Editorial
Media's misuse of freedom
PM's comment sweeping
The Prime Minister's passing comment with reference to the media has drawn our attention. The media, in her opinion, has been misusing the freedom bestowed upon it by her government, often publishing or broadcasting sensational and sometimes inaccurate news.
First, we would like to point out, with all due respect to the PM, that press freedom in our country is not the gift of any government, present or past. Media freedom has been hard-earned by the people of Bangladesh and through the struggles of journalists across the nation, over the decades, and this is obvious in the value of press freedom held in the hearts of the people.
We are the first to admit, however, that errors do occur, but there is a process to remedy them. We publish rejoinders. Even in cases where we stand by our stories, we print the rejoinders provided, along with our replies. Where this is not done, the government or aggrieved party can take the case to the Press Council and, if necessary, to court. The PM, her government or any other person or institution to criticise the mistakes of the media would do well to take up the issue case by case and follow the proper process of having them corrected.
In spite of such incidents, the press overall is doing its job and doing it well and the greatest proof of this lies in the public appreciation that it has gained. In fact, it may be argued that it is the unrelenting voice of the media that has brought to the fore issues such as corruption, deteriorating law and order and encroachment of land and rivers. Unfortunately, it has been the failure of successive governments to take these issues seriously that greater progress has not been made in resolving them.
The media can and should be held to account for its mistakes, but taking a swipe at it -- as has been done time and again -- is uncalled for.
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