State Minister for Information urges journalists to be more responsible to prevent disinformation

He made the call at a certificate distribution ceremony after a three-day training on multimedia journalism, fact-checking and artificial intelligence organized for journalists in Hossainpur, Kishoreganj on Saturday.

The state minister said journalists must certainly highlight any mistakes and errors of the government, but not through propaganda or disinformation. The main objective of the training is to increase journalists' skills in fact-checking, artificial intelligence and identifying misleading information.

He said many people who are not journalists are spreading rumors and false information by introducing themselves as journalists. Again, using artificial intelligence, distorted images and misleading videos are being created and spread on social media. This also tarnishes the image of genuine journalists.

Yaser Khan Chowdhury said initiatives have been taken to create opportunities for various training, including a two-year master's course for genuine journalists and artificial intelligence-based journalism. Through press clubs, lists of genuine journalists will be prepared and they will be brought under training in phases.

Regarding media freedom, he said the freedom that exists in the media under the leadership of Prime Minister Tareq Rahman will continue. He called on journalists to highlight the people's concerns and the government's mistakes and errors through information-based and responsible journalism.

The state minister said journalists have an important role to play in the interest of the state and democracy. Alongside preventing disinformation and propaganda, journalists must also play a responsible role in upholding the democratic environment.

Faruk Wasif, Director General of Press Institute Bangladesh, along with administration officials, journalists and people from various walks of life were present at the event.