Workshop on election-time journalism begins at JU
Campus Desk :
A two-day long workshop on election-time journalism began on Monday at Jahangirnagar University (JU) with the participation of journalists from the university and Savar areas of Dhaka.
The Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) organised the training programme, which was inaugurated at 10am at the JU Senate Hall, aiming to strengthen journalists’ professional capacity in election reporting ahead of the upcoming polls.
JU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan inaugurated the workshop.
Media expert Ziaur Rahman was conducted the workshop as the trainer, while JU Journalists’ Association President Mehedi Mamun, journalists working in print, electronic and online media outlets from Jahangirnagar University and Savar are taking part in the training, says a BSS.
The workshop, scheduled for January 18 and 19, is focusing on the fundamentals of election reporting, existing challenges in the current context, strategies to address those challenges, and a detailed understanding of election laws and regulations.
Emphasis is also being given to maintaining neutrality, objectivity and transparency in election-related news coverage.
Coordinator of the workshop and PIB Assistant Editor (Features) Begum Shahela Aktar said the workshop is part of PIB’s government outreach initiative, stressing the importance of supporting journalists as elections draw near.
“Journalists face various difficulties before and after reporting during elections. Our main objective is to assess and enhance their preparedness to overcome those challenges,” she said.
She added that PIB wants journalists to ensure responsible and accurate dissemination of information so that news does not turn into rumours, noting that the training was arranged with that goal in mind.
In his inaugural speech, JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan said it is often difficult to distinguish how much JU journalists are students and how much they are journalists because of their strong commitment.
Referring to recent mass movements, he said when protests were being obstructed in various ways, Jahangirnagar University once again emerged as a source of inspiration.
“During this time, many journalists were injured by gunshots.
The person sitting beside me still carries splinters in his body,” he said, adding that the journalists participating in the workshop truly deserve such training.
The vice-chancellor expressed optimism that even limited training and encouragement, when combined with the youth’s indomitable spirit, would ensure the flow of credible and reliable information from the region to the nation.