Stronger collaboration between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the media is essential to ensure better representation of marginalized communities in public discourse, speakers said at a roundtable discussion in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The event, titled “CSO–Media Collaboration: Amplifying Marginalized Voice,” was organized by Somosti Media Communication & Development Foundation in partnership with Dhaka Tribune, and strategic partner SRS with support from Christian Aid Bangladesh under the Expanding Civic Space through Active CSO Participation and Strengthened Governance System in Bangladesh (ECSAP) project.
Held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) complex, the roundtable brought together journalists, civil society leaders, researchers and development practitioners to discuss gaps in media representation and explore ways to strengthen evidence-based and rights-sensitive reporting.
Presenting findings from a national research study, Mir Attaqui Masruruzzaman, executive director of Somosti, said the research aims to generate evidence-based recommendations to improve representation and accountability in media coverage.
On his keynote Presentation Rezaul Haque highlighted a significant representation deficit in media coverage. According to the survey, 68% of respondents said marginalized issues receive little or no visibility in the media, while 64% believed the media gives insufficient importance to their concerns.
In addition, 58% said their communities are not represented accurately in media reporting.
The research also found uneven representation among marginalized groups.
Ethnic and Indigenous communities accounted for 36% of coverage, followed by persons with disabilities at 22%, while Dalit communities received only 4% and gender-diverse communities just 2%.
Speakers noted that women from marginalized groups are often portrayed mainly as victims rather than as leaders or rights-holders, highlighting the need for more gender-sensitive and intersectional reporting.
The study also showed that district-level media outlets play a crucial role, with 70–79% of their coverage focusing on local issues, though engagement between CSOs and district media remains limited.
Reaz Ahmad, editor of Dhaka Tribune, said collaboration between CSOs and the media must go beyond occasional project events.
“If media and civil society organizations engage more consistently, especially by highlighting the voices and experiences of beneficiaries, the real impact of these initiatives can be better understood and amplified,” he said.
Dr S M Shameem Reza, professor at the University of Dhaka, said research and dialogue can help identify gaps in the media ecosystem.
“Research alone cannot answer all questions, but studies and discussions like these help identify existing gaps and guide future research,” he said, adding that meaningful reform requires coordinated efforts from the media, civil society and policymakers.
Nusrat Jabin, partnership and strategy lead at Christian Aid’s MCC Asia, emphasized the need for sustained collaboration among stakeholders.
“To bring meaningful change, stakeholders including CSOs, media, international organisations and academia must move beyond short-term initiatives and work towards long-term engagement,” she said.
Daulat Akter Mala, president of the Economic Reporters' Forum, said, “Media often highlights policy announcements for marginalised groups, but follow-up reporting remains limited due to the lack of accessible platforms and data. Strengthening connections with CSOs and expanding coverage on economic empowerment of marginalised communities is essential.”
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), said:
“CSOs often generate critical data on marginalised communities which the media later uses, showing that collaboration already exists. The challenge now is to move beyond incident-based reporting and consistently highlight the structural and policy gaps that keep marginalised groups excluded.”
Participants also identified challenges such as project-based engagement, editorial gatekeeping, political sensitivities and limited budgets for field reporting.
They emphasized that sustained collaboration among media, CSOs, academia and development partners is essential to ensure that marginalized voices receive greater visibility in public discourse.
Distinguished personalities from academia, media, and civil society joined the discussion, including, Jinat Ara Haque (WE Can Bangladesh), AKM Nasim (Solidarity Center), Sohrab Hasan-chocha.com, Zahid Newaz Khan-chief news editor, Channel i, Salma Yasmin, chief news editor Banglavision, Radio Polli Kontho Station Manager Mehadi Hasan, Ethnic minorities representative from santal Monika Soren, Kabery Sultana, Tonusree Ahamed Amoe.
