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| Address by Jacob Mathew at SLPI Press Club 20 Nov 2012 |
"The Media Today-Challenges and Opportunities"
"Now, Sri Lanka is on the road to normality. The government must restore complete press freedom befitting a democracy. If telecom companies refuse platforms for websites that authorities dislike, it certainly is a form of censorship. The government and parliament must heed the voice of the world and remove all restrictions they have imposed on the media through legislation and ordinances",said Jacob Mathew, Global President of WAN-IFRA (World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers). |
| SLPI Press Club 20 Nov 2012 |
As readers increasingly use mobile phones and tablets to read what they want at their convenience, the print media has come under tremendous pressure. Today the publishing cycles have become more immediate than broadcasting",he added
"The use of internet is a growing force in Sri Lanka and many of the newspapers now have online editions. 15% of Sri Lanka population are internet users, against 10% of India and 33% among global population. There are around 50 news websites in Sri Lanka and 80% of them are updated hourly or on a daily basis.
Media should be the heart of a country’s sustainable development and given top priority,”Mr. Mathew Said.
Mr.Mathew was elected April 2011 by the WAN-IFRA General Assembly of Members, held during the WAN-IFRA Board meeting in Dublin, Ireland. He is the first Indian to hold the presidency of WAN-IFRA.