News media stakeholders have called for coordinated action to advance policy discussions and implement the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission, emphasizing the need for comprehensive structural reform to protect editorial independence, ensure journalists’ professional and financial security, and restore audience trust.
They also stressed the importance of strengthening self-regulatory mechanisms within news outlets, including adherence to editorial policies, transparent and accountable management systems, and accessible grievance redress mechanisms for audiences.
The observations emerged at a divisional consultation held in Chittagong on Sunday, organized by the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) to discuss ways to improve the professional and ethical standards of journalism in Bangladesh and assess a viable framework for effective media self-regulation.
The consultation was the fourth in MRDI’s series of divisional consultations, following those in Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet. It was held under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), with funding from the High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh.
News media owners and publishers, editors, news managers and gatekeepers, leaders of journalist unions and associations, university teachers, and civil society representatives from Chittagong and other districts of the division took part in the discussion.
In his opening presentation, MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman said that more effective self-regulation would leave less scope for external interference in the news media. He added that strengthening the media’s own accountability mechanisms was essential to protecting press freedom.
“Press freedom depends on the trust of the audience. As long as readers, listeners and viewers have trust in the news media, they will be able to enjoy that freedom. To maintain this trust, news outlets must establish their own accountability mechanisms,” he said.
Rahman also stressed the need to develop separate codes of conduct for editors and owners, alongside those for journalists. He expressed the expectation that advocacy for news media self-regulation would continue under MRDI’s five-year Strategic Action Plan on Advocacy for News Media Reform in Bangladesh (2025–2030).
The consultation included policy discussions on the status of implementation of the Media Reform Commission’s recommendations and the way forward.
Participants said the recommendations, developed through consultations with journalists, editors, owners and civil society representatives across the country, required transparent, coordinated and time-bound implementation.
They said reform efforts should not be limited to selected issues but should pursue fundamental structural change. Comprehensive reform of laws, policies and institutional frameworks could help protect editorial independence, ensure financial security and restore public trust.
Participants also highlighted the need for regular reviews of reform progress and continued dialogue among stakeholders.
Kamal Ahmed, former chief of the Media Reform Commission and consulting editor at The Daily Star, said the recommendations reflected a consensus across the media industry, including editors, owners and working journalists.
“The recommendations of the Media Reform Commission reflect the consensus of the entire industry, including editors, owners and working journalists. Piecemeal amendments to laws will not resolve the ongoing anarchy in the media landscape; what is required is comprehensive structural reform. We must establish an independent permanent media commission and build self-regulation on the foundation of our own ethical code of conduct,” he said.
“If we fail to regulate ourselves, the government will inevitably step in with restrictive and coercive legal controls by using laws like the recent draft cyber act,” he added.
Participants agreed that sustainable self-regulation required strong and independent editorial policies capable of resisting pressure from the government, media owners, advertisers and political actors.
Rejoanul Haq Raja, director of news and current affairs at Channel S, said professional and credible journalism was essential to resisting external pressure.
“The more authentic and professional our journalism is, the greater courage and strength we will have to withstand external pressure. This is the essence of self-regulation. Before demanding accountability from others, we must first establish our own internal accountability. Only when we hold ourselves accountable can we speak with authority about others,” he said.
On journalists’ working conditions, participants said ethical journalism could not be separated from financial security. They called on media owners to ensure timely salary payments, formal appointment letters, lawful benefits and safe working environments.
Participants also stressed the need to give greater consideration to the experiences and realities of community news outlets and journalists outside Dhaka in national-level discussions and policy initiatives on media self-regulation.
They emphasized the importance of developing an effective, practical and inclusive self-regulation framework that accounts for the diverse realities of news media across Bangladesh.
