Recommendations placed by Media Reform Commission

As part of the state reform, the report of the 'Media Reform Commission' was submitted to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Saturday (March 22). The report made 20 recommendations, including enacting laws to protect journalists if necessary.

Commission Chief Kamal Ahmed summarized the report at a news briefing on Saturday.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and members of the Media Reform Commission were present at the time.

The commission's report has given various directions for the safety of media workers, the sustainable future of newspapers and online media, and to address the challenges of journalism in the digital age.

Important recommendations include

1. Single ownership is a major problem. Therefore, it has been recommended to make all big, large-scale media public companies and make their employees share holders.

2. An organization can own a media outlet.

3. Autonomy has been recommended for Bangladesh Television and Radio.

4. It has been recommended to merge these two institutions into a national broadcasting organization and run it by an independent board of directors.

5. It has been recommended to merge BSS with the National Broadcasting Organization to provide opportunities for professional journalists stating that Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) has become a center for the rehabilitation of political followers.

6. A draft ordinance has been submitted with this report along with recommendations for enacting a law to protect journalism and promulgate an ordinance.

7. It has been recommended to form an independent National Media Commission with recommendations to abolish the Press Council and include radio and television in it.

8. Regarding the financial security of journalists, it has been said that the financial security of journalists should be ensured to establish an objective, independent and strong media. For a dignified salary structure, the ninth grade salary of BCS cadres should be the starting salary of journalists. Dhaka allowance should be added separately for journalists in Dhaka.

9. A major reason for journalists' inclination towards corruption is that they do not have a sufficient and dignified income guarantee. Journalists cannot be made advertising agents.

10. There is widespread corruption in media lists. It has been recommended to stop the fraud that is done to get government advertisements. This dishonest practice must be stopped as it is harmful to mainstream newspapers. Fraud has also been mentioned in TRP ratings.

Recommendations made in the case of online

1. Since the responsibility and power to update the online portal registration policy and grant registration in light of it was vested in the Broadcasting Commission proposed by the previous government, it is appropriate to entrust it to the Independent Media Commission proposed by the Media Reform Commission.

2. Since the online registrations that have been granted in the last decade were not under any transparent and specific policy but were carried out through the arbitrary exercise of power by the government, they need to be reviewed. It is appropriate to entrust the responsibility of this review to the Independent Media Commission.

3. The investigation system that is in place for the registration of online portals by multiple security agencies needs to be ended. In this case, the existing police investigation system for the declaration of newspapers can be considered sufficient.

4. The annual renewal system for online portals after obtaining registration should be abolished.

5. The ban on broadcasting news bulletins on IPTV and online portals in the online policy should be abolished.

6. Government advertisements should be arranged in the light of transparency and fairness on the basis of specific policies on online portals.

7. The trade license fee for online portals is several times the general trade license fee. This is a policy to discourage the media. It should be ended.