Dhaka Media Summit 2022 on Future of Journalism

The advent of ICTs has put the whole society in a process of transition. There is hardly any sphere of the society that is not being affected by this phenomenon. Journalism is not an exception to this. ICTs brought new opportunities in the sector alongside creating many challenges and/or threats. The situation is summarized by Working Group on Sustainability of Journalism (2021) in the report “A New Deal for Journalism” as:

Independent journalism is an essential force for democracy and open societies, but is facing an existential threat from a set of interlocking challenges that, in their scale, complexity, and systemic nature, is akin to its own version of the climate emergency. A hostile political environment at best, and an authoritarian resurgence at worst; declining revenues as a result of the move to a more digital, mobile, and platform dominated media environment; and fraying public trust has left journalism in a precarious state.

Journalism is clearly in a transitional stage globally; sustainability has emerged as one of the key concerns in journalism. On one hand traditional media are facing a huge decline in the revenue income, and on the other hand facing strict (and outdated) regulations by the governments; facing mistrust and confusion among audiences due to spread of misinformation and disinformation. Furthermore, the COVID 19 pandemic worsen the situation by all means. Keeping these in mind, the Dhaka Media Summit 2021, with its central theme “Future of Journalism,” is envisioned to be a multi-sectoral dialogue regarding the present and future of news organizations, especially in Bangladesh, in the aspects of audience access, agenda setting, sustainability/viability, and safety concerns. Participants to the dialogue includes all sectors with a stake in having a healthy and vibrant news media. This will include news organizations, reporters, academics, policymakers, advertisers and civil society representatives.

Rationale
The move from a media environment defined by the mass media to a digital-dominated environment is one of the most fundamental changes regarding how society communicates. Yet, this simple fact has been overlooked or denied by many of those working in news organizations; they prefer a “business as usual” approach or “nothing much has changed” mindset. Nevertheless, there is a growing consensus among researchers regarding trends in journalism, described as follows:
Audience Access. The world has shifted from media organizations acting as gatekeepers to them still influencing the news agenda but platform companies controlling access to audiences. Although media organizations have a say over the messages, they have lost control over the channels of communication.
Agenda Setting. Even with a say over messages, news organizations still need to compete with the loads of information in the digital platforms. They need to rise above the clutter given that digital platforms are full of free and paid news content – many of which may be products of disinformation and misinformation. To add insult to injury, a report mentioned that the Bangladeshi audiences do not trust the local media.
Sustainability/Viability. There is an oversupply of mass media in the country – making several news organizations unprofitable. With audiences and advertising revenue moving to digital platforms, news organizations find themselves in difficult financial positions. They need to find ways to cut costs, pay their employees, survive the competition, and/or transition to digital media.
Safety Concerns. The safety of journalists encompasses avoiding bodily and psychological harm such as career threats, economic threats, harassments, beatings, arrests, imprisonment and enforced disappearance. The end effect is the decrease in the journalists’ ability to do their function of monitoring and interpreting events in society.
Yet, in all these, news organizations play a key role in society, i.e., providing citizens with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives and their society. It is the only profession that has sworn allegiance to the truth; truth being the bedrock of any society.
In light of this, there is a need for a multi-sectoral dialogue regarding the future of journalism in Bangladesh. It is imperative to enable news organizations cope with and transition towards the fundamental shift in how the country communicates.

Conference Themes

Future of Journalism will be central theme of the conference which is expected to touch on the following areas: Audiences’ access to media, consumption and re-distribution pattern/behavior in digital age; Media influence in digital age; Agenda-setting role of media; Emerging business model(s) in media in the digital age; New skills needed for journalists; Media ecology and sustainability of media in the digital age; Recognition of journalists as an essential profession; and Safety of journalists.

The conference will accommodate discussions on and around the following sub-themes as well: Functions of the press in the digital age; Multi-platform journalism; Digital journalism; Solution-oriented journalism; Community journalism; Freedom of Expression; Journalism in the Digital Age; Journalism and Good Governance; Journalism and the Environment; Journalism and the Economy; Journalism and Society; Media and the Public Sphere; Media and Culture; Media and Identity Construction; Journalism and Gender Equity; Journalism and Indigenous Populations; Digital and Fragmented Audiences; Hate Speech and digital media; Fake news – Misinformation, disinformation and new media; Journalism, peace and conflict and Non-violent communication.

About Organizers

IAMCR

The International Association for Media and Communication Research – IAMCR – is the preeminent worldwide professional organization in the field of media and communication research.
Its members promote global inclusiveness and excellence within the best traditions of critical scholarship in the field.
IAMCR aims to support and develop media and communication research throughout the world. It particularly encourages the participation of emerging scholars, women and those from economically disadvantaged regions.

ULAB

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) was founded by philanthropist Kazi Shahid Ahmed as a private university. The idea of the University was initiated at a public colloquium, in February of 2002, attended by leading academics, cultural figures, and entrepreneurs. The University was established with the objective of benefitting the higher education sector of Bangladesh by creating a competent workforce and informed citizens who are of service to the community, country, and the world. In this spirit, he created a place of learning where well-rounded students would be fully steeped in the values of their own heritage yet trained to face the modern global workplace.