Content, collaboration keys to development: speakers
Producing quality content and authorities' collaboration with other stakeholders are some key areas where improvement is required for boosting country's private television channels, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.
Besides, strengthening ties among private channel owners and government patronisation is needed to overcome challenges these channels are facing at present, they said.
Newly-formed Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC) arranged the discussion on prospects and problems of the broadcast industry, as part of its first broadcast conference in TSC auditorium at Dhaka University.
Declaring its emergence through a daylong conference, BJC sees some 1,100 journalists from various broadcast mediums including private television channels as its members.
It will work for ensuring the members' welfare and building their capacities, said organisers.
Meanwhile, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said the country has been enjoying a golden time in terms of free flow of information as the scopes and activities of mass media have broadened, reports BSS.
“Broadcast Journalist Centre Trustee Board has been formed to flourish massive activities of mass media…. which will play an important role in advancing media,” she said while addressing the conference as chief guest.
Addressing the discussion, Syed Ishtiaque Reza, editor-in-chief of Gazi Television, said journalism is considered the state's fourth pillar. However, it is facing various challenges. “[Private] television channels are even in a deeper crisis,” he said.
While governments of neighbouring India and Pakistan came forward to save dying television channels, in Bangladesh, private channels were not institutionalised yet in over two decades of journey, Ishtiaque said.
Mozammel Haque Babu, senior vice president of Association of Television Channel Owners, said private televisions should be turned into “pay channels” so that they can make some profit.
Attending the discussion, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said he will sit with television channel owners to listen to their problems and find a way out.
Rubana Huq, managing director of Mohammadi Group, said a time-bound plan is needed and owners have to be more collaborative for the development of private television channels.
Awami League lawmaker and media personality Asaduzzaman Noor stressed on developing skills of those work in the newsroom.
Shah Alamgir, director general of Press Institute of Bangladesh, said the government is working towards formulating a national broadcast commission law.
The act will allow forming a national broadcast commission, which will be empowered to shutdown any television channel based on evidence against allegation, he said.
Journalist Naim Nizam and Executive Director of Management and Resources Development Initiative Hasibur Rahman also addressed the session, moderated by BJC Trustee Board Member Secretary Shakil Ahmed and its member Munni Saha.
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