Speakers at a seminar in Rajshahi stressed the need for maintaining ethics for doing journalism online as journalism without ethics can cause harm to society, reports BSS.
The view was expressed in the seminar titled “Media Ethics and Freedom: Realities in Online Age” on Thursday afternoon.
Department of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies of Varendra University (VU) organized the seminar in its conference hall in association with American Corner in Rajshahi to mark the World Press Freedom Day.
VU Adviser Professor Saidur Rahman Khan, Pro-vice chancellor Professor Rashidul Haque, Registrar Dr Mohiuddin and Coordinator of American Corner Fahmida Akter addressed the seminar as focal persons.
During his keynote presentation, Prof Moshihur Rahman, Coordinator of the journalism department, gave an overview of current situation prevailing on print, television and online journalism. He said maintaining ethics in doing journalism has been a big challenge.
He stressed ethical journalism, saying unethical journalism, propaganda and misinterpretation can pose a serious threat to the trust of the mass media.
In his remarks, Prof Saidur Rahman Khan stressed the need for making journalist competent on various field to present the real picture of the society to the people.
He said mass media expanded with advancement of modern technology. Now mobile is available in the hand of people and it has become a mass media, he added.
“So if people are not made conscious to spread information, then there is a chance that misinformation can be provided which can cause a great harm to country and society,” he said.
Prof Khan said future journalists will get scopes of enlightening the journalism profession through various innovative activities. But maintaining accuracy and objectivity should be the prime goal in this field.