COLOMBO –The government on Sunday (11) called for more positive and responsible reporting from the media, specifically electronic media, on the COVID 19 outbreak, noting that certain electronic media broadcasts harm the privacy of individuals, driving them to hide their exposure to the virus.
In a letter to heads of all media institutions, Director General of Government Information, Nalaka Kaluwewe, requested local media not to “shoot or telecast scenes that could harm the privacy and social dignity of those suspected of being infected with COVID-19 or their associates from now on”.
The letter comes in the wake of public and social media outcry over the manner in which certain electronic and print media have been reporting on the current novel coronavirus outbreak, breaching all ethical and professional journalism boundaries and exposing the victims to scorn and ridicule. Similar breach of ethics, and racial profiling of the virus was also observed during the initial outbreak in March and April this year.
Kaluwewe, in his letter to media head said the manner in which certain electronic media were broadcasting/telecasting COVID-19 positive and suspected case taken into quarantine or hospitalization, their homes or their surroundings, not only infringe of the privacy of individuals, but also portray the patients and associates as anti-social.
“Telecasting of such scenes does not make an effective contribution to the proper awareness of the people. Some people may not even seek treatment or quarantine because of the risk of socializing such scenes that harm their privacy,” he said, adding that there has been a great deal of public displeasure and protest against the negative use of the media.
He said the media coverage has also disturbed the special social mission of the media to properly educate the public on the virus at this critical juncture.
-ENCL