A Handbook for Professional Journalism: Reporting on Women, Girl-children, and LGBTQIA+ individuals in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This handbook exists to support journalists in recognising recurring patterns in coverage and strengthening professional judgment, so reporting is accurate, fair, and respectful of the people whose lives appear in the news. It focuses on two identity groups that are repeatedly affected by the way they are covered in Sri Lankan media: women and girl-children, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. The handbook is grounded in the pressures media professionals face and provides practical tools to help uphold standards consistently and minimise avoidable harm, even under tight deadlines. The recommendations in this handbook were reached through four areas of work. First, by identifying patterns of unethical reporting in Sri Lankan media through Verité Media and Politics’ Ethics Eye platform. Second, by reviewing principles of Sri Lankan media ethics standards. Third, by drawing on good practices from international standards. Fourth, by understanding the perspectives of Sri Lankan media professionals through discussions with them.