Minorities and the media

Written by Administrator Friday, 26 March 2010 00:00

On the one hand, the media is a voice of people. On the other, it is a powerful tool that shapes their opinions and creates their attitudes. Because it is instrumental in shaping societal opinions and building their knowledge base, the media is ethically and legally obligated to deliver information that is neutral  fact-based and not reflective of their personal views and values.

This ethical obligation of factual reporting is especially poignant in the case of Mongolia's minorities. In  this age when the right to freedom of expression and publication is not only an important issue in itself, but has become a criteria on which to base the judgment of democracy level in the country.  The way media reports, the content media delivers to the society on issues pertaining to the minorities is directly proportionate to the minorities' ability to enjoy their fundamental human and basic civil rights. As long as the media continues to report only one side of the story, creating and maintaining stereotypes and false information, there will continue to be a ground for the violations of LGBT people's rights, ethnic minorities' rights, of people living with HIV/AIDS and sex workers.

Download the full article by the LGBT Centre and read. (Available only in Mongolian)