Wiser politics, free press to spur youths

Simon Dring, former managing director of Ekushey TV, addresses a media session of the South Asian Youth Convention: Lead 2012 at a city hotel yesterday. Photo: STAR

It is crucial to ensure that young people think independently in a spirit of curiosity and self-questioning, while a free press and wiser politics can act as catalysts to help them realise their potential.
The suggestions came from renowned and experienced journalists at a media session of the South Asian Youth Convention: Lead 2012 at a city hotel yesterday.
Several hundred youths -- from students to entrepreneurs -- listened to Simon Dring, former managing director of Ekushey TV, Jawed Naqvi, a Delhi-based columnist, Kanak Mani Dixit, editor of Himal Southasian in Nepal and Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age in Bangladesh, speak of their experiences.
Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, moderated the session titled, "What does it take to connect and inspire?"
Several questions from the young were raised at the session. Most of the questions highlighted the media depicting the worst, not the best, yellow journalism, corporatisation of media, not promoting positive news, people-to-people connectivity, pressure of advertisers, and bias in favour of governments.
Why India doesn't show Bangladeshi TV channels? That was another question put to Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, who attended the session as the chief guest.
Simon Dring, experienced in covering 22 wars around the globe, said the future of the young people indeed was the future of the world.
"Unless the politics get wiser, the potential of the young people will never be fully realised," said Dring, who was the first foreign journalist to report on the crackdown by the Pakistan army in Bangladesh in March 1971.
He shared his experience on how Ekushey TV, the first terrestrial television channel in the private sector in Bangladesh, clicked in 2000. He said 300 people -- from presenter to producer, reporter and cameraman -- had no professional experience, but it worked.
"There was considerable achievement because of the hunger of the young people," said Dring, who has also worked for the BBC, Reuters and the Telegraph.
Mahfuz Anam asked the youths to protect their freedom, but not by ignoring their duties and responsibilities.
"It's a fundamental right of the human being to think, speak and act freely. It is to protect the freedom that we in journalism dedicate our life."
He said freedom had two distinct aspects -- one was right and the other was responsibility.
"It is when rights overtake duties or duties undermine rights that freedom suffers. If you have a balance of rights and duties then freedom is at its best and that we must cherish in our life," said The Daily Star editor.
Kanak Mani Dixit emphasised South Asian connectivity and soft borders. He also stressed the necessity of interaction among the peoples of South Asia.
"Youth without inquisitiveness and self-questioning will go nowhere," Dixit observed.
Nurul Kabir said media was the ideological state apparatus. It worked for democratic emancipation and empowerment of the people.
"In this globalised world, media is a business tool and capital intensive. Effective challenge between business and service remains to combine both," said Kabir.
On the media's alleged bowing to government pressure, Naqvi said it is not considerable control.
"The governments use the proprietors, they don't go directly to journalists," he added.
Naqvi was critical about Indian rulers, who he blamed for a weak South Asia despite its huge potential.
On showing Bangladeshi TV channels in India, the information minister said they have taken the issue to the Indian government.
"Hopefully something will come out soon," he said.
The minister added he has asked the local TV channels to explore the opportunity. But they have to pay some money, which the owners do not agree.
Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry organised the two-day South Asian Convention that ended through a cultural show yesterday.