An article review session took place on 17 July, 2016, at the Meeting Room of BRACU Savar Campus. Md. Mostafizur Rahman, faculty member of Ethics and Culture, discussed the article titled “Selling Audience: The Role of Media in Creating Consumer Culture in Bangladesh” by Fahmidul Haq.
Mr. Rahman initiated the discussion by mentioning the main focuses of the article on different aspects of media with a special reference to the socio-economic context of Bangladesh as well as with the reference to different time period of post-independent Bangladesh. He then moved on to the author’s views about some important background of the developing country and how the role of media is changing in recent time.
Afterwards, Mr. Rahman discussed the three stages of newspaper development era according to the author. Firstly, the writer discussed about the daily Ittefaq and Sangbad which were addressed as the last two representatives of the first phrase of journalism. These two dailies played historical roles in different turns of independence of Bangladesh and these two newspapers were also linked to political journalism. Secondly, while discussing about the second phase, objective journalism was introduced. The idea of objective journalism was reflected in Ajker Kagoj. The founding editor of the newspaper was a graduate from the journalism department at Dhaka University. Ajker Kagoj brought several changes to journalism practices in the country. Besides objective journalism, the newspaper also showed its inclination towards Bengali culture. Mr. Rahman then moved on to the third stage, which is corporate journalism, an example of which is Prothom Alo. He discussed Prothom Alo’s view of journalism and also the role of FM radio in modern time. In addition, modern time TV News channels are also based on corporate journal, the foundation of which was laid by Ekushey TV (ETV).
The article then focused on how the recent deregulation of media in Bangladesh has given rise to a number of commercial media outlets dedicated to creating and promoting a consumer culture in the country. As a result, recent time viewers of such media outlets are sold to advertisers. Consequently, people’s right to watch uninterrupted or minimally interrupted programme is barely recognized. Mr. Rahman ended the disucussion with the author’s last words that a comprehensive media policy by limiting the presence of advertisement, advertorials and product placement can improve the situation.
After the discussion, the floor was open for analysis and feedback. Some of the faculty members shared their views on the issue and its relevancy with the course Ethics and Culture, particularly how this article might help one of the class discussions on media during liberation war.