Facts first for journalists
Instead of racing to be the first to break news, journalists must verify facts first, speakers said at a training workshop in Dhaka yesterday.
It is professionally unethical to rush for publishing half-baked and incorrect information, they said, adding that it is always preferable to judiciously check the information for accuracy.
Inaccurate and unsubstantiated news trigger the audience to lose trust in news outlets.
Journalists are expected to demonstrate credibility and authenticity of information, and exercise increased responsibility and professional restraint while reporting; they should not succumb to doing what bloggers or social media activists do, the speakers said.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communications (BNNRC), in collaboration with Internews, organised the two-day training session on “Fact Checking and Verification Techniques in News Reporting” at The Daily Star Centre. Twenty-three journalists -- representing print, electronic and online news organisations based in Dhaka -- took part in the workshop.
Fact checking and verification in news reporting is directly linked to the credibility of the news media, said Internews Country Director Syed Zain Al Mahmood.
Mosharraf Hossain, additional secretary to the information ministry, said training exercise enables working journalists to gain professional excellence and be more sensitive and responsible to serve the public better.
Chris Stephen, an author and freelance journalist mostly covering war news, conducted the workshop.
The workshop discussed topics including gaining public trust, “Better right than first” principles, values of good reporting and how to achieve them, what to believe, reality check, seeing both sides, the essential position of journalists and how it works in practice.
BNNRC Chief Executive Officer AHM Bazlur Rahman said the session was part of an ongoing media development training programme.
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