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Blueprint for balanced media practice

There is no doubt that the media policy applicable during a general election, spelt out by Media Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on Monday, to the Heads of State media organizations and other relevant officials, would have been warmly welcomed by the majority of the public. For, the policy reads like a blueprint for both socially-responsible and balanced media praxis.

There was a timely stress by the Minister on the need for a healthy relationship between the State and private media. This would result only from mutual respect between the sections. This in turn would stem from both sections upholding "common standards of professional conduct applicable to the media."

Prime among the other parameters emphasized by the Minister is President Kumaratunga's commitment to a violence-free election. The State controlled media, whose primary responsibility it is to serve the common interest, is obliged, in terms of this policy guideline, to promote internal calm, stability and reconciliation, in the days ahead. Accordingly, it would be the responsibility of this section of the media to bring together opinion and voices which would emphasize the need for national unity and accord.

Needless to say, the possibility of the upcoming poll being marred by violence is a principal worry of the public. The common wish is for a peaceful election and the discord-free installation of a new government. By promoting a culture of peace and harmony, in accordance with the President's wishes, media could contribute towards this laudable aim.

We also welcome the Minister's emphasis on the need for cordiality and mutual-respect between the State-controlled media and the privately-owned media. Particularly welcome is the point that the State media need to cater to the common good, since they "belong to the people".

Accordingly, a tremendous responsibility devolves on the media to place the public interest above sectional interests, which, may be at variance with the former and, in fact may militate against internal stability and accord. The onus is thus on the media to put in place media practices which may promote the common good. Mutual respect between the different sections of the media would grow when these practices are accepted as the standard requirements of the national media and are sensitively practised by both sections.

While primacy should be accorded to a fair and balanced coverage of developments, with prejudice and damage to none of the political actors, an effort needs to be made, as the Minister's guidelines emphasize, to bring together and project as wide a range of views as possible on the issues of the day.

This would include the voices of the young and of the marginalized. Unfortunately, not all sections of the media adhere to this principle, resulting in the dissemination of one-sided views on issues, which are also usually inflammatory.

It should also be our endeavour to project the need for national reconciliation and religious harmony besides emphasizing the need for transparent governance and the Rule of Law.

The Grameen example

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, but by teaching him to fish you feed him for life. This is the basic philosophy that drives Bangladesh's Grameen Bank, an unprecedented success story copied by more than 100 countries including Sri Lanka.

Grameen, which means 'village' in Bengali, was founded by economist Muhammad Yunus in 1976. It has given more than US$ 4 billion in small loans to poor Bangladeshis, imparting a whole new meaning to the word microfinance.

Despite the obvious success of microlending, most commercial banks are still mired in the deep-seated belief that the poor have a poor track record of becoming self-reliant. They should study microfinancing more closely - more than 50 million households around the world are tapping microloans and the target of 100 million by next year looks within reach. Grameen alone disburses US$ 30 million a month to 3.13 million borrowers in 44,000 villages. Unlike their rich counterparts who receive multi-million dollar loans, micro borrowers pay back on time - Grameen recovers more than 98 per cent of its loans even though recipients do not have to put up collateral.

The truth, as exemplified by Grameen and similar institutions, is that microloans are a path to self-reliance and self-respect. In other words, economic and social empowerment. As Yunus says, if poor people are given the same access to credit as the rich, they will thrive. Poverty alleviation programmes conducted in Sri Lanka too have proved this point.

Microloans are a boon for women, who have demonstrated their innate ability to rise from the ashes of poverty to the splendours of prosperity. Women are the breadwinners in an increasing number of families worldwide and their economic empowerment is vital for overall development of any country. Women usually manage the loans wisely only for the intended purpose and turn their ventures into successes envied by men.

The lesson from Grameen is clear: Leave it to the people. They are capable of standing on their own feet. We should not treat abject poverty as an unfathomable abyss from which there is no escape. With the correct guidance and monetary help, the poor can do wonders.

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