Journalism indispensable to a civilised society: Swapon

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan today said no civilised country or society can move forward if its image is not reflected in media.

“There is no structure that would patronise the journalism profession so far. But no civilised country or society can move forward in the world if it cannot reflect every image of its society regularly in media and through journalism like a mirror,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a meeting organised by Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust in collaboration with Barishal District Journalists Union at Barishal Circuit House auditorium here.

The minister said a state and society have to be kept in front of a mirror at all times, otherwise it can go in the wrong direction, which can be harmful to the people.

The main responsibility of doing this work is the main goal of journalism, he said.

Swapon said separating objective information from the flow of information has now become a big challenge.

Two types of people are using this media and both of whom have journalism cards in their hands, he said adding that one is accepting this challenge but the other is doing journalism to pollute it.
 
As a result, the information minister said, many are saying that a definition of the journalism profession needs to be defined.
 
“If we cannot divide this into two, which journalism is blackmailing and which journalism is inevitable for us, the state and society will not be able to properly support responsible journalism,” he said.
 
The government will not be to do this task alone, he said.
 
Stating that there is no possibility of becoming rich in the journalism profession, the minister said he respects those who have willingly joined such a noble profession.
 
He said media plays the role of a mirror to the state and society.
 
Noting that a civilised society cannot function without the existence of the journalism profession, Swapon said, “If we cannot sustain the journalism profession, then we will fail to keep the society and the state in front of the mirror at all times.”

Therefore, he said, responsible journalism must always be kept alive for the needs of the society, country and the people.

Highlighting various aspects of the use of technology in current journalism, the minister said journalism has now become data journalism, video journalism and audio journalism. 

“The journalism profession has to be changed in course of time,” he added.

Kawsar Hossain Khandaker, member of the Journalist Welfare Trust Board, Shahjahan Saju, Publicity and Publication Secretary of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), and Azad Alauddin, President of Barishal District Journalists Union were present at the meeting.

The meeting was presided over by Mohammad Abdul Bari, Managing Director of Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust.

Journalists from different districts of the division, leaders of journalist organisations and concerned officials were present. Later, Swapon distributed cheques of financial assistance among the journalists. Earlier in the morning, he planted saplings in Charkaua area of Barishal.