DailyMirror
A Media Development Authority would set out guidelines to help journalists to enhance their professionalism, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.
It would not be a regulatory mechanism, the Minister insisted however.
Minister Rambukwella announced this speaking at a seminar for regional correspondents in Kandy yesterday.
Rambukwella said that the proposed Authority would have “no harsh regulatory mechanism” but guidelines in accordance with media ethics to promote professionalism and skills of journalists in this part of the world. “What we intend is to give a professional recognition to journalists in line with other professional bodies in the country. Journalists are the unofficial agents of the masses, they have the responsibility by the people,” he said.Director General of the government information department Prof. Ariyarathna Athugala has been tasked with the responsibility of making the initial draft.The Secretary to the Ministry W.B. Ganegala meanwhile said that the intended Authority would be for the electronic media and not for the print media.