RAJSHAHI, Jan 10, 2019 (BSS)- Senior journalists and public representatives
at a discussion here unanimously said that large-scale promotion of
investigative journalism can help free the nation from the curse of graft as
a whole.
They viewed that corruption would have no place in Bangladesh if
investigative journalism in the country as it can help resist corruption to a
greater extent.
They came up with the observation while addressing the closing and
certificate-giving ceremony of a three-day course on investigative journalism
training at the conference room of Bagha Upazila Health Complex in the
district yesterday afternoon. Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) organised
the training where 40 upazila level journalists attended.
PIB Joint Secretary Iliash Bhuiyan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahin Reja,
Stringer of New York Times Zulfiker Ali Manik, Bagha Pourasava Mayor Abdur
Razzaque and its Panel Mayor Shahinur Rahman and Chairman of Department of
Mass Communication and Journalism Dr Prodip Kumar Panday addressed the
session. President of Bagha Press Club Abdul Latib Mian chaired the meeting.
Zulfiker Ali Manik said the independence of journalism must not be
compromised for conflict of interest.
For all journalists, accountability is fundamental. The journalists must be
ready to explain to the public the reasons for their investigations. They
must be ready to respond to complaints and to explain how and why a story was
investigated.
He added that the journalists should act as the independent voice of the
public and they should not be intimidated by power or influenced by special
interests, advertisers or news sources.
Through the training, the journalists were given ideas on how to collect
information and write investigative reports accurately.