Media capers

THE current controversies surrounding some sections of the privately-owned media point to the flimsy foundation on which these sections stake a claim to credibility and truthfulness.

Some biased sections of the privately-owned media are trying to project the impression that all is not well with the Government administrative machinery.

Deputy Minister of Information and Media Dilan Perera, had occasion to comment more elaborately on these issues and pointed to the baseless nature of some adverse comments which had been directed at the State media by a private media practitioner.

A principal and thought provoking point was made by the Deputy Minister when he said that despite waxing eloquent about their "independent" status, some of these private media practitioners had ended-up being organisers and prominent political activists for opposition parties. So much for their vaunted independence.

All this begs the question: how "free" or "independent" are these sections of the privately-owned media?

A frank appraisal of their performance so far would not convince the public of their political neutrality because the falsehoods, distortions and undisguised concoctions dished out by some media organisations only betray crude, partisan, political biases, with hardly an attempt being made to be politically neutral.

The point is all too obvious that these sections of the media are making the huge blunder of equating private ownership with factual reporting and responsible commentary - two essential features of media independence.

However, those sections which have made the State media their whipping boy ought to remember that the privately - owned media are thriving under the current administration. The electronic media in particular, are increasing their membership steadily. Several new TV channels have recently begun transmissions.

Inasmuch as media freedom cannot be equated with private media ownership it cannot be treated as synonymous with the "freedom of the wild ass" either. Unfortunately, some sections have placed the latter on par with a free and responsible media.

Combating bird flu

THE Government has reassured that there was no immediate threat of avian flu in Sri Lanka. This assurance is certainly welcome, as health experts are warning that an outbreak of the deadly disease is a real possibility. Such a disaster could claim tens of millions of lives worldwide.

We cannot however be complacent as this is a closely-knit world. Jet travel has brought countries closer together. Goods are traded right across the world. It is therefore only a matter of time before a contagion travels from one country to another.

We report in our foreign news pages today that Russia, China and Romania have confirmed new outbreaks of bird flu, fuelling fears of a global influenza pandemic.

It seems that the H5N1 flu strain is not giving up easily, even as Governments and drugs companies race against time to develop a vaccine and effective medication to combat the disease.

Efforts to boost production of anti-flu vaccines have multiplied after one drug company announced it would allow others to produce oseltamivir, the anti-flu drug.

The scientists' greatest fear is that H5N1 could mutate into a form which can easily be transmitted from human to human.

The Health Minister has said that the Government is in constant contact with the World Health Organisation on the bird flu issue. Local doctors and veterinary surgeons have to be briefed on tackling the disease and poultry farm owners too have to fall in line with health guidelines in this regard.

A bird flu epidemic could have serious repercussions on our fledging economy and the tourism industry, both of which are gradually gaining ground after the December 26, 2004 tsunami.

An even bigger health calamity will spell doom for these vital sectors. All stakeholders in the health sector must formulate a viable action plan to prevent such a catastrophe.