Media under pressure, crisis Great opportunity for change
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Press freedom around the world has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years. Journalism is challenged more than ever in the face of disinformation, digital threats and political pressure. But experts see this critical moment as the biggest opportunity for change.
This was said at the opening ceremony of ‘Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026’ at a hotel in the capital on Friday morning. This international conference is organized by Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI). More than five hundred domestic and foreign journalists, journalism teachers, researchers and students participated in it. Today is the last day of the two-day conference.
বিজ্ঞাপন
In the opening ceremony, Bangladesh representative of UNESCO, Suzan Vice, said that in the last two years, media reform commission, MRDI, UNDP and UNESCO reports have been extensively analyzed and discussed. Now is the time to identify the problem and move towards a solution.
Referring to the important juncture of the media in Bangladesh, Suzan Vice said, this moment is a great opportunity for change. While Bangladesh’s record on press freedom is not very good, this moment is crucial for the country’s future.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said that journalism is at risk worldwide. At least 500 journalists around the world have lost their lives in the line of duty in the last decade. In India, Pakistan and even in Bangladesh, journalists have to die while performing their professional duties.
Iftekharuzzaman said Bangladesh was under authoritarian rule for the last 17 years, especially until August 2024. During that time the freedom of journalism and media has been severely damaged. Then two top media outlets of the country were systematically attacked during the interim government. At that time, the silent role of the then government disappointed everyone. He expressed hope that through open discussions in this conference, effective guidelines will come out to deal with both internal and external threats to journalism.
Nicholas Weeks, ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, said that the information environment around the world is now in a deep crisis. False information is spreading faster than the truth, public trust in institutions is eroding and journalists are under political, economic and digital pressure. In this situation, the role of journalism is not only important but essential.
Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) Executive Director Emilia Diaz-Struck joined the opening ceremony virtually. He said, this is a very critical time for journalism in the whole world and in Bangladesh. According to Reporters Without Borders, more than half of the world’s countries are currently in a ‘severe’ or ‘very serious’ state of press freedom.
Climate change, the erosion of democracy and artificial intelligence-driven disinformation are harming citizens around the world today, Emilia Diaz said. In this context, the challenge and need for investigative journalism is greater than ever.
MRDI executive director Hasibur Rahman said in his welcome speech that media is the fourth pillar of the state. Media cannot be controlled by anyone from outside. Self-regulation in light of the newsroom’s own principles and ethics is the only path to objective journalism.
In the first session on Investigative Journalism after the inaugural function, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam said that a strong editorial institution is a prerequisite for independent and investigative journalism. Due to the politicization of the media, a strong editorial system has not developed in the country. Highlighting the importance of investigative journalism, he said that the future of Bangladesh lies in it. But there has not been enough investigative journalism in the country in the past. Currently not happening. And whether it will happen in the future or not, it depends on the role of the editors.
Zafar Abbas, editor of Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, Michael Cook, former editor of Toronto Star newspaper, and Fahim Ahmed, CEO of Jamuna Television also spoke in this session. Director of Outreach and Communication Department of TIB Touhidul Islam presented the main article in this session. The session was moderated by former BBC journalist Shakeel Anwar.
Three more sessions followed on investigative journalism, inclusive culture in newsrooms and safeguarding information integrity.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan gave a welcome speech at the closing ceremony of the first day. He said, many new challenges have appeared in the changing and transforming media system. Those who want to work for a truly independent and mass-oriented media must be aware of these challenges.
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