The Hindu : `Media should raise questions of accountability'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

`Media should raise questions of accountability'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Dec. 1. Objectivity and accountability of the media had suffered repeated assaults in recent times due to various conflict situations and national security considerations, journalists said at the end of a three-day workshop on `Reporting political violence: southern south Asia media grid,' organised by the South Asia Forum for Human Rights and the Media Development Foundation, here today.

But it was the duty of the media to raise questions of accountability, legitimacy and abuse of power each time there was a transgression of accepted norms. About 25 Sri Lankan and Indian journalists attended the workshop and discussed and debated issues relating to reporting in a polarised environment and the different approaches to conflict reporting.

The journalists said regardless of the countries that they reported from, all of south Asia shared a common colonial history. Also, since the backgrounds were also similar, they could connect with one another and also discuss issues of emerging importance.

Sri Lankan journalists, speaking of their experience said many of them felt a certain kind of responsibility for the events in Sri Lanka, which led to a prolonged ethnic conflict.

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`Media should raise questions of accountability'