Dhaka: Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Muhammed Kader Gani Chowdhury has asserted that journalists are accountable solely to the people, emphasizing the importance of professional ethics and objectivity in journalism. "Journalists must be independent, truthful, and fair. The only way for journalism to earn credibility is to remain committed to the duty towards the people and not to propagate any falsehood," he stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Kader Gani Chowdhury articulated these views while speaking as the chief guest at a training workshop titled "Journalism, Video Journalism and Mobile Journalism" for BSS's journalists, held at the National Institute of Mass Communication. He highlighted that journalism involves the process of collecting various events and information from society and disseminating them through media channels. He underscored the imperative for journalists to verify the accuracy of information before publication or broadcast.
"The purpose of journalism is to inform the people about the true situation of the country and the world, make powerful people accountable, dig out truth and false, and raise people's conscience and awareness," he elaborated. He emphasized that journalism must pursue truth, and a journalist must call a spade a spade, ensuring that truth and falsehood are not mixed.
Kader Gani Chowdhury stressed the significance of objective journalism, stating that it can make a journalist acceptable to society. He also advocated for the importance of reading books and newspapers, noting, "One must collect books written on newspapers and journalism and read and practice them regularly. There is no alternative to reading for gaining knowledge."
Urging journalists to uphold their consciousness, Kader Gani stated that a journalist should never become a party stooge under any circumstances, as people despise partisan journalism. Journalists must serve as the vigilant sentinels of society. He likened a newspaper to a 'people's parliament,' where journalists are students under constant scrutiny, underscoring the need for a strong sense of responsibility.
Discussing online journalism, the BSS Chief Editor compared it to batting in T20 cricket, where one must get hold of the game early on. He explained that breaking news is akin to the first over, while follow-up or analysis is like the power play. The principle of 'correct news before anyone else' should guide online journalism, cautioning against publishing half-true or half-false news in the race to be first.
The training workshop was chaired by Director General of the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO) Muhammad Hiruzzaman, with ADG Rownak Jahan delivering the welcome address. Dr. Maruf Nawaz, Director (Training) of NIMCO, moderated the session, attended by Director (Eng) Sultana Rabbi, Deputy Director Abuzar Gaffari, and other officials of the Institute, along with journalists. Approximately 40 national desk journalists of BSS participated in the day-long training workshop.