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the media and the judiciary are key pillars of justice, accountability, and balance of power.
“When an ordinary citizen seeks justice in court to protect their rights, the neutrality of the judiciary becomes their greatest source of hope. Similarly, the media amplifies the voices of common people and raises awareness against abuse of power, irregularities, and discrimination,” he said.
He said although exposing the truth about powerful groups is often risky, the media must perform this duty as a constitutionally protected democratic institution.
“The biggest challenge to media freedom is its economic structure. Government-dependent financing carries the risk of political influence, while excessive reliance on corporate investment may undermine editorial independence. Therefore, while strong investment is necessary to build a robust media institution, maintaining a balance between editorial freedom and financial sustainability is equally important,” he said.
Khulna University Treasurer Prof Dr Md Nurunnabi, who attended the seminar as chief guest, said media is one of the key instruments of democracy, accountability, and truth-telling in a state.
“Independent and responsible journalism plays a vital role in ensuring justice and protecting people’s rights. Alongside freedom, maintaining ethics, objectivity, and professionalism in journalism is equally essential,” he said.
Speaking as a special guest, Associate Prof Majidul Islam of the university’s mass communication and journalism discipline said media freedom is always dependent on context.
He said responsible and objective journalism has become increasingly important in ensuring the flow of accurate information in society.
“Such initiatives are highly commendable in inspiring the younger generation toward truthful and ethical journalism,” he added.
The seminar was chaired by Khulna University Journalists’ Association President Md Ibrahim Khalil.
Students from different disciplines of the university, alongside journalists, attended the programme.