Bhathiya Barukanda
Good morning, everyone. A big thank you to Rainbow Resources and its Executive Director Mrs. Manique Mendis for having me today. I’m so glad to see so many familiar faces of journalists here as well.
It’s a real pleasure to be here today, speaking to such a dynamic and passionate group of young journalists and aspiring storytellers.
At its core, journalism is about holding a mirror up to society. It reflects the world as it is—its challenges, triumphs, and ongoing struggles. It also holds people in power accountable for their actions and informs the public so they can make educated decisions. Without journalism, we lose the ability to see the bigger picture, and we risk being misled or kept in the dark.
In today’s world, the flow of information is more rapid and widespread than ever. But with that comes the challenge of misinformation and disinformation, the manipulation of facts to fit narratives that suit individual agendas. That’s why your role as a journalist here in Sri Lanka is more critical now than ever. The world is relying on you to dig for the truth, to ask the tough questions, and to shine a light on what some would prefer remain hidden.
The young journalists and aspiring journalists here today, you have something incredibly valuable: a fresh perspective. You’re part of a generation that’s growing up in a time of immense social, political, and technological change. Your voices are the ones people are turning to for new ideas, new approaches, and new stories.
You’re the ones who are fluent in the language of the digital age, where news is instant, global, and constantly evolving. But with that fluency comes a profound responsibility. Because while journalism can be a force for incredible good, if misused, it can also do harm. Your words, your stories—they have power and while this is cliche — and has been overused since the first Spiderman movie came out in 2002, “with great power comes with great responsibility.”
When you sit down to write an article, record a story, or post a tweet, think about the impact those words can have. Words are tools for creating change. They can inspire action, provoke thought, challenge the status quo, or even alter the course of history. Every time you publish something, you have the opportunity to reach someone’s mind or touch someone’s heart.
And it’s not just the big, headline stories that matter. Sometimes, the most impactful journalism is the local story about a community standing up for its rights, or the personal narrative of someone overcoming extraordinary challenges. Every word, every sentence, has the potential to make a difference in someone’s life. Don’t underestimate that.
But with that potential for change comes a responsibility—a responsibility to seek the truth, to be fair, and to be honest in your work. Journalism isn’t just about writing what you think or feel. It’s about grounding your stories in facts, ensuring you’ve done the research, and giving your audience an accurate picture of what’s really going on.
You have a responsibility to your readers, to your sources, and to the communities you cover. Journalism isn’t about pushing your own agenda or views; it’s about serving the public good. You’re entrusted with people’s stories, their truths, and their experiences. Treat that trust with the care it deserves. Sometimes the most difficult stories to tell are the ones that require the most balance and nuance. You may encounter situations where it’s hard to remain neutral, but that’s where your professionalism as a journalist comes into play. It’s your job to present the facts, not to manipulate them to fit a narrative. That’s what separates real journalism from propaganda or clickbait.
Some of you may know this already, but journalism was my first love as well. There was a time in my life where I was absolutely certain that I would become a journalist. I started out writing for my high school newspaper and eventually began contributing to my college newspaper as well. We used notebooks and cassette tape players back then to record interviews. The values I learnt in journalism to search for the truth, to fight for what is right, to give voice to the people who need a voice, I carry with me each day and they help me as I navigate the world around me. My respect for journalists like you and the work you do is immense.
Sometimes, journalism is a happy accident. Sometimes, the story finds you when you least expect it, and in ways you could never have planned. Walter Cronkite, one of the most revered journalists in American history, once shared a story that illustrates this point perfectly.
Cronkite didn’t set out to become “the most trusted man in America” by meticulously planning every step of his career. He entered journalism to support his life as a university student. His journey in journalism was filled with twists, turns, and even a bit of luck. One of his most famous moments came during the Vietnam War. Cronkite went to Vietnam, during the war, in 1968 to cover the Tet Offensive, a series of surprise attacks by North Vietnamese forces. What he saw shocked him. After reporting from the ground, he returned home and delivered a broadcast in which he said that the war was “mired in stalemate.”
That famous broadcast is widely credited with turning public opinion in the United States against the war. Cronkite didn’t plan to change the course of history with his report. He was simply being honest about what he had seen, he had the courage to stand up and say the unpopular thing at the time because he knew it to be right, he used his platform to create change, but it was not easy. His words, spoken from a place of truth, resonated with millions and shifted the national conversation.
This story shows that journalism is often unpredictable. You may be working on what you think is a small, routine story, only to find that it becomes something far bigger than you could have imagined. Be ready for those moments and embrace them when they come. You never know when a story will find you and change everything.
As young journalists, you are stepping into one of the most exciting, dynamic, and important professions there is. You have the power to inform, to inspire, and to ignite change. But with that power comes a deep responsibility to use your platform for good, to seek the truth, and to tell the stories that need to be told—especially the ones that others might not want to hear.
I am going to borrow a line here from one of my favorite Batman comics, “Whatever you do, remember this: you’re going to make a difference. A lot of times it won’t be huge, it won’t be visible even. But it will matter just the same. Don’t do it for praise or money—that’s what I want to tell you. Do it because it needs to be done. Do it to make your world better.”
Thank you, and I can’t wait to see the incredible stories you will tell in the years to come. Please consider me and my colleagues from the U.S. Embassy as your allies in the pursuit of media freedom, standing together in support of independent reporting and the vital role it plays in strengthening democracy.
source:https://lk.usembassy.gov
