Create body with journos to ensure ethical journalism
Discussion told
Speakers at a roundtable in the capital yesterday called for creation of an organisation consisting of experienced journalists to establish ethics and rules for fair journalism, thus preventing government intervention and helping journalists maintain standard and practice ethical reporting.
"We don't want a government body to dictate what we should or shouldn't write, as it goes against the very principle of journalism," said Dr Sakhawat Ali Khan, supernumerary professor of mass communication and journalism of DU.
He also viewed that news reporting had been too capital-centric and suggested shifting the focus to other cities and rural areas.
The speakers also called for projecting more positive news at the discussion, organised by the Department of Television and Film Studies (TFS) of the University of Dhaka and Unesco Bangladesh to celebrate 50 years of communication and journalism education in the country.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said journalists needed to present true, accurate information in its full form. "When mass media or journalists conceal the truth or present partial and false information, they are committing a crime against society," he said.
He hoped that four policies on national broadcast media, online media, private television channels, and films would be finalised within three months.
Chairman of TFS department Dr AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan moderated the programme.
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