Digital media have the potential to emerge as a democratic public sphere, provided the new media platform ensures credibility and trust in disseminating authentic news, speakers at a discussion said yesterday.

As the society's dependence on technology is increasing, the phenomenon is leading the mainstream media to new challenges.

Therefore, proper leadership is needed to cope with the transformation, they said.

They made the remarks at the Indo-Bangla discussion on "Digital

Media: Threats and Prospects" organised by the Bangladesh chapter of UK-based Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) at Jatiya Press Club, marking World Press Freedom Day.

Jayanta Roy Chowdhury, a senior editor of India-based TheTelegraph, said the ruling Bharatiya Janata

Party had used the digital platform during Uttar Pradesh elections, enabling them secure a landslide victory.

Social media like Facebook may play a vital role in Indian national polls in 2019, he opined.

Regarding information surfaced online, he said the mainstream media will have to verify and crosscheck the information before publishing.

Speaking as chief guest, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said youths in Bangladesh are relying more on digital platform, which could be a challenge for the mainstream media to keep their readership without being digitised.

CJA Global President Mahendra Ved said the access to information is much easier these days, thanks to internet.

But it remains a challenge to remain authentic and credible on digital platform, he added.

Former journalist of the Times of India Kingshuk Nag, CJA President Emeritus Hassan Shahriar, Jatiya Press Club President Shafiqur Rahman, Daily Prothom Alo Associate Editor Abdul Qayyum and IT expert Mostafa Jabbar, among others, spoke.

The Daily Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutt moderated the discussion.