Media’s role vital in ensuring child rights
Say speakers, 11 journalists win Meena Media Awards
Media should give more importance to reporting on child issues, since journalism can play a vital role in making the country children-friendly, said speakers at Meena Media Awards yesterday.
Renowned journalists and academics also said the award has played a significant role in increasing awareness on child rights. Eleven journalists were honoured with the Unicef Meena Media Awards for reporting on child rights.
The award-giving ceremony was hosted by Unicef Bangladesh at a city hotel.
Unicef started the awards in 2005 after the popular cartoon character Meena.
Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative to Bangladesh, said the powerful reporting that is being honoured demonstrates the vital role that journalists play in bringing child rights to light and holding people in power accountable.
Editor and Publisher of Prothom Alo Matiur Rahman said media houses remain busy on different issues and reports on children and women do not get much attention.
"As journalists, we need to do more reporting on children-related issues to build a better Bangladesh in future," he added.
Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, in a video message, said this award played a significant role in increasing awareness about child rights in Bangladeshi media.
" An award of this kind also encourages journalists and increases their interest to put forward their excellent work to establish the rights of children. This is truly a wonderful initiative and it should continue with greater vigour and success," he added.
DU Professor Gitiara Nasreen said journalism can play an effective role to prepare a livable place for children.
Noted novelist and President of the Bangla Academy, Selina Hossain said Meena award helps draw the attention of others to the issues of children.
Ruma Paul, chief correspondent of Reuters Bangladesh; and Shafiqul Alam, bureau chief of AFP, spoke at the programme among others.
Emran Hasan Sohel of the Kaler Kantho; Himu Chandra Shil of bdnews24.com; Jesmin Akter Papri of NewsBangla24.com; Sazid Hossain, Prothom Alo; Nawaz Farhin Antara of Dhaka Tribune; Shahnaz Sharmeen, Nagorik TV; Tanvirul Islam of Dhaka Post; Zahidul Karim of Daily Prothom Alo; Mohammad Mosharof Hossain of JagoNews 24.com; Khalidul Islam Tanvir of ATN Bangla; and Dhee Aroni Paul of hello.bdnews24.com, received this year's award in different categories.