Dangers and changes in journalism during COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has not spared any community or country in the world. The media and journalism now face new challenges. Like any other sector, the media is not functioning as normal. Coronavirus has affected us more than anything else in our living memory. People racked with innumerable questions while exploring ways to survive the highly contagious disease and to tackle economic recession as well.

Newspaper circulation has fallen as the distribution of newspapers has been hampered due to the lockdown. But the online readership has increased dramatically. Television viewers have also risen. The people have started listening to the radio again. Journalism has now become a most important tool as well as riskier than ever before, to meet the demand of readers, viewers and listeners.

We invariably see an increase in readership during the political crises and natural calamities. The interest of readers and listeners during crises is called crisis reading and listening. It is easily understandable that the demand of subscribers increases to a height during a crisis.

And the survival of the organisations which fail to provide accurate information and analysis to their readers, will be at stake. But the media faces unprecedented challenges to fulfill these expectations. The challenges include various restrictions, journalists’ health risk and the financial crisis.

We have experience how the free flow of information is hampered during restrictions. There is no end of questions among the people about the coronavirus tests, detection of patients, the number of hospitals, ICU and ventilators. People also raise questions on the decisions of opening and closing garment factories. The social media is rife with stories of countrywide rice pilferage, corruption, demonstrations by helpless people, and also the misuse of power by public representatives who were elected by voting on the night before the election.

The mainstream media is unable to publish details of such news because of the Digital Security Act. Self-censorship has become acute due to the misuse of the act regarding publishing objective news and analysis of such incidents.

A committee was formed to keep watch on the media during the outbreak of the coronavirus. Later, it was cancelled. As per the directives of the information ministry, on 12 April, the private TV channel owners’ association asked journalists to refrain from negative discussion during the crisis.

Journalists were assaulted for publishing local news on corruption during the coronavirus outbreak several days ago. Journalist Shafiqul Islam, who had disappeared, is yet to be traced. Defamation cases and arrests continue for criticising the ruling party politicians on Facebook.

In a publication on the human rights situation during the coronavirus, ten researchers mentioned that cases were brought against six journalists under the act.

The fear of such harassment is no less than the health risk. This risk will not decrease rather increase further in publishing objective news.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and International Press Institute, recently expressed concern, fearing more risks in different countries during the coronavirus outbreak. On 6 April, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Latvia, UK and United States in a joint statement expressed concern about imposing restrictions on the freedom of expression in some countries centering the coronavirus crisis.

It has already been clear that the protection of media workers is complex as well as important. Their role is more important during crises. Protection is necessary not only for media workers but also their families. Unfortunately, many of them and their families have already been infected.

Media can be viewed separately. Even the government is not sincere about finding those who came in contact with coronavirus patients and arranging their quarantine.

Awareness about the risks of personal security and protection of journalists has been ignored in Bangladesh. Work on the protection of journalists has started in different countries a few days ago. An organisation named MRDI has published a guideline and provided training.

It was beyond the concept that such global pandemic can be so devastating. However, they published a guideline after coronavirus reached Bangladesh. Unfortunately, we did not take the danger into consideration. We took unnecessary risks thinking we will not be infected.

Most of the media outlets did not take steps they should have taken to avoid the risks for media workers. It is not clear whether many of them wanted to do that. As precautionary measures, sitting arrangements of guests for TV talk-shows could be changed easily, but that was not done by many. Except a few, most of the media outlets did not take preparation to facilitate media workers to work from home. They needed some investment for this. After all, not all media workers have laptops and broadband facilities at home. There is a question of security for connecting to the network of office. All the media houses have not considered PPE for those who work outside. Above all, most of them have no insurance for risks.

Coronavirus has brought business and trade to a standstill across the world, and has bad consequences on the media. It is now a big question whether the media workers will be able to save their professions if they are spared by coronavirus.

It is not just a crisis for Bangladesh. The circulation of newspapers has collapsed worldwide due to distribution problems. However, online readership has increased dramatically. Normally, newspaper sales cannot meet expenditure. Their main source of income is advertisement. Their income is nearly zero as the businesses have been closed. Revenue has not increased although online readership has increased as only few newspapers take money online. The prospect of online advertisement is not bright either.

The big technology-based companies are adopting new policies in publishing advertisements along with coronavirus related news. They are doing this to stop propaganda on COVID-19. Tabloids and many locals in the US, UK and Canada either shut their publications or have kept these suspended.

At least eight national dailies published from Dhaka temporarily suspended publication of their print edition. Many have become jobless. Television channels are getting negative signals. They sought subsidy during a meeting with the information minister.

Obviously the government-sponsored media is unable to fulfill the demand of objective journalism.

Under such circumstances, we can look to the western countries as to what sort of support they are considering, to tackle the financial crisis.

The politicians in those countries are taking initiatives to protect independent journalism.

They are thinking about alternatives instead of direct funds from the government. All western countries are planning to increase the government expenditure on advertisements related to health. US president Donald Trump has initiated to supply 2200 billion US dollars loans to the economy. As industries, loans may be provided to the mass media.

The amount the citizens will spend on newspapers can be written off from their taxes. Tax payers will be encouraged to buy newspapers and it will have no impact on the independence of newspapers. Scotland is planning to write off tax on the establishment of media outlets for two years.

Such alternatives instead of government grants can be considered in Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh has declared incentive packages for various sectors including industries.

It should be ensured that the media industries get those incentives. The media industry should be included in the funds declared to maintain daily expenditure. The media has to pay 35 per cent corporate tax while the garment sector pays only 15 per cent. It is logical to slash it.

There is a long-standing demand to withdraw 15 per cent VAT on the import of newsprint and five per import duty. A declaration for withdrawal should be made immediately in the interest of the media industry. Private sector advertisers will feel relief if VAT on advertisements is removed. Moreover, the undeclared restriction imposed on the private companies including mobile companies to refrain from advertisement in some newspapers should be withdrawn immediately.

It is unwarranted for the role of the media to be overlooked or freedom curtailed during the crisis period. The duty of the media is to make powerful quarters accountable. This is more urgent during the crisis.

Kamal Ahmed is a senior journalist.

*This piece, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.