RAJSHAHI, May 10, 2019 (BSS) – Speakers at a seminar stressed the need for
maintaining ethics for doing journalism online as journalism without ethics
can cause harm to society.
The view was expressed in the seminar titled “Media Ethics and Freedom:
Realities in Online Age” here yesterday afternoon.
Department of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies of Varendra
University (VU) organized the seminar in its conference hall in association
with American Corner in Rajshahi to mark the World Press Freedom Day.
VU Adviser Professor Saidur Rahman Khan, Pro-vice chancellor Professor
Rashidul Haque, Registrar Dr Mohiuddin and Coordinator of American Corner
Fahmida Akter addressed the seminar as focal persons.
During his keynote presentation, Prof Moshihur Rahman, Coordinator of the
journalism department, gave an overview of current situation prevailing on
print, television and online journalism. He said maintaining ethics in doing
journalism has been a big challenge.
He stressed ethical journalism, saying unethical journalism, propaganda
and misinterpretation can pose a serious threat to the trust of the mass
media.
In his remarks, Prof Saidur Rahman Khan stressed the need for making
journalist competent on various field to present the real picture of the
society to the people.
He said mass media expanded with advancement of modern technology. Now
mobile is available in the hand of people and it has become a mass media, he
added.
“So if people are not made conscious to spread information, then there is
a chance that misinformation can be provided which can cause a great harm to
country and society,” he said.
Prof Khan said future journalists will get scopes of enlightening the
journalism profession through various innovative activities. But maintaining
accuracy and objectivity should be the prime goal in this field.