The document discusses the role of media in peacebuilding efforts related to ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It provides historical context on broadcasting in Sri Lanka and an overview of the ethnic conflict, which has resulted in over 65,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people. The document then outlines various roles media can play in conflict transformation and peacebuilding, such as framing the conflict, encouraging a balance of power, and acting as a communication channel between parties. It also notes challenges around bias, nationalism, and achieving impartial reporting. The document concludes by proposing four ideas: public service broadcasting, increasing women's representation in media decision-making, and promoting community and citizens' media.

1. Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka Is there a role for media in peacebuilding?

2. History of broadcasting in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has the oldest radio station in Asia - Radio Ceylon. Experimental broadcasting was started in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923 - three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe. 1925 broadcasting began

3. TV today – Is more choice is less choice?

4. Radio today (mostly with incomprehensible DJ’s)

5. Statistics

6. Modes of Information in Sri Lanka

7. The conflict

8. “ It is bad today” “ My god, not again”

9. Overview of conflict 65,000 dead (+ around 31,000 from tsunami) Over 400,000 IDPs Devastated the economy, livelihoods Traumatised societies (Tamil, Muslim, Sinhala) 60+ dead, 70+ wounded in the morning / retaliatory attacks / unconfirmed reports of ethnic riots in the N&E

10. Biased & Divided Mono-lingual State vs. Private

12. Media roles in Conflict Transformation

13. Framing and defining the conflict Encouraging a balance of power Identifying the interests underlying the issues Channel of communication between parties Confidence-building Counteracting misperceptions Face saving and consensus-building Analyzing the conflict Media Roles in Peacebuilding

14. Process Events

15. Can the media serve peace as well as truth? Selective amnesia of media in Sri Lanka – recent bans only apply to GoSL or LTTE, depending on which language media one reads Is it the function of the media to do propaganda for peace? Freedom of expression vs. nationalism & patriotism A safe silence vs. investigative journalism

16. Getting the balance right There is rarely less than two points of view on any topic - diversity Impartial, accurate, responsible journalism

17. Four Ideas

19. Public Service Broadcasting Public service broadcasting is based on the principles of universality of service, diversity of programming, provision for minority audiences including the disadvantaged, sustaining an informed electorate, and cultural and educational enrichment. See www.voicesofpeace.lk

20. Women need to be more visible at the higher decision-making levels of the news organizations. Awareness-raising on gender - especially editorial and management levels Give women agency Represent women’s agency Engender media

21. New Media / Citizens Media “ As media proliferate and as the world becomes the more volatile and unpredictable, the greater becomes the need to organise citizens’ media associations and to promote community based media which alone can serve as balancing factors to check the unhealthy dominance of State-media and corporate media.” Javid Jabbar, Convenor, Citizens Media Commission, Pakistan http://www.wiredet.com/cmd/files/studies.asp

22. Thank You