Abstract:
Information which is correct and appropriate is a key driver of capacity development of the masses in post-war conditions. The mass media, especially the electronic versions; function as the agents which transfer information to the society in pursuit of development. Often, as per various agendas and stances, information is modified before it reaches the intended recipients, curtailing the smooth process of development. This paper looks into developing a meta-classification schema on how information is modified in the public domain in the internet based news agencies. Analysis based on a sample-set of 50 internet based news services which publish information on post-war Sri Lanka were analyzed using Scientometric Rapid Clustering Method (SRCM) reveals that agents that act as information modifiers can be formed into 4 major clusters (at 95% confidence limits). These clusters are based on how the agent is connected to the information as per profit motive, ideological, economical, social and ethnic causes. Further analysis using a case study showed that these clusters are dynamic over time, which makes it difficult for legislators to exercise a centralized approach to development. Moreover, it was also established most of the information modifiers act in negation to the developmental path.
