BBC Media Action Survey
By Rita Bhowmick (Dhaka Bureau)
A significant portion of journalists working in Bangladesh’s media industry are experiencing severe professional and social insecurity. A recent survey by BBC Media Action reveals that 15% of the country’s journalists face harassment in the workplace in one way or another, with female journalists experiencing the highest rates of vulnerability.
This alarming information was disclosed on Tuesday (May 20) at an event titled ‘PIMHIE Learning Sharing: From Policy Reform to Newsroom Practice,‘ organized by BBC Media Action at The Westin Hotel in Dhaka. The research and event were conducted under the PIMHIE (Public Interest Media and Healthy Information Environments) project, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Framework for Newsroom Reform and Ethical Journalism
The event highlighted that over the past 15 months, this project has played a crucial role in advancing media reform, ethical journalism, and establishing safe newsrooms in Bangladesh. In his welcoming remarks, Md. Al Mamun, Country Director of BBC Media Action, stated, ‘The PIMHIE project was not confined to policy discussions alone; rather, it worked effectively to bring tangible changes to newsroom practices.’
Key achievements of this project include:
* Formulation and publication of the country’s first ‘Code of Ethics for Broadcast Journalists.’
* Development of a ‘Sexual Harassment Response Protocol’ to ensure safe newsrooms.
* Creation of election reporting guidelines and supportive e-handbooks.
Shared Responsibility of Stakeholders and Government Initiatives
Speaking as the chief guest, Zahir Uddin Swapon, Minister of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, emphasized, ‘Media reform is not the sole responsibility of the government; it is a collective duty of the government, media houses, development partners, and civil society.’ He announced that an advisory committee will be formed based on all recommendations and policy proposals received so far, which will draft a final proposal for the government.
Clarifying the current government’s stance, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, Policy and Strategy Advisor to the Prime Minister, stated, ‘The current government will not enact any law that obstructs people’s freedom of expression. An independent and ethical media is absolutely critical in a democratic environment.’
International Concerns and Future Challenges
The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, outlined the ground realities of the Bangladeshi media landscape. She expressed concerns about strict legal restrictions, political and commercial pressures, the challenges of misinformation, as well as journalists’ job security and professional independence. However, noting the current government’s reform plans as a positive sign, she stated that the UK wishes to work closely with Bangladesh to cultivate a responsible, credible, and free media environment.
On the other hand, Kamal Ahmed, former head of the Media Reform Commission, praised the current government’s actions over the past three months but issued a note of caution. Raising a critical question, he asked, ‘Will the media become a tool for the ‘oligarchs’?’ He strongly emphasized that media ownership should not be monopolized or cornered by a handful of influential corporate or political groups.
A Call for a Safe Working Environment
Media editors, journalists, development partners, and representatives from various diplomatic missions and UN agencies present at the event collectively agreed that ensuring legal protection and a safe working environment for journalists is an urgent demand of the times. This initiative by BBC Media Action has laid a solid foundation for a positive transition from macro-level policy dialogues down to actual newsroom practices in Bangladesh’s media sector.
###########
The Writer:
Rita Bhowmick: Senior Journalist and Staff Correspondent, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
