Rumours spread due to absence of ‘proper reporting’
- Sunday, 22 June 2014
Editor of groundviews website Sanjana Hattotuwa says the Sri Lankan mainstream media’s having censored the reporting of the clashes in Aluthgama and Beruwela areas last week has given rise to the spreading of rumours very fast.
According to him, almost all mainstream media in the country had subjected all their reportage of the incidents on June 15 to self-censorship due to reasons best known to themselves.
However, the ‘biased’ reporting came under strong criticism by social media as well as the BBC and international media.
Sanjana Hattotuwa, a veteran in social media, was responding to a question by BBC Sandeshaya as to whether self-censorship could help towards resolving a conflict situation in some cases.
“It could not be said for certain whether the mainstream Lankan media did not report on these clashes due to a self-censorship or due to an order from the higher up, but in such a scenario, there is more room for wrong ideas, rumours being spreading in society,” he said.
Reporters frightened
“It is natural for the target people to rely on less trustworthy reports when reliable reporting is subjected to self-censorship. When unconfirmed reports are posted by social media too, the issue becomes more serious and dangerous,” said Sanjana Hattotuwa in reply to a question by Saroj Pathirana.
“Reporters turn to self-censorship in view of the prevailing situation in the country. By their reporting, they could face certain situations, may be not instantly, but in a matter of days, weeks or even months. In the past, Tissanayagam, Ruki Fernando were arrested on the charge of provoking people. In such a situation, reporters think twice before reporting,” said Sanjana Hattotuwa further.
Commenting further on biased reporting, he said “Biased reporting cannot be blamed in a situation in which unbiased reporting is blocked.”
The groundviews website editor said that what is seen mostly is ‘biased reporting’ in a social situation in which the mainstream media is totally silenced and investigative reporting is obstructed, adding that the solution would be to pave the way for reliable, balanced reporting.
