Scoops, ladles and journalism awards
Posted on August 1st, 2010
Ajit Randeniya
That failed NGO worker masquerading as a newspaper editor courtesy of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), USAID, and various cults, Frederica Jansz, appeared to be throwing another tantrum on Sunday; she was ranting and raving about her ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”newspaperƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ being overlooked for a Journalism Award ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”for ExcellenceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by the EditorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Guild of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI).
There is little more this woman can throw at the Sri Lankan publicƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as proof ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ her abysmal ignorance on everything from the craft of writing, the business she is purported to be engaged in, to local politics and international affairs; not to speak of the total lack of decency she has consistently displayed through the trash she ladles out on Sundays.
Somehow she has managed to sink, even by her own hellish standards, to depths previously not reached by anyone associated with journalism anywhere in the world, by questioning the judgment of no less than 12 judges. Even more ridiculously,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ she isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ claiming that two little pieces of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”junkƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ printed on her newspaper were worthy of winning the award.
Jansz attacks the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”failureƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by the panel of judges to hand her ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”kele pattareƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Scoop of yhe YearƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ award, accusing them of lacking transparency and accountability, and wait for this: having no regard for the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”norms, ethics and principles by which journalists of any caliber function in this countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢!
She even goes to the extent of displaying her own ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”caliberƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by attempting to quote the criterion for the award, making the quotation marks redundant along the way. Jansz quotes thus (note the Quote, Unquote):ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-This is what the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Journalism Awards for Excellence 2009 Categories of Awards and CriteriaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ clearly states in relation to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Scoop of The Year.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Quote ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-This category is for the journalist or team of journalists who have published the SINGLE BEST exclusive report for the year that had national implications. Please submit a copy of THE story and supporting statement.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ UnquoteƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
And she is complaining for not recognising such excellence!
Before we look at the details of the ignorant-as-usual claim of this mad woman, it needs to be noted that her uncivilised behavior arises from the fundamental misunderstanding of what a journalistic ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”scoopƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ really is.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ According to this ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”award demanding journalistƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-A newspaper scoop in plain English means one exclusive story which had national implications. It is as simple as that.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
As usual, Jansz is wrong: the primary feature of a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”scoopƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, as the noun and verb forms of the ordinary English word implies, is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”beating a competitorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to an exclusive news story, through initiative, good source management or sheer luck. For Jansz of course, ignorance of such intricacies is bliss!
Jansz places her claim for the award on ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”securing and exclusively publishing the list of Golden Key depositors ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” names of people who had been gullible enough to invest in the Ponzi scheme through the Ceylinco Group. This typifies the irreparably flawed belief system that appears to form the foundations of Frederica JanszƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s irrational and unprincipled behavior: in her little brain, she seems to harbour the little thought that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”the entire country was agog to learn who they wereƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, as she puts it.
Publishing the names of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”investorsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ in this sad affair was not going to help national interest of addressing the need for rectifying any legal, supervisory or reporting deficiencies that led to the financial disaster, or any investigation in to the scam, if there was any. The investors had not broken any law, or even behaved unethically; they only went after higher interest returns promised by an investment company with a good reputation at the time. Publishing the list of investors was only of gossip value. JanszƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s belief that securing a list of investors was a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”scoopƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, simply because a burgher mate or two at Ceylinco could lay their hands on it, shows once again that her idea of what journalism involves: gossip and innuendo!
A similar ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”scoopƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ appeared on this SundayƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s edition on the burning down of a privately owned television station. Her paper reported a claim by the celebrity owner of the TV station thus: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-However, she said that the company suspected a hidden hand of a would-be competitorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ behind FridayƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s attack. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Definitely not anyone who is already established ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” but someone new,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ she said, refusing however, to name any person or persons.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
What particular information did they intend to pass on to the reader through such drivel? Oscar Wilde Probably had a premonition about JanszƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s brand of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”journalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ when he said: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing. Journalism, conscious of this, and having tradesman-like habits, supplies their demands.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
The second ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”scoopƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Jansz is moaning about relates to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ infamous interview with Sarath Fonseka, which she describes as the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”White FlagƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ story, the story that was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”the story of the year, which the whole country is talking about including half the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢!
She seems to be unable to understand that the bloody aftermath to the story, of Fonseka retracting, and all the exchanges between the two of them accusing each other of lying, made it the joke of the post-war period; the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”storyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ certainly deserved an award for ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”entertainmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ based on a tale of stupidity and dishonesty of two personalities, one a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”wannabeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ president and the other a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”wannabeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ journalist! ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Despite the grievance about missing out on the scoop of the year, The Sunday Leader boasts about winning the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Prof K. Kailasapathy Award for Reporting Under Special CircumstancesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”whatever that is- and that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Ranaissance ManƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Failed StateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ fame receiving ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”a merit awardƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ for Columnist of the Year; reminds of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”most improved playerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ award given to the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”fat kidƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ who used to turn up at rugby training at school, but was only good enough to represent his House!
Despite such cheap boasts of the ‘kele pattare’, the strong showing of Lakbima newspapers is well deserved and provides hope that some of the emerging newspaper could be capable of restoring the former glory of journalism in Sri Lanka: reading the insightful analyses and quality writing of a young, up and coming journalist like Ranga Jayasuriya of Lakbima gives the distinct feeling that all is not lost.
Any ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”awardƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to a journalist, other than respect and acceptance by a readership, is worthless and meaningless. Real kudos can only be earned by principled and unwavering commitment to truth that is journalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s first obligation, and excellence in its presentation; The Sunday Leader fails on both these grounds.
As far as Frederica Jansz is concerned, she seems to have got something right at last! Buried in the bowels of her rant is the statement: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-As our opinion pieces over the years amply demonstrate, we often voice ideas that many people find distasteful.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
She can certainly say ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ again!
August 1st, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Ranga Jayasuriya is not what I would call a good journalist. He spent his time plagiarising DefenceWire none stop and that was very despicable.
Most if not all of his analyses and “work” during the war period were poor, out right ridiculous and plane wrong, as was his “work” after the war. He also took joy rides on El Janaral Fonseka bandwagon playing tunes about white flags and trying to bury the ugly side of el janaral. Nothing more than a slightly better Ruwan Weerakoon -remember that ugly scoundrel? An integral part of the white flags “scoop” who is now living it up in some Western country. He too plagiarised DefenceWire, yet his quality of english was just pathetically poor compared to Ranga.
Both Ranga and Ruwan have no back bones, credibility and significantly ETHICS as they stick to the editorial polices of their pays masters and prefer to milk it in than stand up and defend their country (yet comically they try –and fail- to project illusions of being these great journalists interested in the nations well being). Lets not forget the lies Ruwan disseminated against Sinhalese when he was at AFP, then did an about turn jumping into the patriotic camp when the LTTE was not living up to its hype. In fairness though many journalists in recent times have done that –quickly turning to what is actually popular than what they originally perceived to be popular, which in itself shows how out of touch with the people, and bankrupt most so called journalists and the media establishment as a whole is in Sri Lanka. And if need be they have no problem jumping ship again especially if further self-advancement can be attained.
Hence the problem with the media in Sri Lanka: they are not bothered about the nation, the people and their sentiments, feelings, well being and safety but rather what brings in the money and what the white world tells them/dictates as they love to worship the former (which is where the NGOs, the money and parties are of course).
August 1st, 2010 at 10:53 pm
In the books of Federica Janz slandering is good journalism. This is what this rag called Sunday Leader publish and expect awards. What else can one expect from this born again lot!
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:04 am
Federica should at least know that she is guaranteed a posthumous award (for gutter journalism and anti-Govt propaganda) either by US, UK or UN just like her predecessor, Lasntha W, managed to do. If she is keen to get this award sooner, all she needs to do is to talk to Robert Blake or Pat Butenis and they will have the CIA jackals set after her in no time and use that to prove that journalists are being killed by the Govt. I hope she won’t forget to keep a copy of her posthumous editorial handy which can then be published in the ‘Free’ media around the world.
August 2nd, 2010 at 6:03 am
Who is financing Sunday leader which is paid to publish anti-government publications? I hope “some” big hands are hiding behind Fredica Jansz!
August 2nd, 2010 at 6:04 am
I agree fully with Ajit that Ranga Jayasuriya is one of the best up and coming political analysts in Sri Lankan media.
He is trained in Sri Lanka and Singapore and his English is really good.
People like Raju are just unhappy because they cant make any traction due to lack of talent.
Ranga won his award nominated by other journalists.
Sri Lankans have to learn not to run down others due to pure jealousy.
Janak
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:09 am
What an idiot this Janak is.
Who are you Ranga Jayasuriya himself?
I am not a “Journalist” and have nothing to be jealous about. What is it with morons who come out with stupid statements like that?
Ranga Jayasuriya is a moron who PLAGIARISED Defencewire non stop. Do you know what PLAGIARISM is Janak? Is your english vocabulary good enough to understand the meaning of that word and its severity especially in the field of writing and journalism?
Added to this is Ranaga Jayasuriya’s analyses of situations is just poor and he has come out with the most idiotic things imaginable (bit like you Janak and accusation of “jealousy”).
If you think his English quality is “good” then i guess you have pretty LOW standards like him.
PLAGIARISING someone else literally word for word (as Ranga did) without even giving the slightest piece of acknowledgment is just despicable and shows what kind of unethical and incapable “journalist” he truly is, as is the rest of Sri Lanka’s media establishment. Well anyway one thing is certain, Ranga would have good job at SundayLeader guaranteed.
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:10 am
What an idiot this Janak is.
Who are you Ranga Jayasuriya himself?
I am not a “Journalist” and have nothing to be jealous about. What is it with morons who come out with stupid statements like that?
Ranga Jayasuriya is a moron who PLAGIARISED Defencewire non stop. Do you know what PLAGIARISM is Janak? Is your english vocabulary good enough to understand the meaning of that word and its severity especially in the field of writing and journalism?
Added to this is Ranaga Jayasuriya’s analyses of situations is just poor and he has come out with the most idiotic things imaginable (bit like you Janak and accusation of “jealousy”).
If you think his English quality is “good” then i guess you have pretty LOW standards like him.
PLAGIARISING someone else literally word for word (as Ranga did) without even giving the slightest piece of acknowledgment is just despicable and shows what kind of unethical and incapable “journalist” he truly is, as is the rest of Sri Lanka’s media establishment. Well anyway one thing is certain, Ranga would have good job at SundayLeader guaranteed.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:06 am
Ho, Ho, Ho, what a genius? ‘Raju’
I am not hiding my identity like some others.
I checked with Colombo and Ranga thinks you may be the ‘Morning Inspector’ who writes rubbish to every piece of paper in Colombo. Is that true Wikipedia expert?
If you accuse him of plagiarising, you should have the guts to show where and what he plagiarised. I will read Ranga anyday and not you ever.
May you have plesure in your hell of jealousy.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Haha just as I thought this Janak is either a friend of Ranga or someone trying to cause problems here as is the case with many leftist socialists type “progressive” trolls.
“I am not hiding my identity like some others”
Huh? What does that prove? Talk about being a real a tool, we are on the internet your identity can be anything you want, and frankly I care little for a nobody like you and whatever identity you choose be it on the internet or in real life.
“I checked with Colombo”
Oh really? How cute.
“Ranga thinks you may be the ‘Morning Inspector’ who writes rubbish to every piece of paper in Colombo. Is that true Wikipedia expert?”
I do not really care what third class journalists like Ranga “thinks”.
“If you accuse him of plagiarising, you should have the guts to show where and what he plagiarised”
Here you go:
Suicide Boats: A Force Multiplier in Unconventional Warfare published on Saturday, December 15, 2007
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2007/12/suicide-boating.html
Plagiarised by Lakbima defence correspondent Ranga Jayasuriya on Sunday December 23rd 2007
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/archvi/lakbimanews_07_12_23/defence.htm
LTTE’s Rare Infantry Weapons published on Saturday, November 17, 2007
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2007/11/lttes-rare-infantry-weapons.html
Plagiarised by Lakbima defence correspondent Ranga Jayasuriya on Sunday Novmeber 25th 2007
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/archvi/lakbimanews_07_11_25/defence.htm
“I will read Ranga anyday and not you ever.”
Well good for you.
“May you have plesure in your hell of jealousy.”
Yak yak yak
Anyway look forward for the next correspondence between you and Ranga, please do share it here. Hopefully Ranga will have the guts to show up himself right? Hikz. Why use an intermediately like you? Its embarrassing for him.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Perhaps this Janak is Rajpal Abeynaike the editor of Lakbima (the language and attitude fits his MO) or friend or hired hack to defend his “paper” and “journalism” known for its plagiarism.
Lakbima has a history of plagiarising the work of others, especially and ironically from online blogs then getting into a huff of rudeness and swearing to defend it. While I hate most of these blogs as they are shit spots of Colombians and care little for them, plagiarising is wrong and smacks of pathetic third class journalism ever present in Sri Lanka. And it really is poor if journalists and media have to copy and paste from some blog or anywhere else especially places of repute and respect (e.g. DefenceWire) without even giving due credit to the original author then viciously attacking them when caught acting as if you are the victim.
Ajit Randeniya has previously commented on the pathetic nature of Lakbima as can be seen here:
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/03/14/lakbima-should-not-be-sacrificed-through-mental-subservience/