Collaboration among government, media, citizens stressed

Media leaders, academia, and development practitioners in a programme underscored the necessity for continuous dialogue among government, media, and citizens to achieve mutual agreement and address the popular demand for good governance in the country.

They noted that cultivating public trust is a demanding, long-term process. The panellists stressed the need to abandon outdated, confrontational media reporting, especially in the face of rapidly evolving information and communication technologies. They advocated for enhanced collaboration among government, media, and citizens, said a press release.

These insights were shared during a webinar titled ‘An outcome-based tripartite collaboration model among government, media, and citizens’ organised by the Media and Journalism Programme of the Political Science and Sociology Department at North South University (NSU) to commemorate International Press Freedom Day. Dr Rezwan-Ul-Alam, an associate professor at NSU’s Media and Journalism Programme, proposed a new collaborative model at the event.

Professor Dr Golam Rahman, the editor of Ajker Patrika, was the webinar’s chief guest. Other distinguished guests included Anisul Haque, managing editor of Prothom Alo; Professor Dr Giti Ara Nasreen from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University; Dr Abdun Noor Tushar, media personality; Dr Samikhsha Koirala, assistant professor of Media and Journalism at NSU and Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, the country representative of Asia Foundation Bangladesh. Dr Md Towfique E Elahi, an assistant professor of Media and Journalism at NSU, moderated the webinar.

Dr Rezwan noted the importance of political will and a conducive communication environment for the mass media to function effectively. He called on the government to consider media as a public good, discouraging the application of undue pressure through restrictive laws and regulations. He expressed concern about the decline in media quality and the rise of journalism that seeks to appease or express solidarity with audiences. Ajker Patrika Editor Professor Dr Golam Rahman said that the quality of journalism deteriorated during military rule in Bangladesh. Dr Golam Rahman emphasised responsible journalism for the welfare of the people.

Prothom Alo Managing Editor Anisul Haque highlighted the positive collaboration of media with the government that resulted in several good impacts in curbing acid violence and reducing the negative effect of famine-like situations in northern districts. Professor Dr Giti Ara Nasreen observed that various forces seriously undermine the freedom of expression in Bangladesh, thus losing public trust in the media.