Media stakeholders call for stronger self-regulation to build audience trust

Highlights:

• Stakeholders call for stronger internal accountability in newsrooms
• They seek clear mechanisms for handling audience complaints and publishing corrections
• Participants stress the need to include community media and journalists outside Dhaka
• Timely salaries, appointment letters and workplace safety also raised

News media stakeholders have called for stronger internal accountability mechanisms in newsrooms to improve professional standards and audience trust.

They made the call at a divisional consultation in Barishal today (21 September), organised by Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) under an initiative implemented through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), funded by the High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh.

The participants said news outlets should establish and effectively implement their own editorial policies, professional standards and accountability mechanisms, including systems for acknowledging and correcting errors and addressing complaints from readers and viewers.

MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman said strengthening the news media's own accountability mechanisms is necessary to protect press freedom.

"Press freedom depends on trust of the audience. As long as readers, listeners and viewers have trust in the news media, they will be able to enjoy that freedom. To maintain this trust, news outlets must establish their own accountability mechanisms," he said.

Fahim Ahmed, former member of the Media Reform Commission and chief executive officer of Jamuna TV, said self-regulation depends largely on the willingness of editors and owners to maintain professional standards.

"Self-regulation means ensuring how much quality work we can deliver within the areas under our own control, rather than thinking about what we have or have not received from the government," he said.

He added that establishing ethics and good governance in a newsroom requires the goodwill of editors and owners more than a large budget.

Rejoanul Haq Raja, director of News and Current Affairs at Channel S, stressed the need for internal discipline and economic security for journalists.

He said news outlets should have clear policies on salaries and financial benefits, represent all sides of a story and formulate their own codes of conduct.

"If we can follow the rules of discipline that we establish ourselves and ensure that all sides of a story are represented, there will be less scope for government intervention," he said.

Participants also identified internal grievance redressal mechanisms as an important part of self-regulation. They said news outlets should have defined procedures for receiving and reviewing complaints and arrangements for publishing corrections or explanations when necessary.

They also said accountability should extend to media owners, alongside protection of editorial independence. According to participants, self-regulation cannot rely solely on journalists' codes of conduct if journalists face pressure from advertisers, political actors or other influential groups.

The working conditions of journalists also came under discussion. Participants said timely payment of salaries, formal appointment letters, legally mandated benefits and a safe working environment should be included in media organisations' accountability frameworks.

They also called for the experiences of community news outlets and journalists outside Dhaka to receive greater attention in national discussions on media self-regulation, noting their role in providing information on local public-interest issues.

The consultation brought together media owners and publishers, editors, journalist organisation leaders, university teachers and civil society representatives from Barishal and other districts in the division.