Speakers at a seminar on media freedom and responsibility today underscored the need to restore value‑based journalism, uphold ethics, and balance editorial independence with financial sustainability to regain public trust.
They stressed that in a democratic state, the independence of both the media and the judiciary is vital for justice and accountability, while responsible, objective reporting remains essential to ensure the flow of accurate information in society.
The seminar titled, “Media in the Contemporary Context”, organised by the Khulna University Journalists' Association at the conference room of the Central Research Laboratory of Khulna University on Saturday morning.
Speaking as the keynote speaker, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam has said value-based journalism must be restored to rebuild public trust in the media.
“We will restore journalism grounded in human values,” he said.
“This is one of the key ways to address the frustration people have developed toward the media. Freedom of press is one of the fundamental requirements of institutional democracy,” he added.
Mahfuz said in a democratic state, the independence of the media and the judiciary are key pillars of justice, accountability, and balance of power.
“When an ordinary citizen seeks justice in court to protect their rights, the neutrality of the judiciary becomes their greatest source of hope. Similarly, the media amplifies the voices of common people and raises awareness against abuse of power, irregularities, and discrimination,” he said.
He further said that although exposing the truth about powerful groups is often risky, the media must perform this duty as a constitutionally protected democratic institution.
“The biggest challenge to media freedom is its economic structure. Government-dependent financing carries the risk of political influence, while excessive reliance on corporate investment may undermine editorial independence. Therefore, while strong investment is necessary to build a robust media institution, maintaining a balance between editorial freedom and financial sustainability is equally important,” he said.
The seminar was attended by KU Treasurer Prof Dr Md Nurunnabi, as the chief guest, said media is one of the key instruments for democracy, accountability, and truth-telling in a state.
“Independent and responsible journalism plays a vital role in ensuring justice and protecting people’s rights. Alongside freedom, maintaining ethics, objectivity, and professionalism in journalism is equally essential,” he said.
Speaking as a special guest, Associate Prof Majidul Islam of mass communication and journalism discipline at the university, said media freedom is always dependent on context and that responsible and objective journalism has become increasingly important in ensuring the flow of accurate information in society. “Such initiatives are highly commendable in inspiring the younger generation toward truthful and ethical journalism,” he added.
The seminar was chaired by Khulna University Journalists' Association President Md Ibrahim Khalil. Students from different disciplines of the university, alongside journalists, attended the programme.
