- Media Min. collects personal information based on Defence Min. instructions
The Media Ministry’s decision to provide web-based journalists with a form to obtain personal information such as their children’s details was taken to expedite the Defence Ministry clearance given to web-based media organisations, according to an official at the ministry.
In the past, web-based media organisations were required to register with the Media Ministry – a process which involved obtaining a Ministry of Defence clearance after submitting the registration or registration renewal application to the Media Ministry.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, a top official at the Media Ministry claimed that there had been a need to expedite this process, as Defence Ministry clearance would take about three to four months.
“We would get complaints from journalists about the length of time it took to obtain their registrations due to this. Therefore, the Defence Ministry requested that these details be obtained directly, which would reduce the time it takes to get their clearance,” claimed the official.
Similar information was obtained about two years ago from journalists who cover Parliament.
Govt. efforts to issue media IDs
Last week, when one web media owner had gone to 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 or have been involved in anti-State/terror activities
Another web editor had received a call from Police Headquarters, requesting the same information, after submitting their application for registration renewal earlier this year.
However, Defence Ministry Spokesperson Col. Nalin Herath told The Sunday Morning that the ministry attempted to provide security clearances for web-based media as fast as possible, adding that generally this process took only two weeks.
Professional Web Journalists’ Association (PWJA) Convenor Freddy Gamage raised concerns about the move: “People who enter this profession come with professional qualifications. The State’s problems about national security must not be applied here – it’s unnecessary. Collecting primary information like addresses can be justified, but collecting information like parents’ names cannot be justified. Collecting family histories implies that they are investigating the histories of our families, which is not connected to our profession.
“The media job is being done by career journalists and these kinds of actions affect the dignity of our profession. Our parents and families aren’t connected to our profession.”
Gamage said they were against State oppression which hid behind efforts to create an ethical web-based media industry.
The PWJA is planning to request a meeting with the Director General of Information about the matter. A meeting is scheduled on Wednesday (28) between media stakeholders and the Media Ministry for discussions about the national media policy.
The Government has also mandated the State-issued media identification card (ID) for all journalists who wish to cover the Cabinet press briefing.
The issue first arose towards the end of April when Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the Government media ID was mandatory for all journalists covering the Cabinet press. On 8 May, web-based media organisation Lanka Sky News Editor Shantha Wijesooriya was denied entry to the Cabinet press briefing, as he did not possess the Government media ID.
A meeting that followed on 14 May between media stakeholders and Dr. Jayatissa had seen the Media Minister cementing the decision. Department of Government Information (DGI) Director General H.S.K.J. Bandara told The Sunday Morning that mandatory Government media IDs were required only to cover the Cabinet press briefing and not for other State media conferences.
Concerns about the long arm of the State
However, media associations have raised serious concerns about the long arm of the State affecting press freedom and objective journalism in this manner.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning last week, Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) President Duminda Sampath criticised the Government’s decision: “The Government is still unwilling to let go of its power to determine who a journalist is. It may now say this is only needed for the Cabinet press briefing, but in future it may say that it’s needed for other instances too, like even to cover a picketing on the road, and we will be forced to accept it.”
He went on to explain the long-term consequences of mandating the Government-issued media ID: “If the Police asks us for the Government ID, we may have to show it. That’s where they are trying to take us, by deciding who a journalist is.
“Journalists who are not writing in favour of the Government may have their applications for a Government media ID rejected and we will be forced to accept that as well, because the Government would be in charge of defining who a journalist is. The Government should step away from issuing licences to the media.”
Sampath’s solution is to mainstream media IDs issued by accredited professional media organisations like the SLWJA. Similar to how the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and engineering associations issue IDs to lawyers and engineers, respectively, Sampath recommended that media IDs be issued by professional associations or an independent body like the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI).
“If the Government is genuinely interested in media freedom, then it can facilitate that process, but not intervene in it,” he said.
Multiple attempts to contact Minister of Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe proved futile.