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by Afreeha Jawad

The search for conscience and truth has begun. This according to Sociology's critical theorists is a time when organized groups of people - professionals and otherwise, would question societal immorality and evil. Buddhism and Vedanta describe this era as the winding up of Kaliyugaya (vice filled period) paving the way for Brahmayugaya (of virtue).

The displaced of Northern Lanka

Listening to the presentations of those that assembled at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi last week on the media's present position and what could be done to avert a crisis deepening in winning over public confidence, this writer was compelled into sociologists' and religious reformists' prophecy in putting to right social turmoil via media.

That an organised few from the world media have come forward to start cleaning up is great relief - the seminar organisers being - the International Communication Forum and the Internationl Centre for Ethnic Studies.

Significantly, BBC's one time veteran broadcaster Sir Mark Tully's pronouncement on Islam and Muslims was more than a pleasant surprise.

"Demonizing the whole of Islam and Muslims is disastrous," he said.

Certainly, he pronounced more than a mouthful. Obviously his reference then was the western media, constantly churning out stuff like 'Muslim rebels', 'Islamic fundamentalists', 'Muslim businessmen', - oh! the list is endless. What triggers off from the West - successfully picked up by the world media - is what could be described as a careful ostracization process of Muslims and Islam for many taken for granted reasons.

"One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter," he said.

He noted how after the September 11 attack a lot has been written of 'terrorism' and 'terrorists'. But no one asks,' Hey, look, why do these fellows hate us so much?'

Tully propagates no violence. But then, violence is the ultimate and preferred state compelling pressurized, marginalized groups - a sort of last resort to capture world attention. International political mismanagement facilitated and cushioned by a biased media has made matters worse.

Against this backdrop, Tully vehemently pleads for a balanced media.

He even referred to the great religious scriptures in his attempt towards a balanced portrayal of news. The Buddha even spoke of the middle way. True enough political interference with journalism should not justify divisive tendencies among journalists. "They must stand together. The whole of life is a search for such balance. Build a pluralist press and make sure not to allow things to go out of control. Organizations certainly condition what we do. But must we go down on our belly and crawl?" he asked.

A firm believer in market orientation, Tully said," Public service broadcasting cannot be judged in terms of market. There must be a market. I don't say 'no'. But Journalists must have a say in what goes into the paper. Let not the market be the final arbiter," he warned.

What Tully was trying to drive home was the importance of social good over market orientation. A high degree of intrusion into personal lives and many broken sexual taboos with greater freedom to live one's life have also relegated the media to very low levels.

Acts of omissions into what should and should not be written is a journalist's responsibility. What Tully was trying to convey was the enormous potential a journalist carries in creating societal wellbeing or perdition.

"We have gone the other way instead of seeking the middle way. Every journalist through the middle way must get his or her rightful place.

His presentation reminded this writer of how too much of anything is good for nothing. It can make people switch off - yes, the constant advertising of any product for instance. Tully - certainly a man of much character was quite rightly concerned about societal good and what the media could do in attaining that level of goodness.

What this writer understood as his theme song was the preservation of one's inner self as a journalist and to refrain from the compulsion of externalities that results in social turmoil and loss of media credibility as well. To use his words, 'Intensive scrutiny of what we do and winning over public trust?' Certainly Tully's journalism, one of taste and nobility, holds no ground nor makes sense to journalists looking only for facts, what he calls 'smelly drains' - for in doing so we only help foster the existing status quo. Passion-stirring, provocative journalism - not up his street - the kind we find today of playing up man's below bestial state. Why not kindle his divine instincts? It is here Tully's version of balanced portrayal steps in.

Denouncing the theory 'If it bleeds it leads' International Communication Centre's William Porter said journalists are not entertainers but informers.

Over 3,000 journalists across America put their signatures down to a 'no entertainment journalism'. 'Just because they advertise do you think we must write in their favour?" asked Porter indignantly. "He wasn't demonizing advertisements but expressed concern over advertisements proportion in relation to editorial matter and the importance of advertisements' influence on news.

Vijitha Yapa agreeing with Porter cautioned journalists not to be pressurized by advertisers. "Our reporting must be independent of advertising organizations".

Minister Milinda Moragoda spoke of media pressuring peace negotiators. "We are under pressure to produce and is this pressure constructive? These journalists live in the same hotel and have access to negotiators and there is this undue pressure to perform.

They do not come up with an alternative either. What would you do if you were in my chair or the Prime Minister's," he asked journalists. His pronouncement of where you stand on an issue is where you are sitting," was noteworthy.

So while our stand differs on where we sit, sad to say each will toe his/her favoured line - politician, businessman, journalist or whoever - thought this writer.

However, a good journalist should be agenda - free and not worry over where he or she sits but what they stand for - a forerunner and facilitator to move politicians on the right track. The film on BBC newscaster Martyn Lewis was creative. Listening to him one observes how strongly he condemns the gut instincts of journalists. "Only blood, stains and dead bodies alone would not make good journalism", he said.

"We must change and shape the world we live in. Development of a positive nature needs reporting. For just as much as warring parties receive journalists' attention, so must people working together in peace - in new and innovative ways. Cover war and cover peace as well".

"Stories with potential for peace do not get enough publicity.

"What good comes of this exercise? Like mad dogs tearing apart a story, why concentrate only on the bizarre and extreme - of wallowing in others' grief - heated, tasteless to the point of vexation."

To write good news as interestingly as you would the bad, avoiding the self perpetuating circle of bad news, reporting on negative stories through those seeking solutions, reporting on success and achievement - not the like of PR stuff, according to Lewis, are some of journalism's golden rules - at which point this writer reflected on the seemingly disastrous similarity of sociologists and journalists. A journalist reports a problem, a sociologist perceives it. But both give no answer.

However, they both stand a good chance of record straightening. Why they do not is grievously questionable.

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