Some 58 per cent of news consumers have their doubts on reliability of news dished out to them every day while 24 per cent put their trust on the news carried by media in Bangladesh partially and another 14 per cent completely, reports UNB.
A small sample survey carried by Management and Resource Development Initiative (MRDI), with the financial help of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), brought forth the public perception on news reliability.
While public confidence on media seems not that encouraging, it's heartening that none expressed complete distrust on media reports.
An overwhelming 96 per cent have discomfort with the news sourcing and only a small percentage of four consider media using proper sources.
MRDI conducted the research with the participation of more than 300 people in six divisions in the country obtaining different methodology like questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, key informants' interview and consultation meetings.
MRDI Executive Director, Hasibur Rahman, presented the information at a seminar on 'News Sense and Ethics of News,' organised by MRDI with the collaboration of National Human Rights Commission, UNICEF and Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) at PIB building in Dhaka.
The research also brought out the reasons behind the majority's distrust a.These were lack of proper reporting and news production planning, proper training and guidance as well as absence of appropriate guidelines.
On the perspective of child related contents, 65 per cent participants considered that news contents did not contain much child issues.
Speaking at the seminar as the chief guest, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, stressed on the importance of media's ethical practices.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof. Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique, presented keynote speech, while Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Kazi Reazul Hoque, addressed the seminar as special guest with PIB Director General, Md. Shah Alamgir, in the chair.
Several media personalities and civil society members attended in the seminar.
