People of Bangladesh are calling for a new approach to journalism after the revolution, said Nahid Islam, Adviser for Information and Broadcasting, on Wednesday. “To this end, the government has initiated efforts to revamp the media landscape. The media will serve as a cornerstone of democracy in Bangladesh, always prioritizing the interests of the country and its citizens,” he said. He made the remarks at the welfare grant cheque handover ceremony for the fiscal year 2024-2025 (1st phase), organized by the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) auditorium. Adviser Nahid favours political consensus for decision on President The adviser said that the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust is committed to supporting the families of martyred journalists and those injured during the anti-discrimination movement. “The contributions of journalists who were martyred or injured in this struggle will be remembered and honored by the government,” Adviser Nahid added. Highlighting the government’s responsibility, the adviser mentioned that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting considers the families of the deceased journalists as integral to its mission. From this perspective, the ministry stands by the journalists. He noted that the Trust is actively working for journalists' welfare. As part of this effort, 350 welfare grant cheques were handed out in the first phase of the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The adviser assured that additional grants would be provided to more journalists in the future. Criticizing the fascist regime, he pointed out that fascism had permeated every institution in Bangladesh, including the media, which was subjected to efforts to be turned into loyal supporters of the government. Those media outlets that resisted faced various forms of repression. ‘Interim Govt doesn’t acknowledge Sheikh Mujib as Father of the Nation’: Adviser Nahid Stressing that journalists should remain nonpartisan, he emphasized that they must write and speak for the country and its people. While the public expects the media to hold the government accountable, he lamented that it has struggled to fulfill this role over the past 16 years. He remarked that those journalists who aligned with fascism do not represent true journalism, as they have exploited the media for corrupt purposes. Instead, he said, it is the journalists who faced persecution during the previous government who truly represent the media. Regarding the protection of journalists from harassment, the adviser announced that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has established a committee to monitor harassment cases against journalists, which has already begun its work. Journalists can report incidents of harassment to this committee, with the ministry pledging to support them.

The Secretary General of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) has said that there is no alternative to preventing yellow journalism to ensuring objective journalism. "Information terrorism and yellow journalism are undermining objective journalism," said Quader Gani Chowdhury, Secretary General of BFUJ, while addressing a memorial meeting for the late BFUJ President Ruhul Amin Gazi, held this morning at the Khulna Press Club, organized by the Khulna Journalists Union, as the chief guest. The journalist leader emphasized the importance of earning the trust of the public through objective journalism, noting that many journalists are losing their dignity due to yellow journalism. "People trust those who practice good journalism and stand by them in difficult times," he added. Journalism now most challenging profession: Fakhrul Chowdhury stated that objective journalism is in serious trouble, but it is essential to remember that objectivity is fundamental to journalism—it's essentially its lifeblood. "Objectivity means not favoring any party or group, clearly distinguishing right from wrong, and not altering facts in our reporting," he explained. "Journalism should not allow for personal commentary; it should present information backed by proper evidence. An honest and ideal journalist writes without bias. But are we truly doing it or can we do it? He also pointed out the challenges journalists face in Bangladesh, where, despite constitutional guarantees for press freedom, true freedom remains elusive. "Journalists often find it difficult to express the truth, facing numerous obstacles to establish their credibility," he noted. Chowdhury highlighted the detrimental effects of defamation, yellow journalism, information terrorism, disinformation, checkbook journalism, false reporting, biased coverage, and embedded journalism, all of which can tarnish a journalist's reputation. He stressed that defamation is a punishable offense, and no one, including journalists, has the right to damage someone’s dignity. "It is unjust to label a respectable person as a criminal based on assumptions. No journalist should undermine another’s dignity, yet this happens far too often," he concluded. Journalism is a public good that must be protected: UNRC The term "checkbook journalism" may not be widely understood, but it essentially refers to reporting done in exchange for money. Quader Gani Chowdhury noted that many journalists are engaging in this unethical practice as a means of financial gain. He emphasized that, while striving for quality journalism, journalists must unite against bad journalism. The Union of Journalists is working to ensure that reporters can perform their duties with a sense of security and peace of mind. Chowdhury pointed out that independent journalism is a cornerstone of democracy, yet it currently faces multiple challenges. Political, economic, legal, and technological obstacles hinder journalists from working freely. Creating a safe and independent environment is crucial for impartial news gathering and dissemination. Strengthening the legal framework to protect independent journalism and ensuring the training and safety of journalists are essential. He stated that although the country has moved beyond fascism, the demand for independent media remains vital. An independent media policy exists, but many stakeholders are reluctant to implement it, resulting in ongoing challenges for the media landscape. “Despite the government's awareness of these issues, effective action has yet to be taken,” Chowdhury added. Md Shahidul Islam, President of the pro-BNP faction of Dhaka Union of Journalists, remarked that without independent journalism, democracy cannot be safeguarded. “To establish a democratic state, media freedom must be assured.” He added that journalists are unable to work independently due to a lack of rights and job security. Therefore, it is essential to enact laws that protect journalists. He acknowledged that journalism is a risky profession; no one can be compelled to enter this field, but those who do must accept the inherent risks.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam said on Monday professionalism of journalists is the most important pillar of media freedom, stressing that media workers financial issues need to be addressed to ensure their dignity. “We want to look forward and see how we can take journalism towards professionalism so that our youths and talented people feel interested about this profession,” he said while addressing a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) Director General Faruk Wasif, among others, spoke at the discussion titled ‘Mass Media’s Reforms: Why and How?’ which was organised by Media Support Network. Journalist and Convener, Media Support Network Jimi Amir presented the keynote paper with a number of proposals. The Adviser said the editors and the owners ‘kind of oppose’ it when the issue of wage board for the media comes up. He said there are multi-level stakeholders in the media and a common thing is that some media houses do not pay salaries properly. “It is very common, I understand. This should be resolved to maintain professionalism and ensure their dignity,” said the Adviser. He said the organisations that represent the journalists should work in the interest of working journalists. Nahid said they need to reach a consensus taking all stakeholders onboard to resolve the issues in the media industry. He also questioned the role of media during the students movement and said they did not see the role that media played during 90s upsurge. The Adviser said there could be a big case study on the role of media that it played during the recent movement with a bias-free discussion. He said there was no resistance from journalists during the July revolution and therefore their role was questionable. “Much information on the movement was not aired on electronic media. It is a matter of discussion.” Nahid said the media reform commission will be announced after holding meetings with all stakeholders. Jimi Amir said this profession of dignity has been underestimated to some extent by the British-era term wage board. “Can it be called Board of Salary and Benefits instead of Wage Board?” she said, adding that it can be made for all - magazines, TV, online, radio. Presenting her keynote speech, she also laid emphasis on creating a uniform policy for all types of news media. “Now is the time for us to have an open discussion. If the media cannot think and act independently then democracy cannot stand up. Economic stability will collapse. Above all, the country's sovereignty will be threatened,” Jimi Amir said. Earlier, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus told top editors of the country that he wants the media to function with full freedom, and write without any hesitation if the interim government makes any mistake. Quoting the Chief Adviser, his Press Secretary Alam said Prof Yunus reiterated that he believes in media freedom and the interim government wants to see a vibrant media landscape. Tags: Professionalism, Journalism, Adviser Nahid, Dr Yunus

A new report by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism suggests that Facebook is becoming significantly less important as a source of news. The report titled “Digital News Report -2023” found that only 28% of people surveyed accessed news through Facebook in 2023, compared to 42% in 2016.  The figures were based on interviews with some 94,000 people across 46 countries, conducted for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, part of Britain's University of Oxford. “Facebook remains one of the most-used social networks overall, but its influence on journalism is declining as it shifts its focus away from news,” Lead author Nic Newman said in a press release. Also read: CNN head Chris Licht is out at the global news network after a brief, tumultuous tenure Newman highlighted that Facebook now faces new challenges from established networks such as YouTube and vibrant youth-focused networks such as TikTok. “The Chinese-owned social network reaches 44% of 18–24s across markets and 20% for news. It is growing fastest in parts of Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America,” he said. Meanwhile, the report found that influencers and celebrities are increasingly taking over from journalists as the main source of news for young people across almost all social media platforms except for Twitter and Facebook. A new report by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism suggests that Facebook is becoming significantly less important as a source of news. Also read: Lack of transparency exposes Bangladeshi news sites to disinformation risks: new report The report titled “Digital News Report -2023” found that only 28% of people surveyed accessed news through Facebook in 2023, compared to 42% in 2016.  The figures were based on interviews with some 94,000 people across 46 countries, conducted for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, part of Britain's University of Oxford. “Facebook remains one of the most-used social networks overall, but its influence on journalism is declining as it shifts its focus away from news,” Lead author Nic Newman said in a press release. Newman highlighted that Facebook now faces new challenges from established networks such as YouTube and vibrant youth-focused networks such as TikTok. Also read: Trial begins in case against Fox News for false election claims “The Chinese-owned social network reaches 44% of 18–24s across markets and 20% for news. It is growing fastest in parts of Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America,” he said. Meanwhile, the report found that influencers and celebrities are increasingly taking over from journalists as the main source of news for young people across almost all social media platforms except for Twitter and Facebook. According to the report, 55 percent of TikTok and Snapchat users and 52 percent of Instagram users get their news from "personalities" — compared to 33 percent of Tiktok, 36 percent of Snapchat and 42 percent of Instagram users who get it from mainstream media and journalists on those platforms, which are most popular among the young.  “We find that, while mainstream journalists often lead conversations around news in Twitter and Facebook, they struggle to get attention in newer networks like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, where personalities, influencers, and ordinary people are often more prominent, even when it comes to conversations around news,” Newman said. Also read: Tucker Carlson leaves Fox News  Trust and interest in news Among other indicators, the news industry has seen a sharp decline in terms of trust and interest. According to the report, trust in the news has fallen across markets by further 2-percentage points in the last year, reversing in many countries the gains made at the height of the pandemic. “On average, 40% of our sample say they trust most news most of the time,” the lead author of the report said. Meanwhile, around 36% of the interviewees said they actively avoided the news sometimes or often, seven points above the figure in 2017 but two points lower than last year. Read more: Journalism award to recognize outstanding reporting on Bangladesh-China trade, investment ties In interviews, many said that news stories are too repetitive or too “emotionally draining”. According to the report, 55 percent of TikTok and Snapchat users and 52 percent of Instagram users get their news from "personalities" — compared to 33 percent of Tiktok, 36 percent of Snapchat and 42 percent of Instagram users who get it from mainstream media and journalists on those platforms, which are most popular among the young.  “We find that, while mainstream journalists often lead conversations around news in Twitter and Facebook, they struggle to get attention in newer networks like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, where personalities, influencers, and ordinary people are often more prominent, even when it comes to conversations around news,” Newman said. Trust and interest in news Among other indicators, the news industry has seen a sharp decline in terms of trust and interest. Read more: Women’s participation in journalism still very low: Dialogue According to the report, trust in the news has fallen across markets by further 2-percentage points in the last year, reversing in many countries the gains made at the height of the pandemic. “On average, 40% of our sample say they trust most news most of the time,” the lead author of the report said. Meanwhile, around 36% of the interviewees said they actively avoided the news sometimes or often, seven points above the figure in 2017 but two points lower than last year. In interviews, many said that news stories are too repetitive or too “emotionally draining”. Read more: Russian House lauds growing presence of online journalism in Bangladesh

A new journalism competition will be held in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka to encourage more and better-quality investigative reporting to bolster Bangladesh-China ties in trade, commerce and investment. An agreement on the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI) - the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) Journalism Award was signed here Saturday. Both sides have decided to jointly hold the journalism award event. The "BCCCI-ERF Journalism Award" will cover five areas, including the trade and investment ties between Bangladesh and China, how the high-quality development of China has helped Bangladesh, science and technology, the Belt and Road Initiative and others. Noting the professional significance of such an event, Al Mamun Mridha, secretary general of BCCCI, hoped that it would further encourage the economic journalists to analyze the topics of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China.

China was the biggest global jailer of journalists last year with more than 100 behind bars, according to a press freedom group, as President Xi Jinping’s government tightened control over society. Xi's government also was one of the biggest exporters of propaganda content, according to Reporters without Boarders. China ranked second to last on the group’s annual index of press freedom, behind only neighbor North Korea. The ruling Communist Party has tightened already strict controls on media in China, where all newspapers and broadcasters are state-owned. Websites and social media are required to enforce censorship that bans material that might spread opposition to one-party rule. Also Read: Chinese who reported on COVID to be released after 3 years Xi, China’s most powerful figure in decades, called during a 2016 meeting with journalists who had been awarded official prizes for them to adhere to “the correct orientation of public opinion." Xi is pursuing a “crusade against journalism,” Reporters Without Borders said in a report Wednesday. It called China's decline in press freedom “disastrous.” Beijing operates what is regarded as the world's most extensive system of internet controls. Its filters try to block the Chinese public from seeing websites abroad operated by news outlets, governments and human rights and other activist groups. Chinese journalists have been prosecuted on charges of spying, leaking national secrets and picking quarrels, a vague accusation used to jail dissidents. Others are subjected to surveillance, intimidation and harassment. Also Read: China's foreign minister makes rare visit to Myanmar border Journalist Dong Yuyu, who worked at a ruling party-affiliated newspaper and is a former Harvard University fellow, faces espionage charges after being detained for more than one year, his family said last week. In 2022, Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei was tried in China on national security charges but has yet to learn the verdict, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in March. Cheng worked for CGTN, the English-language state TV channel aimed at foreign audiences. She was detained in August 2019 and accused of sharing state secrets. In Hong Kong, the Communist Party forced a prominent newspaper, Apple Daily, to shut down as part of a crackdown on pro-democracy sentiment. Apple Daily's founder, Jimmy Lai, was convicted of fraud last year that his supporters said were politically motivated. Six other former executives of the newspaper pleaded guilty.

Mayor of South Korea’s Incheon metropolitan city, Yoo Jeong-bok, has said drone taxis will be up and running between Incheon International Airport and the capital city Seoul in 2025. “Incheon is considered one of the best places to do business and a great place to invest in (South) Korea by leading companies at home and abroad,” he said. The mayor was addressing a farewell reception marking the conclusion of the World Journalists Conference 2023 in Incheon on April 28. Read More: Known for laughs, DC dinner spotlights risks of journalism.

The White House Correspondents' Association dinner — known for its fun albeit ferocious jabs at Washington — took a more solemn tone this year as what many see as the brazen attack on press freedom across the globe was on painful display. Upon arriving at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden met privately with the parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia since March. He was charged with spying, despite strong denials from his employer and the U.S. government. Some guests wore buttons with “Free Evan” printed on them. Also among the 2,600 people attending the gala is Debra Tice, the mother of Austin Tice, who has not been heard from since disappearing at a checkpoint in Syria in 2012. U.S. officials say they operate under the assumption that he is alive and are working to try to bring him home. Also Read: Jailed US reporter in Russian court to appeal detention “They are among hundreds of journalists around the world who are wrongfully detained for the simple act of doing journalism — which is not a crime,” said Tamara Keith, a White House correspondent for NPR and the association’s president. The Bidens also made a beeline for Brittney Griner, the WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist who was detained in Russia for nearly 10 months last year before her release in a prisoner swap. Griner is attending with her wife, Cherelle, as guests of CBS News. The black-tie dinner draws a wide array of celebrities and media moguls to Washington, with parties being held across the capital. Among those in attendance are actor Liev Schreiber, singer John Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, the model and television personality. Also Read: Russia charges Journal reporter with espionage: Report Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opened the dinner with a pre-taped video about the importance of a free and independent press. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are seated on the stage along with comedian Roy Wood Jr., a correspondent for “The Daily Show,” as the featured entertainer. Wood gave a preview of where his jokes were headed, predicting that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wasn’t likely to end his culture clashes or stop his feud with Disney just because of a few jibes. The comedian told CNN not to expect DeSantis to say, "'You know what, man, you’re right. Go ahead and put Black history back in them books.’ ... He’s fighting Mickey Mouse. You can’t change that person’s mind with a joke.” The venue is a familiar one for Biden, who attended several as vice president to Barack Obama. The Washington event returned last year after being sidelined by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Biden was the first president in six years to accept the invitation after Donald Trump shunned the event while in office. Biden took the opportunity last year to take aim at his many critics, including Republicans and the leader of their party: Trump. This year, he is coming not only as the commander in chief but as a presidential contender.

The government of Bangladesh has said as a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child it would not tolerate any act of abusing children, noting that Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams was arrested because of “child abuse and exploitation”. "The government would also not accept any such effort aimed at maligning the Independence Day of the nation," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today (April 01, 2023). The government of Bangladesh is committed to uphold the freedom of expression for all its citizens and the media, the foreign ministry said. Read More: Prothom Alo journalist Shams denied bail, sent to jail However, it said, creating social unrest by undertaking such “fraudulent acts” is contrary to the spirit of honest journalism. The ministry said it has been brought to the notice of the government that some international media and institutions are claiming that a journalist in Bangladesh, named Shamsuzzaman, has been arrested as he wrote about the “cost of living in Bangladesh”. "This information is totally false and fabricated. This journalist was arrested because of ‘child abuse’ and ‘child exploitation," the foreign ministry said. Many media outlets have been continuously reporting on the cost of living in Bangladesh since the beginning of the Ukraine war which has caused inflation around the world. Read More: Prothom Alo journalist Shams taken to court "No one has been arrested due to such reporting. The said journalist was arrested because of child abuse and child exploitation, as he offered ten taka to a 9-year-old boy and then expressed his own views in the name of that child," the ministry said. "That is surely an act of child abuse and exploitation. Secondly, he tried to undermine the independence of Bangladesh on the great Independence Day. These acts are surely tantamount to punishable crimes," the foreign ministry said. Read More: Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman sued under DSA

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim has been honoured with the ‘Who’s Who Bangladesh-2022’ award for his outstanding contribution to journalism. He received the prestigious award from Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at the award giving ceremony in a city hotel on Tuesday, said PM’s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas. The Who's Who is a leading source of biographical data on more than 33,000 globally distinguished people in the fields of agriculture, art & culture, academia, media, social work and sports. It has been published annually since 1849. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen presided over the 'Who’s Who Bangladesh-2022’ Award ceremony organised for the fourth time here. The first three award ceremonies were held in 2016, 2018 and 2020. This year, 12 other winners of the award are Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam in the education category, Runa Laila in arts and culture, Kohinur Kamal of Meridian Agro in agriculture, Dr. Augustine Cruze in arts and literature, Sulaiman Ajanee of Standard Finis Oil Company in entrepreneur, Prof Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed in professional, Abu Sadeq of SS group in corporate, president of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Kazi Rafiqul Islam in social work, shooter Sabrina Sultana in sports, Nasima Akter Nisha in women entrepreneur, artist Rafiqun Nabi in lifetime achievement, and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit in institutional category. Read more: Tarafder M Ruhul Amin gets Mother Teresa Int'l Award In previous years, the Who’s Who Bangladesh Awards were given to the eminent citizens of Bangladesh including Prof Anisuzzaman, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Dr Rafiqul Islam, Shyek Shiraj, Aly Zaker, Mustafa Monwar, Hassan Azizul Hoq Selina Hossain, Shamsuzzaman Khan, Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, Toab Khan, Golam Sarwar and Bibi Russell. The purpose of the award is to highlight and acknowledge people who have played, and continue to play, vital roles in the development of Bangladesh in various areas such as entrepreneurial business, social work, charitable contribution, fair politics, improving human rights, civil service, law enforcement, education and the media. The Who’s Who Bangladesh publishes the biographies of these awardees on the same day and circulates them around the world in order to draw attention to their contribution to society. Read more: 2 Bangladesh projects win 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture