We are living in a remarkable digital age in which everyone seems to have become a journalist. With a mobile phone and a social media account, news can travel across the world within seconds, like a spring flowing in many directions.
But what are people drinking from that spring?
Some news is truthful and carefully verified. Other reports are exaggerated, distorted, or entirely false. Yet people eagerly await the next sensational story, particularly when it concerns the private lives of others. Behind every name, photograph, and headline, however, there is a human being—a person with feelings, a family, hopes, fears, and dignity.
A careless piece of writing can therefore become much more than “just news.” It can cause humiliation, anxiety, stress, and profound mental anguish to the person concerned. The individual may be young or old, famous or unknown. Words written in seconds can sometimes leave wounds that last a lifetime.
Recent reports concerning the death of a medical doctor at Badulla Hospital remind us of the seriousness of this issue. Whatever the circumstances, such incidents should prompt everyone who publishes on social media to pause and ask:
Have I checked the facts?
Is this information authentic?
Could my words harm an innocent person?
Am I informing people—or simply seeking attention?
In today’s world, countless news pages and rapidly expanding online channels appear every day, many seeking subscribers, views, and advertising revenue. Often, one source publishes a piece of information, and others copy it, add their own exaggerations, and circulate it across multiple platforms until speculation begins to resemble fact.
Of course, there are also responsible and reputable news organizations that place truth and the public interest above profit. They verify information, respect people’s dignity, and understand the responsibility that comes with having an audience. These are the voices we should value.
The tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales—an extraordinary woman who became a living legend—is an enduring reminder of the immense power and potential danger of the media. Her death remains deeply associated in the public imagination with the relentless pursuit of photographs and news.
We should therefore remember one simple principle:
Before you press “Publish,” think twice.
Think three times.
Check the facts.
Check the source.
And, above all, remember the human being behind the story.
Freedom of journalism is precious. Freedom of expression is precious. However, freedom without responsibility can become cruelty.
Journalism should inform—not destroy.
Social media should connect—not condemn.
And words should never become weapons.
If anyone disagrees with the view that “Journalism can kill,” I welcome your perspective. Let us discuss it respectfully.
Because sometimes, the most powerful story we can publish is the one that prevents another person from suffering.