Media men urged not to compromise with objectivity

FE Report Academicians and media practitioners Sunday called upon the media professionals not to compromise with objectivity while reporting any event by getting involved with the particular incident as challenges have become intense in the profession in recent times. They were speaking at the seminar on 'Hybrid Journalism for the 21st Century' at the Virtual Auditorium of the Daffodil International University (DIU) in the city. Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of the university organized the event where Scott Craig, Head of News, SATV attended as the key speaker. Professor Golam Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of DIU presided over the seminar. 'Hybrid Journalism', a new term in the field of journalism and which involves technology, technique and multidisciplinary knowledge, is a form of journalism done often in an amateurish way. Scott Craig said the journalistic practice has advanced in many ways through the use of hi-tech communication and information technologies throughout the world. "At present, newsworthy events are being covered from remote areas of the country by dint of the technological advancement, which is hybrid journalism," said Scott. In his welcome speech Golam Rahman said it has been noticed that journalists take advantage of technology but at the same time they somehow get involved with events which ultimately hampers the objectivity of journalism. Sheikh Shafiul Islam, Assistant professor of the department and the moderator of the session gave a detailed description of hybrid journalism and termed it the result of using hi-tech information and communication technologies in the field of journalism incorporating multi-disciplinary knowledge. According to experts anyone these days can publish text, images, video and information for the masses as mobile technology provides highly networked collaboration between journalists and citizens. People have smart phones and other mobile news gathering devices and these tools allow people to become news publishers or startup, digital-only independent media outlets. They also let traditional media organisations expand their outreach efforts and allow anyone in the community to become a journalist for the day.