Journos must evolve to keep up with changes: speakers

In the age of social media, the risks that affect journalists also affect citizens, speakers said at the launch of an online course on media law, media ethics and digital rights at hotel Amari Dhaka yesterday, a press release said.

UK-based rights body Article 19 and German media development organisation DW Akademie launched the platform as part of a project funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

“In the age of social media, the difference between journalists and  non-journalists have become blurred. Police can arrest me for posting a  status update on Facebook,” said Faruq Faisel, regional director Bangladesh and South Asia for Article 19, at the programme.

Referring to the recently-passed Digital Security Act, he said along with journalists, rights activists and bloggers must also be aware of  digital rights and laws.

Dr Asif Nazrul, one of the designers of the course, said, “Journalism has  become difficult. We have seen attacks on the judiciary, and misuse of  information technology [in recent times]. We were fully aware of this when designing the course. We designed it with the aim of  promoting safe, smart and responsible journalism.”

When a journalist knows their legal rights, it gives them a sense of security, he added.

In her welcome speech, DW Akademie Country Manager for Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan Priya Esselborn said there is a gap between journalism education and practice in the country.

With the progress of technology, journalism is changing fast. Both the media establishment and journalists have to adapt themselves to  these changes, she added.

The course will be offered starting mid-February, on www.banglatutorial-media.org.  Anyone can take the course free  of cost, on their computers or smartphones.

Upon completion of the course, participants will get certification from DW Akademie and Article 19.

RESEARCH STUDY ON JOURNALISM EDUCATION LAUNCHED

A research publication on journalism education in Bangladesh -- conducted by Prof Jude William Jenilo, Fahmidul Haq and Shameem Mahmud -- was also launched at the event.

Speaking at the event, Prof Genilo, head of mass communication and journalism department at University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh, said  while the media industry is also becoming bigger, journalism education at university level is also expanding. He stressed on creating a connection between the two.

PRESENTATION OF PROTOTYPES FOR MEDIA TECH CHALLENGE

The event also featured prototype presentations by six teams from DW Akademie’s “Media Tech Challenge” hackathon, organised last year in collaboration with Rajshahi University’s  communications and journalism department, computer science and  engineering department, The Daily Star, Radio Today and Channel I.

At the hackathon, participants came up with media tech solutions ranging from an artificial intelligence website to detect fake news to a crowd-sourced smartphone app for data collection on environmental pollution.