Online journalism is now very popular in Bangladesh and playing a leading role in the news media with its growing presence, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka Maxim Dobrokhotov said Thursday. Dobrokhotov also noted the crucial contribution of the national media to everyday life. The Russian House in Dhaka hosted a special briefing dedicated to the "International Day of Journalists' Solidarity." Read: Future of journalism depends on adaptation, professionalism: Dr Arefin

The fourth edition of the two-day "Networking Conference on News Media in Bangladesh under Covid-19: Role of State and Media Educators" began online Friday. The Department of Journalism and Media Studies of Jahangirnagar University (JU) and DW Academy have jointly organised the conference. State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Murad Hassan inaugurated the programme as chief guest.  JU Vice-Chancellor Dr Farzana Islam addressed the function as the guest of honour. Dr Golam Rahman, editor of Ajker Patrika, Dr Mozammel Hoque, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, spoke as special guests. Michael Karhausen, DW Asia and Europe department head, Hannah Schempf, press attaché of the German Embassy in Dhaka, also addressed the inaugural function. Ameena Islam, convenor of the conference and associate professor of journalism and media studies department of JU, conducted the inaugural session, which was presided over by the department's chairperson Sheikh Adnan Fahad.  Teachers and students of journalism, media studies and mass communication departments of different public and private universities, working journalists, and representatives of research bodies were present at the inaugural session. The two-day conference will be conducted through four panel discussions. At the concluding session, Priya Esselborn, country manager of DW Bangladesh, will give the vote of thanks. In the light of recommendations put forward by the discussants, a declaration will be made at the conference. Addressing the inaugural session, Dr Murad emphasised integrated efforts among all stakeholders, including media owners, editors, journalists, journalists' unions to ensure professionalism in journalism and other media practices.  Read: HC issues rule on ethics code for news media "The government recently formed a journalist welfare fund to help the journalists who are facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Also, the government already announced the ninth wage board [for journalists], " the state minister said. "However, can the government alone ensure professionalism and ideal conditions in journalism?" Dr Murad asked the media owners and practitioners. In reply, Dr Golam Rahman said the government has to ensure full freedom of the press, while the media owners, journalists and other stakeholders need to act professionally to ensure an ideal condition of journalism in Bangladesh. Also, Dr Golam Rahman, Dr Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan and Dr Mofizur Rhaman emphasised looking into the patterns of media ownership. Dr Farzana called for fact-based journalism for establishing truth all across society. She also emphasised doing news stories on the positive happenings in the society and country.   The first panel discussion was held under the title "Journalism in Bangladesh under Covid-19: Realities to Face and the Way-outs." Dr Mofizur of Dhaka University's mass communication and journalism department, Probhash Amin, head of news at ATN News, Nadia Sharmin, senior reporter of Ekattor TV, and Fakaruddin Jewel, head of NTV, spoke as panellists of the session. The second session of the first day was conducted under the title "Journalism on Digital Platforms under Covid-19: Challenges and Dwelling with Falsehoods." Read: BGMEA opens PR and Media Lounge for journalists Saiful Alam Chowdury, associate professor of Dhaka University's mass communication and journalism department, M Abul Kalam Azad, special story editor of Dhaka Tribune and founder of fact-checking platform factkhuji.org, Suliman Niloy, acting head of multimedia content at bdnews24.com, and Maksuda Aziz, mobile journalism specialist of Daily Prothom Alo, spoke at the session as panellists. A good number of teachers, researchers and students from different public and private universities and working journalists took part in the sessions. Channel I online and Ajker Patrika are the media partners of the conference. Two other sessions titled "Safety and job security of journalists during and post-Covid Bangladesh: Role of editors and media educators" and "Creating environment for media and communication research and sources of funding in the post-Covid Bangladesh" will be held Saturday. 

The High Court Monday issued a rule questioning  why inactivity to introduce an effective and efficient ethical code of conduct for media according to  subsection 2 of section 11 in Press Council Act, 1974 should not be considered illegal. The court also issued a rule on why direction will not be given to create an ethical code of conduct for maintaining professionalism of journalists, news agencies, newspapers. Bench of justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kamrul Hossain Molla issued the rule during a virtual hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard. The court also questioned why direction will not be given to take legal action for closing unlicensed and unregistered online news portals and to register those that are in consideration. In the rule the court also asked why direction will not be given to take proper steps to form a ‘Broadcasting commission’ according to the National Broadcast Policy-2014. The Information Secretary, Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Chairman of Bangladesh Press Council have been asked to submit a reply to the rule within seven days. READ: HC summons two police investigators over death of Minu Akhter Lawyer Rashida Chowdhury Nilu and Zarin Rahman presented the petitioner’s side during the hearing while Deputy Attorney General Nowroz Md Russel Chowdhury presented the state side. On May 5, two lawyers of the Supreme Court Rashida Chowdhury Nilu and Zarin Rahman sent a legal notice to the authority for introducing ethical code for publishing news on broadcast media. According to the notice,  in a recent incident of recovering the dead body of  a 21-year-old college student a case of incitement to suicide was filed under section 306. But some media and specially some online news portals published news on this in an unacceptable way and BTRC and Press Council didn’t take any steps against them. In these circumstances, the need to implement an ethical code of conduct for publishing news and actions against unregistered news portals have become necessary, said the notice. READ: Stop harmful online games like PUBG, Free Fire: HC As the authorities didn’t reply to the notice a writ petition was with the High Court.