Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Sunday said truth-seeking and objectivity are the cornerstones of responsible journalism, stressing that public service can only be achieved through rigorous fact-checking and impartial reporting.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar marking the 64th founding anniversary of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka, he said journalism risks losing its credibility when the pursuit of truth is influenced by preconceived positions or ideological bias.
"Journalists must place the pursuit of truth above all else and ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the information they present," he said.
The seminar, titled "The Interconnection of Politics, Power and Journalism: Theory, Reality and the Future," was held at the Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of the university's Faculty of Social Sciences, according to Information Ministry Public Relations Officer Imranul Hasan. New Age Editor Nurul Kabir delivered the keynote address.
Swapon said the challenge today is no longer a lack of information but an overwhelming flood of content, where misinformation, disinformation and deliberate manipulation have emerged as serious threats to democracy, governance and society.
"In this environment, journalism's foremost responsibility is to verify facts, uncover the truth and present it to the public with objectivity," he said.
Describing journalism as more than a profession of reporting facts, the minister said it is one of the strongest pillars of public accountability, adding that no democratic state can be strengthened without a free, responsible and independent media.
He also underscored the need to ensure journalists' professional security, economic dignity and an enabling environment for independent reporting, while calling for greater professional capacity to counter misinformation.
During the question-and-answer session, Swapon said defining the limits of freedom of expression is inherently complex, as people express opinions from diverse political, philosophical and ideological perspectives.
However, he stressed that freedom must always be exercised with responsibility.
The minister said the government has initiated efforts to establish a Media Commission aimed at maintaining a balance between power, freedom and accountability.
"We want to establish a participatory and balanced Media Commission through consultations with all stakeholders to ensure harmony among power, freedom and responsibility," he said.
Earlier, Swapon reminisced about his student days at the University of Dhaka, describing his time on campus as one of the most cherished periods of his life and saying that returning to the university evoked a deep sense of nostalgia.
The seminar was chaired by Professor Kazi Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, chairman of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, and moderated by Professor Robayet Ferdous.
University of Dhaka Vice-Chancellor Professor A B M Obaidul Islam attended as the special guest.