Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Monday said the media and journalism profession is facing mounting challenges, stressing that responsible journalism must be sustained in the interest of the state.
"Business conglomerates invest in media for profit, but no effective framework has yet been established to support and sustain this profession," he said while speaking at a view-exchange meeting on initiatives to enhance the welfare of journalists in Barisal Division at the Barisal Circuit House on Monday..
The programme was organised by the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust with support from the Barisal District Journalists' Union.
Describing journalists as "the mirror of the state," the minister said they play a vital role in presenting the true picture of society and helping prevent the country from straying from the right path.
"No civilised nation can progress without journalism. That is why responsible journalism must be protected and sustained in the interest of the state," he said.
Addressing journalists, Swapon said the unprecedented flow of information in the digital age has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish credible reporting from false or misleading content.
"Some misuse journalism to spread distorted information. The foremost responsibility of journalists is to uphold objectivity and present factual news," he said.
The minister said that while ensuring media freedom remains essential, tackling misinformation and disinformation has emerged as one of the profession's greatest challenges.
He also noted that rapid technological advancement has reshaped the media landscape, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital devices and over-the-top (OTT) platforms instead of traditional newspapers.
"Journalists must adapt to this transformation and keep pace with the changing media environment," he said.
Swapon said the media serves the national interest and warned that the state would suffer if the sector lacked a proper institutional framework.
He said the government is working to improve professional standards in journalism through initiatives such as implementing a wage board for journalists, formulating an editors' policy and a newspaper advertising policy, regulating newspaper circulation, and introducing a Television Rating Point (TRP) system.
The minister also urged all stakeholders, alongside the government, to work together to retain talented, skilled and professional journalists in the profession.
