From correspondents in New Delhi
THE Dalai Lama has chided journalists for being more interested in tragic stories than upbeat ones, though he thanked the media for highlighting Tibet’s struggle for autonomy within China.
“Media tend to show a lot of interest in the negative, in disasters or tragedies,” the Tibetan spiritual leader was quoted as saying in an interview with the World Association of Newspapers.
“This kind of news gets a lot of attention, whereas there is less interest in the value of human compassion.”
A transcript of the interview was released to coincide with World Press Freedom Day.
“If a disaster happens in, for example, New Delhi, New York, Paris or Moscow, it is immediately seen as something important,” he said. “However, organisations or relatives take care of thousands and thousands of young children every day.
“We take these things for granted, so they are not important to the media.”
Despite continuing political persecution in his homeland, the Dalai Lama said the world was becoming a better place.
“I think that many people live under the impression that the world is getting worse,” he said. “I do not agree with that. My feeling is that during the last century, the world has become a much better place.”
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, and established a government-in-exile in the Indian town of Dharmsala.
Beijing has branded him a troublemaker who seeks Tibetan independence, though the Dalai Lama insists he is only seeking autonomy.
In the interview, he acknowledged the media’s role in making others aware of Tibet.
“They have played a very important role … There was very little knowledge about Tibet in the outside world,” he said.
“Today there is an increased interest for peace, the environment, culture and spirituality. Our culture and spirituality are relevant in today’s world.”
