In today’s turbulent times, it is nearly impossible to tell what is and is not the truth. We are constantly bombarded with all kinds of fabrications, propaganda, and yellow journalism. For that reason, genuine media today is more important than ever. Newspapers, radio, and television do more than relay events. They shape public opinion and the social and political environment. This can be for the better, informing the public. Or it can do the opposite and confuse the public and disrupt social order. Unfortunately, objectivity is lacking in most media today, especially amid political and corporate interests and waves of global ideologies.
Instead of reporting the truth, most media, if not all, take up an agenda, leaving the public to confront propaganda and falsehoods rather than the truth. These media treat journalism as an avenue for one-sided commentary. Without true media platforms, most mainstream media today report events. It informs the public and shapes their opinions. Today, media has become a tool for social disintegration. We must remember that propaganda does not unite and never will. It replaces truth and confounds social order. This leads us to an essential question: what do we want in our newspapers?
The best example of one-sided media coverage is the Russia-Ukraine war or the Iran-USA conflict. Since Russia’s special Military operation in Ukraine, the commentary from most Western media outlets such as BBC, CNN, Fox, Reuters, and the Associated Press (AP) has been almost entirely in favour of Ukraine. Consequently, there has been little analysis of Russia’s motives, and even less coverage of the real security issues. Instead, the narrative has been to construct Russia as the ‘villain’ of the story. In the same way, the media portrays the Israel-Palestine conflict. The public is misled into thinking that media outlets that lean toward Israel provide a more balanced viewpoint, while other outlets ignore years of Palestinian oppression. This reporting fosters bigotry rather than humanity. The same applies to many local news outlets. In Bangladesh, some media outlets cover geopolitical issues relating to South Asia, India, and Pakistan with an anti-India stance and a pro-Pakistan and pro-India stance, respectively. They fail to report these issues in a balanced way. It cultivates bias, which stops the audience from forming opinions based on actual observation. The aim of news reporting should be to create a fair opportunity for different voices to be heard so that news consumers can decide for themselves what they wish to believe.
The boom of media in Bangladesh over the last twenty years has been amazing. However, this growth has also brought equal concern about quality and ethical standards. Although many claim that the freedom of the press is paramount, this may not be the case. Journalism is moving further and further from the pillars of truth, neutrality, and public service through the combined effects of political polarisation, corporate bias, and insufficient protection for journalists. As a result, different news outlets tell the same story differently. One outlet may overemphasise or sensationalise a story, while another may present the story with a different focus.
The decline of investigative journalism is one of the most noticeable concerns in the current crisis in journalism. In past, there were many examples of courageous journalism in Bangladesh. For example, reporting on hill-cutting, encroachment of rivers, housing projects in the city, the network of corruption in hospitals, and misuse of taxpayers’ money on government waste projects. Journalists have also reported on several important issues such as trafficking of the Rohingya people, the mismanagement of the bureaucracy, and the abuse of women in the garment industry. Currently, there is little to no concern for this type of journalism. Instead, papers have opted to print content that is more mainstream, safer, and driven by clicks. The media seems far more concerned with celebrity gossip and social media than with issues that affect the nation (e.g., education).
This is true for most mainstream newspapers, where coverage of national issues and their priorities is missing. Surprisingly few investigative reports and analyses examine the future of the nation’s education system and its underlying infrastructure. Little attention has been paid to the challenges and issues facing the education system. These include inequitable access to qualified teaching staff and textbooks, the commodification of private universities, etc. The media also does not prioritise reporting on the environment or sustainable development. Detailed reports on climate change, river erosion, urbanisation, the loss of agricultural land, pollution, and renewable energy are rare. The mainstream media should encourage public involvement and awareness of these issues.
‘Fake news’ is another serious threat to the newspaper industry. Today, the digitalisation of society means unverified news can spread across social media within seconds. This can confuse the public and, in some cases, even lead to violence. As such, newspapers have the important responsibility to uphold the public’s trust by correcting the record when necessary and confirming the veracity of every story that they publish. Today’s newspapers have lost their focus by prioritising profit and politics at the expense of people. A truly great newspaper should be accessible and reader-friendly. It can present information so that most people can understand the who, what, and why of events and their relevance to everyday life. This type of journalism can lay the foundation for a society that is both literate and informed.
In these troubling times, we need a newspaper built on the pillars of truth and fairness, with people at the centre. Journalism is an occupation, yes, but it is also a social and moral responsibility. Supporting and defending the principles of truth, fairness, and righteousness define journalism.
The ethical basis of the media needs to be reestablished. Bravery is the hallmark of the ethical newspaper. These newspapers need to be fearless in revealing the truth and act as active forces in shaping society. They should cover urban politics while also giving due importance to the issues faced by a rural schoolteacher and rural women micro-entrepreneurs. We need newspapers that advocate for education on the national agenda and create awareness of the environment and sustainable development. This responsibility falls on all: readers, civil society, educators, and even children. As the media shape society, so society in turn influences the media.
The newspapers of tomorrow need to be based on truth, neutrality and justice in the information they provide. In today’s information age, we need a more thoughtful media that is deeply humane and grounded in justice.
The newspaper we need goes beyond informing us of yesterday’s events. We must turn to a newspaper that prepares us for the challenges we will face in the future. It will need the confidence to challenge authority, the equity to represent all segments of society. The intelligence to discriminate against propaganda, the benevolence to express concern for the individual above game and profit, the voice to speak from the various categories of society, and not just from the corridors of power.
Such journalism builds confidence in public communication, restoring trust and strengthening democracy. The newspaper of tomorrow must earn the trust of the community daily by telling the truth fairly and completely.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The writer is a UK-based educator, author, and researcher
