• The importance of journalism has been recognised today

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Plans are afoot to start up the Chartered Institute of Journalists next year with the aim of enhancing journalism as a profession, Minister of Mass Media Dullas Alahapperuma told Parliament yesterday.

Minister Alahapperuma said this institute will be of high standards just like the Chartered Institute of Journalists UK.
“Members of Editor’s Guild and Broadcaster’s Guild will be included to the administration board of this proposed institute. The importance of journalism has been recognised today and this is why media is being taught in schools as a subject for GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level classes,” he said.

“Some 2,100 journalists out of the total of 6,145 who hold the identity card provided by the Media Ministry had applied for the newly introduced pension scheme for the media personnel,” he added. 

• Some 2,100 journalists out of the total of 6,145 who hold the identity card provided by the Media Ministry had applied for the newly introduced pension scheme for the media personnel