DHAKA, Dec 8, 2022 (BSS) – Communication expert and former Dhaka University vice chancellor Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique today said media outlet owners visible indifference to journalists cause upsets professional journalism while social media already exposed it to a newer challenge.

   “Journalists need to be sensitive as they need to understand the people’s pulse, but the (mainstream) media outlet owners are not seen to be much sensitive to the newsmen’s cause,” he told the launching ceremony of a book on Bangladesh media.

   Sidduqe, who is basically a faculty of communication and journalism, said a number of journalists were retrenched when the COVID-19 pandemic gripped Bangladesh endangering their lifeblood and observed such phenomenon would upset journalism as a profession.

   He said social media on digital platforms emerged as another major challenge for mainstream journalism and suggested media operators and newsmen to face the reality with their innovative ideas and adaptability.

   Senior journalist Nadeemm Qadir authored the book titled “Media: A Silent Crisis in Bangladesh” which contains chapters written by him and fellow journalists and media experts while its opening chapter carries an article by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on newspaper.

Former Chief Information Commissioner Dhaka University’s professor of communication and journalism M Golam Rahman, former BBC journalist and researcher Afsan Chowdhury, UNB news agency’s advisory editor Farid Hossain, expatriate economist Prof. Omer Selim Sher, media analyst and former major general AKM Humayun Kabir and BSS managing editor Anisur Rahman spoke at the launching ceremony.

   Former journalist Sayed-ul Alam, who edited the 232-page book containing nearly 40 topic-based articles on issues and problems of Bangladesh media, gave the welcome address alongside its author.

   Most speakers said the mainstream media must prove its utility through stronger and effective presence on digital platform understanding the audience demands for sustenance of dignified professional journalism.

   They said owners of the media outlet, who often appear as a group of conglomerates, largely controls the media in their groups interests affecting professional journalism while the newer generation was losing their overall interests towards mainstream media, dwindling its utility.

   Qadir said the journalists were often appreciated for their landmark reports but in case of troubles “we don’t find people around us”.

   “How much does the Journalist unions help maintain media professionalism is a burning issue,” he said.
 
Panjeree Publications Limited brought out the book.