The Editors Guild last week urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to declare an emergency package for the mass media. Due to the coronavirus pandemic newspapers are denied of income both from advertisement and circulation. Due to the shutdown, lockdown and social distancing the newspapers are not reaching properly to their readers too.
In Bangladesh, nearly 10 newspapers have shut down publications because the risk and cost of operation during the pandemic could not justify continued printing.
In Bangladesh, nearly 10 newspapers have shut down publications because the risk and cost of operation during the pandemic could not justify continued printing.
This was expressed many times in the newspapers and television channels that they are in dire financial crisis and unable to pay salaries to journalists. Besides, the journalist are also suffering from acute hardship. The reason is-no economic activities are possible for the government policy of lockdown and shut down.
The other source of income for the press is the circulation. It should be easy to understand how and why circulation has gone down drastically. The hawkers are reluctant to come out for fear of the pandemic. Equally difficult it is for the daily newspapers to send the printed copies outside Dhaka for the government suspension of transport all over the country.
So, on both counts-advertisement and circulation-the revenue collection situation of the newspapers is in dire state. The survival of print media is at stake in the worst situation of pandemic. But surely media, both, the television and the print media, are playing an indispensable role in creating public awareness about the need of self-protection against the fury of coronavirus. Their role is no less important than others to the service providers.
It is to be admired with gratitude that journalists are risking their own lives and lives of the family members to do their public duty to the readers as well as the government.
In Bangladesh, all best news websites are backed by their newspapers and TV brands. The business owners hover around advertisement revenues in newspapers and TV channels that are paid for the journalists.
In the UK, British media has called on the government to grant the industry the same protected status already given to healthcare, food chains and utility companies.
Doing so, the government should then unlock a package of measures to prevent the adverse impact of closures – including emergency funding for protecting the journalism.
The crisis for the government is that it is almost impossible for them to pay heed to the right advice. The government men should realise now how much harm they have done to the government. No part of the government is in functional order.
The press is an important constitutional institution as the fourth pillar of the democratic government. The press also serves in upholding the people’s right to know and their freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution.
The newspapers are owned privately but the service journalists provide is absolutely public.
The newspapers are owned privately but the service journalists provide is absolutely public.
For their valuable public service and risk they are taking in working in the life -risking situation, the journalists must not go starving with their family members. They want a share in public money for their service to the people.
The harsh truth cannot be denied that the sources of income for the newspapers have been cut off for the government policy of lockdown and shutdown. This grave situation needs no elaboration. There is nothing the owners can do without income.
The government should respond to the Editors Guild and announce an incentive package. It does not have to be in the form of a direct grant-loans or a reduction in taxes. The funds will go direct to the payment of wages of journalists.
The Bhutanese government gives a print media subsidy of over 50 percent to its newspapers-at the least our government can reduce the taxes paid. Why our government cannot think of it yet?
We implore the government to arrange funds for the journalists so that they get their salaries and do not starve. They deserve thanks and gratitude for the public service they are now offering.
