 14 Peace Talks 15 10 12 Refugee Issues 11 18 18 Civilian Issues 05 09 33 Arrests (War related) 36 52 78 Actual Combat English Newspapers Tamil Newspapers Sinhala Newspapers Type of Report

24. 02 17 86 Other 02 18 04 Development Related 04 16 03 Human Rights 00 07 14 Peace Talks 15 10 12 Refugee Issues 11 18 18 Civilian Issues 05 09 33 Arrests (War related) 36 52 78 Actual Combat English Newspapers Tamil Newspapers Sinhala Newspapers Type of Report

25. Elections Reporting

26. 2004 General Election coverage

27. Why? Lack of professionalism/ journalism training Most of the newsrooms in Sri Lanka are monolingual. Lack of diversity. No democracy in the newsroom. Polarization of newspapers on ethnic lines Self-censorship of Editors State media is responsive to conflict sensitive reporting but lacks political credibility

28. How? Public Service Journalism values Training and capacity building Journalists who adhere to professional guidelines Public awareness Readers, listeners and viewers able to react against bad journalism PCC Media in the public interest

29. Serving the individual citizen Sustaining, defending national culture and cultural diversity. Fostering democratic processes. Enhancing social, political and cultural cohesion. State Private

30. Media roles in Conflict Transformation

32. Framing and defining the conflict Encouraging a balance of power Identifying the interests underlying the issues Channel of communication between parties Confidence-building Counteracting misperceptions Face saving and consensus-building Analyzing the conflict Media Roles in Peacebuilding

33. Process Events

34. Media as a shared space

35. Media as a shared space

36. Media as a shared space

37. Media as a shared space

41. Thank You