TIB Investigative Journalism Award
Some dailies speak for owners
PM's foreign affairs adviser tells discussion
Winners of TIB Journalism Award pose for photograph with the guests at a discussion at Brac Centre Inn in the city yesterday. Sitting from left are Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, PM's Adviser Dr Gawher Rizvi , TIB Trustee Board Chairman M Hafizuddin Khan and TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman.Photo: STAR
Freedom of the media is not meant for their owners, but for the people, yet it is seen that some of the newspapers here speak for the owners, said Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Gawher Rizvi yesterday. "Much of news is not [made] based on facts, but on hearsay…some speak for their owners," he said, calling for practising ethical journalism to hold the democratic institutions accountable. Professor Rizvi told a discussion titled "Right to Information and Challenges of Objective Journalism," organised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at Brac Centre Inn in the city. At the programme, TIB awarded three journalists for their contribution in investigative journalism. This year Emran Hossain, staff correspondent of The Daily Star, received the award under print media (national) category. He has been given the award for his report on the deaths of around 2,000 children by taking toxic paracetamol in 1980-92, but corruption and manipulation in the legal system stopped justice dead. Under the electronic media category, Sultana Rahman, senior reporter of ntv, received the TIB award for her series report on irregularities in the process of manufacturing life saving drugs. Muhammad Nuruzzaman, staff reporter of Dainik Anirban of Khulna, received another award under local print media category. TIB introduced the award in 1999. This year, it received 21 submissions in print media national category, nine submissions in local category and seven submissions in electronic media category for the competition. Congratulating the awardees, Dr Gawher Rizvi said ethical and investigative journalism could help establish good governance in the country in a big way. Freedom of expression is the basis of the civilisation, he said adding that media should be accountable. He lauded the role of TIB in establishing good governance in Bangladesh, and requested it to widen its area of work. The adviser said businesses, religion establishments, civil society -- all must be held accountable for good governance. In his speech, the daily Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman said there are some newspapers, which have partisan and business interests, but they go very much against the ethics of journalism. He said it is the readers who finally judge objectivity of a newspaper, and there are many examples of it that the newspapers with partisan interests cannot attract the readers. Though in general the media in Bangladesh are free, many journalists have been killed, but their families are not getting justice, he mentioned. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said they find the award very effective in encouraging the journalists to do more investigative reporting. TIB also have planned to introduce a fellowship programme on investigative journalism, he said. Dhaka University Journalism department Chairperson Dr Gitiara Nasreen, associate professor Robaiyat Ferdous also spoke at the discussion. TIB Trustee Board Chairman M Hafizuddin Khan presided over the programme.
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