The first online Re-Connect - Bangladesh Media Stakeholder Meeting, jointly organized by DW Akademie and the UNESCO Dhaka Office, was conducted over Zoom and live-streamed on Facebook on 14 October 2020, 4:00 – 5:30 pm (Dhaka time).
In all parts of the world, the media is playing an important role in the COVID-19 response. In Bangladesh it has become increasingly clear that as this next phase of the pandemic develops, the Media in Bangladesh, including Community Media, continues to play a pivotal role in bringing relevant information and content to its audiences, despite the many hardships and challenges each media outlet and its staff are facing in the current situation.
At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic also takes a tremendous toll on the media sector and creates unprecedented challenges related to the production, dissemination, and consumption of media. By exploring new and innovative ways to inform and connect with its audiences, some of the challenges can be turned into opportunities.
During her opening remarks, Ms. Beatrice Kaldun, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, highlighted UNESCO’s mandate to “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image”. Ms. Beatrice Kaldun highlighted that UNESCO believes that today, more than ever before, the world needs professional journalism and reliable information to stop the spread of COVID-19 which includes the fight of increasing rumors and disinformation related to the virus and its spread. UNESCO, through its Communication and Information Sector strives to foster freedom of expression, media development, and access to information and knowledge.
During her welcoming remarks, Ms. Priya Esselborn, Country Manager Bangladesh, DW Akademie, noted that one of the few bright aspects of this pandemic is that people are forced to rethink their lives. As in any crisis, the media is at the forefront to inform people and to spread awarness. Since the beginning of the pandemic, most people have become more connected. By leveraging this interconnectedness, through collective action, including through sharing and supporting each other in all walks of life, we can fight the spread of COVID-19 and achieve lasting change. Through the stakeholder meeting, DW Akademie wants to build bridges, “because only together we can work for improvements in freedom of expression and foundation“ as Ms. Esselborn stated.
Following the opening and welcoming remarks, two panel discussion which were moderated by Mr. Peter Prix (Advisor, UNESCO Dhaka Office) and by Ms. Lutfa Ahmed (Bangladesh Consultant, DW Akademie) invited a diverse set of panelists to share their views and reflections on the following questions:
• What are emerging opportunities for the media sector?
• What roles can the media play now, in the next phases of the pandemic to help it become more resilient in a post-COVID-19 Bangladesh?
• What do you expect the media landscape in Bangladesh to look like post-COVID-19 and what roles can the media play?
The following panelists shared their reflections with meeting participants:
• Ms. Purabi Matin, Communication and HD Media Manager, A2i, Government of Bangladesh
• Mr. Jeremy Opritesco, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Political, Economics, Trade and Press and Information Section, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh
• Ms. Anna Minj, Director, Community Empowerment, Integrated Development Programme, BRAC & Chair, Bangladesh Community Radio Association (BCRA)
• Mr. Syed Ashfaqul Haque, Executive Editor, The Daily Star • Mr. Shams Suman, Station Chief, Radio Bhumi
• Dr. Jude William Genilo, Head of the Media Studies and Journalism Department, ULAB
Quotes from panelists:
Meeting participants raised a great number of relevant and interesting questions through the Zoom and Facebook Chat feature, which allowed for great interaction among participants and panelists in the chat box as well as during the moderated discussion segments.
Conversations reinforced that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly evident that the media in Bangladesh, including community media, plays a very important role in responding to the pandemic. During this unprecedented time, the media in Bangladesh plays important roles in collecting, verifying, aggregating, distilling, and relaying life-saving information, news, updates, as well as educational content to its viewers, its readers, its watchers, and its listeners.
The first online Re-Connect - Bangladesh Media Stakeholder Meeting was a great success. It provided important opportunities to foster dialogue and to (re-)connect diverse media stakeholders in Bangladesh. It further allowed to raise awareness about emerging expectations and opportunities for the Media in Bangladesh for the next phases of the pandemic.
The meeting showed the demand for dialogue among and between the diverse stakeholders of Bangladesh’s Media Sector to strengthen partnership and collaboration as well as the overall sustainability of the media sector both at policy and practice levels. Future stakeholder meetings are planned.
The meeting recording can be accessed at this link: https://fb.watch/1jD_QsKvcC