Print media future lies in satisfying readers' needs
The emergence of new media poses a formidable challenge to traditional print media but by catering to varied needs of readers and by reaching out to them with quality journalism, print still holds a good future.
A galaxy of media professionals representing Bangladesh, South Asia and beyond, gathering in Dhaka for a celebration marking the 18th anniversary of Prothom Alo, said in a dialogue yesterday that despite the rise of digital news platforms, people still do tend to seek print journalism for authentication.
That trust is valuable and restoring public confidence in the media by establishing better connection with readers, viewers, listeners and reflecting their interests through quality journalism can help the media thrive and face the present and future challenges, they opined.
Prothom Alo, the largest circulated vernacular daily, organised the dialogue among the international and local journalists titled “Present and Future - Challenges before Journalism” at a city hotel.
Some 30 leading editors, senior journalists and journalism professionals took part in the half-day dialogue moderated by The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam with the host paper's editor Matiur Rahman delivering the note of thanks.
Chairman of the International Press Institute John Yearwood said people do go back to mainstream media outlets to get details after getting links from different social media platforms.
He considered this to be a significant issue and urged media leaders to share ideas and learn from each other's experiences. He laid special emphasis on upholding the idea of press freedom.
The Hindu Editor Mukund Padmanabhan noted the disruptions created by many digital media platforms and the blurring of news and opinion. He put emphasis on the need for good journalism.
The Indian Express Chief Editor Raj Kamal Jha said the need to serve news to the public very fast along with the need for due diligence in fact-checking is increasingly becoming a big challenge at an era when politicians, corporations and elites have their own armies of social media platforms, breaking news apps and propaganda machinery.
Diplomatic Editor of The Helsingin Sanomat of Finland, Kari Huhta said there exists good demand for quality journalism and readers do expect that both from traditional media as well as from the new media.
BBC Scotland's Managing Editor for the Northeast and Northern Isles Sandy Bremner said the British Broadcasting Corporation put in efforts to provide readers with good in-depth analysis of stories in its digital platforms.
Some of the discussants spoke about the challenges of revenue earnings from dwindling print editions and the competition from emerging online editions while others called for introspection against the backdrop of media predictions gone wrong in the just concluded US presidential election.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul emphasised on staying in touch with the pulse of the common people.
Ananda Bazar Patrika Assistant Editor Swati Bhattacharjee said, “Actually we cater what we can but we need to do more, need to know special interests of diverse groups within the society."
The Ittefaq Editor Tasmima Hossain expressed concern at print losing revenue as people are accessing news almost for free from digital portals. The Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutt also noted that advertisement revenues are increasingly shifting from the print towards television and online portals.
The Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan observed that the US election has laid bare many a challenge the media industry is facing these days while the editor of The News Today, Reazuddin Ahmed, also referred to the just held polls in the US to drive home his point of restoring public trust in media.
Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman expressed his gratitude to all the foreign participants for taking the trouble of travelling from various parts of the world and making the paper's 18th year of celebrations especially memorable.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam said the new media has emerged as the public's first source of news and broadcast media as the “second port of call”. The print editions of newspapers now can better cater to the readers' thirst for news analysis, investigative reports or in-depth reporting.
Those who spoke at the dialogue include International Press Institute Executive Director Barbara Trionfi, Editor of the Shillong Times of India Patricia Mary Mukhim, Group Editor of the Dainik Bhaskar of India Prakash Dubey and Editor-in-Chief of Nepali daily the Kantipur Sudheer Sharma.
Other include Editor of the Amader Orthoneeti Nayeemul Islam Khan, journalist Khaled Muhiuddin, Jatiya Press Club General Secretary Qamrul Islam Chowdhury; Associated Press journalist Bernat Armangue; AFP Bureau Chief Shafiq Alam and Reuters Bureau Chief Serajul Islam Qadir.
Journalist and journalism teacher Samia Rahman, Editor of the Dainik Azadi MA Malek, Indian journalist Jyoti Malhotra, Editor of the Dainik Samayik Prasanga of Assam Taimur Raja Chowdhury and Editor of Bhutanese newspaper the Kuensel Rinzin Wangchuk also spoke at the dialogue.
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