Power of the media fund
by Deepal Warnakulasuriya
One of the country's most renown journalists who shouted for a
journalists' trade union instead of journalists' associations has come
forward with a team to strengthen the media personnel's hands. Sunil
Madhawa Premathilake who began his journalistic career almost four
decades ago has laid the foundation stone for a fund with the assistance
of several media colleagues.
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Fund President Rohitha Wijewardhane hands over a token pop
discount card with which services and goods can be purchased at
a discounted price by the journalists, to Sunil Madhawa
Premathilake at the inauguration ceremony held in Colombo
recently.
Pic. by Geeth de Mel. |
The fund has been named as the "Power of Media Fund" (For Sri Lankan
media colleagues) and the veteran journalist Premathilake plays the
roles of the Policy Maker and the Treasurer of the fund. Rohitha
Wijewardhane, Ravindra Devinigoda, Raja Katugampola, Sahanthini
Rathnayake, Asoka Karunanayake, Sanjeewa Edirimanne, Dakshina
Bodhinayake and several others are in the steering committee.
The fund Policy Maker told the Sunday Observer that the fund was
initiated with a capital of Rs. two million and arrangements were in the
offing to raise the fund with the general public's assistance. They have
already announced a media week starting from November 12 and Mr.
Premathilake expects that each and every individual would assist them
with at least Rs. 10.
He also said that they would seek the direct cooperation from the
advertising firms and newspaper agents to make this effort a success.
Mr. Premathilake who has experience working in a number of newspapers
said that not a single newspaper is sold because of the advertisements
but because of the articles written by journalists.
Speaking about the fund he said that it would directly work for the
welfare of the media personnel. The fund targets to set up a fully
equipped media training centre with a complete library making the media
personnel satisfied, and confident personalities in the society.
He further added the fund will publish the journalists' books and
they will be paid 35 per cent of royalty for the authorship challenging
the present 10 per cent royalty fee.
Mr. Premathilake further added that the fund would assist the media
personnel's requirements like a death of a family member, medical needs,
natural damages to houses or properties, etc. It would also assist the
journalists to go for higher education opportunities as well as
information and communication technology requirements.
"Membership for all print, electronic and online journalists are
completely free and representatives from all the media organizations
will be appointed soon", added the Fund Policy Maker Premathilake.
[email protected]
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