58pc people doubt news reliability
MRDI survey reveals at the seminar
Staff Reporter
About 58 per cent of news consumers have their doubts on reliability of news dished out to them every day while 24 per cent put their trust on the news carried by media in Bangladesh partially and another 14 per cent completely. A small sample survey carried by Management and Resource Development Initiative (MRDI) with the financial help of the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) brought forth the public perception on news reliability.
While public confidence on media seems not that encouraging, its heartening that none expressed complete distrust on media reports.
An overwhelming 96 per cent have discomfort with the news sourcing and only a small percentage of four consider media using proper sources. MRDI conducted the research with the participation of more than 300 people in six divisions in the country obtaining different methodology like questionnaire survey, focus group discussion, key informant interview and consultation meeting.
MRDI Executive Director, Hasibur Rahman, presented the information at a seminar on News Sense and Ethics of News organised by MRDI with the collaboration of National Human Rights Commission, UNICEF and Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) at PIB building in Dhaka.
The research also found the reasons behind the majorities distrust are- lacking in proper reporting and news production planning, proper training and guidance as well as absence of appropriate guidelines.
On the perspective of child related contents, 65 per cent participants considered that news contents were not sensible to child issues.
Speaking at the seminar as chief guest, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, stressed on the importance of medias ethical practices.
Former Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, presented keynote speech, while Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Kazi Reazul Hoque, addressed the seminar as special guest with PIB Director General, Md Shah Alamgir, in the chair.
Abdul Qayyum Mukul, joint editor, Prothom Alo, Shamim Abdullah Zahedy, executive editor, The Independent, M Zahid Newaz Khan. News Editor at Channel I, Z.I. Mamun Chief Executive Editor, ATN Bangla, Ajay Dasgupta, associate editor of Bangla daily Samakal, Ashish Saikat, Chief of News, Independent Television, Talat Mamun, Chief of News, Channel 24, Md. Rafiquzzaman, Director General, National Iznstitute of Mass communication, and various media editors of mainstream mass media of the country, spoke among others.
