Misinfo biggest challenge for journalism: Swapon

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Friday said the biggest challenge facing journalism today is the battle between misinformation and accurate information, falsehood and truth, and dishonest journalism and objective journalism.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at a seminar titled "Role of Media in Sustainable Democracy", organised by the Television Editors' Council at a city hotel, he said protecting credible information has become the core ethical responsibility of journalism.

"Protecting clean information is now the fundamental ethics of journalism. Combating dishonest journalism is also the responsibility of honest journalism," the minister said.

"Therefore, the main challenge today is not simply the government versus journalists or media owners versus journalists. Rather, it is the battle between misinformation and accurate information, falsehood and truth, and dishonest journalism and objective journalism," he added.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the seminar as the chief guest.

Swapon said sustainable democracy and a free, responsible media are complementary to each other.

"Just as sustainable democracy requires an independent media, the development of an independent media also requires a democratic environment," he said.

The minister said there is currently no interference in the media by the government or any intelligence agency.�"UNB