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| FMM
reiterates call for democratisation of state media "Following the undemocratic tradition of appointing political supporters of the governing party to the high posts of state media, the President in this instance changed the editors and directors of state media institutions overnight. In some instances journalists have been thrown out and doors forced open by the new political bosses of the state media. Changes in the reporting are already visible and as usual it has become a one party propaganda organ. "Newly appointed heads of state media entered the media institutions accompanied by armed soldiers and especially armed personnel of the Presidential Security Division. Furthermore appointments to the ITN and Lake house have been done outside the legal framework. These developments could set dangerous precedents and may affect media environment of the institutions. “Therefore, the FMM condemns the use of armed forces by heads of state media institutions in this instance. The FMM has persistently called for the democratization of the state media bringing them under independent media commission and transforming them into truly public service media. Both the UNP and the SLFP have promised to make state media into public services media when they were in opposition but failed to carry out any far-reaching changes, either in editorial policies or governing structures after coming to power. "While renewing its call to democratize state owned media, the FMM requests all media outlets including state owned media in the country to be balanced in reporting the current crisis so that citizens may be able to make informed judgments. At the same time, the FMM requests the government not to sack any journalists working in the state media institutions on political grounds." |
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