Media leaders and experts warned of declining ethical standards, growing political influence and weakening professional accountability in journalism, calling for stronger self-regulation frameworks and better protection for journalists.
The remarks came during the Media Self-Regulation in Bangladesh: Professional Oversight, Accountability and Grievance Redressal thematic session of the Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026 at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka, today (9 May).
International media law expert Joan Barata said self-regulation is an ethical responsibility that should remain beyond state control.
“Self-regulation is about ethics, and the European Court of Human Rights has even said that defining ethical and professional standards is not something the state can do,” he said.
Barata stressed the need to modernise ethical standards for the digital era, particularly regarding the use of artificial intelligence and social media in journalism.
“Now it’s time for the code of ethics to address the use of AI for reporting – what is right, what is wrong – and also standards for media presence on social media,” he said.
He also raised concerns over media consolidation, saying regulatory oversight is needed to ensure media pluralism and prevent excessive influence over public opinion.
Managing Director of Times Media Limited AK Azad warned of shrinking media space and deteriorating ethical standards.
“There are only a small number of media outlets left, and gradually those too may disappear, because character assassination has become normalised,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of financial and professional security for journalists, Azad said job security is essential to maintaining editorial independence.
“If we want to protect media from owners with black money, journalists must first be given job security and protection,” he said.
Consulting Editor of The Daily Star Kamal Ahmed criticised growing political subservience in journalism and said political divisions among journalists were weakening newsroom independence.
“We have forgotten how to question. We are becoming subservient to the boss, subservient to politics,” he said.
Kamal Ahmed also called for legal protection for journalists and said a proposed Journalists’ Protection Act should include mechanisms to address injustice within newsrooms.
The session was moderated by former BBC journalist Shakeel Anwar and also featured Ayesha Kabir, alongside other speakers who stressed the need for transparent newsroom governance, stronger accountability systems and effective grievance redressal mechanisms.
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