In a worrying turn of events, web-based media organisations that attempted to get their media organisation registration licences renewed had been requested to submit personal details about family members and criminal activities as well.
In the past, web-based media organisations were required to register with the Media Ministry after obtaining a Ministry of Defence clearance. This week, when one web media owner had visited the Media Ministry to get their registration renewed, they had been given a form requesting a number of additional personal details, including:
- Father’s name
- Mother’s name
- Siblings’ information
- Spouse’s name and NIC number
- Children’s names and their schools/professions
- Details about family members who were suspected to be or have been involved in anti-State/terror activities
Professional Web Journalists’ Association (PWJA) Convener Freddy Gamage said they had not been invited for last week’s discussion at the Media Ministry, nor had the ministry responded to requests for discussions over the last few months.
“We need to come up with a holistic solution to this problem of accrediting journalists instead of going for solutions when issues arise. With previous governments as well, we tried to explain that the media industry is not just in the south, but also in the north and the east.
“However, I don’t think the Media Ministry or the Department of Government Information are even properly aware of the media in the north and east. There are a considerable number of websites there and the north and east have the strongest provincial media presence. We need a holistic approach which considers these factors, including the increasing popularity of web media over the past few years,” he said.
Gamage added that the PWJA considered web journalists as those who engaged in ethics-based web journalism as a profession.
The PWJA was not invited for the initial discussion by the Government on the national media policy either. “Afterwards they sent a letter requesting us to give our ideas, especially about ethics and standards.”
A journalist based in Mullaitivu expressed their displeasure at the Government issuing media IDs, noting that in the north, many journalists did not have one.
“But when the President or ministers come to the north and east, security personnel and Police ask for the Government-issued media ID. This is a restriction. Some of us contribute to national newspapers without even receiving a proper payment; we work with them only to receive this media ID,” they said.
Laws and practices
Media Law Forum Chairperson Viranjana Herath said there was no existing law at the moment to require a Government media ID from a journalist.
“The Government media ID states to allow journalists to do their job without interfering. In other countries, media IDs aren’t issued by the government. They are issued by associations like the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) or local associations. The recent decision by the Government was an arbitrary one, and hence wrong. But that doesn’t mean everyone should be allowed to come cover the Cabinet press briefing,” he said.
Herath encouraged media organisations to unite and propose a solution for the accreditation issue, for instance, by accepting an independent body to accredit journalists, thus removing the power of the Government to regulate media.
Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni told The Sunday Morning that the Government ID was required only to cover Cabinet press briefings. Attempts to contact Minister Jayatissa proved futile.
Edited version of “Mandatory Govt. media IDs: Journalists in the eye of a worrying storm”
By Pamodi Waravita in the Morning.