Financial anxiety of journalists must go for ethical practice: Swapon
The minister further said the investment security of newspaper industry owners must be ensured through discussions and mutual understanding with them. At the same time, the state should provide such policy support so that investment in the media industry continues, he added.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, MP has said implementing the Ninth Wage Board is required to ensure professional security, decent salaries and allowances and job stability of the journalists.
At the same time, he stressed the need for ensuring investment security for entrepreneurs in the newspaper and media industry and providing necessary policy support from the state.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at an exchange of views meeting with journalists during a visit to a media house in the capital today, said a press release.
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The minister said, "Without resolving the financial uncertainty of journalists professional journalism will suffer and opportunities for unethical journalism will be prevailed."
To retain genuine and talented journalists in the profession, it is essential to ensure a respectable salary structure. Once this is ensured, journalists will be able to develop their talent, creativity and professional skills independently in a secured working environment, he said.
The minister further said the investment security of newspaper industry owners must be ensured through discussions and mutual understanding with them. At the same time, the state should provide such policy support so that investment in the media industry continues, he added.
Mentioning that the present government believes in media freedom, Zahir Uddin Swapon said the Prime Minister has been providing continuous directives to ensure an independent media environment, bring necessary reform in the media and establish necessary commission in this regard.
The government's goal is to build a modern, responsible, independent and sustainable media system based on the opinions of stakeholders, he said.
About the present time challenges of the media the minister said the main challenge is not between the government and the media, but fight collectively against fake and misleading information.
The conventional media are now facing intense competition from digital platforms, he noted, saying with the rise of social media and independent content creators, a significant portion of advertisement is shifting to digital platforms. Therefore, mainstream media must adapt to technology to become stronger and more competitive.
Government advertisements should be allocated based on number of viewers and readers of the media outlets, he said stressing on technology based system to ascertain the eligibility.
Daily Sun Editor Rezaul Karim Lotus, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Loton Ekram, Acting Editor of Kaler Kantho Mehedi Hasan Talukdar, Executive Editor Haidar Ali, News24 Head of News Shariful Islam Khan, Banglanews24.com Editor Touhidul Islam Mintu, Bangladesh Pratidin Executive Editor AKM Monjurul Islam Monju and Kaler Kantho Joint Editor Saeed Khan, among others, also spoke.
