Info Minister stresses implementation of ninth wage board to ensure media sustainability

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has emphasized the swift implementation of the Ninth Wage Board to ensure professional security, honorable salaries and allowances, and job stability for journalists. He also highlighted the necessity of state policy support to safeguard the investments of media owners and entrepreneurs.

The Minister made these remarks during an exchange of views with journalists following a visit to the headquarters of a media group in the capital on Thursday (July 16).

Zahir Uddin Swapon stated that if the financial uncertainty of journalists is not eliminated, professional journalism will suffer, increasing the scope for malpractice in the industry. He added that to retain talented and qualified journalists in this profession, it is essential to ensure a respectable wage structure, a safe working environment, and job security.

He emphasized that effective steps must be taken through discussion and consensus to protect the investments of entrepreneurs in the newspaper and media industries. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of providing necessary policy support to attract new investment and to operate existing media outlets sustainably.

The Information Minister affirmed that the current government believes in the freedom of the press. Under the directives of the Prime Minister, initiatives for media reform, ensuring an independent environment, and forming necessary commissions are ongoing. The government's objective is to build a modern, responsible, independent, and sustainable media system based on the opinions of stakeholders.

He further noted that the biggest challenge currently facing the media is not the relationship between the government and the press, but rather the spread of fake and misleading information. With the rise of social media and independent content creators, mainstream media is facing intense competition. As a major portion of advertisements has shifted to digital platforms, traditional media must become technology-driven and more competitive.

Stressing transparency and technology-based evaluation in the distribution of government advertisements, the Minister stated that the size of a media outlet's audience and readership should be considered a key criterion.

Editors and senior journalists from various national dailies, television channels, and online news portals attended the meeting, sharing their perspectives on the current challenges facing the media industry, working conditions for journalists, digital transformation, and required policy support.