Information adviser Mahfuz Alam on Sunday said that the minimum wage for journalists would be finalised within a week with the aim of paying entry-level journalists close to the government officials鈥� ninth grade which is Tk聽22,000.
In reply to a question, he made the remarks at a 鈥楳eet the Reporters鈥� event organised by the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital Dhaka.
He said that the media reform commission had placed 23 immediately implementable recommendations, and the information ministry implemented 13 of them.
鈥楾here will be no cabinet meetings after November. So all pending tasks have to be completed by that time because there will be no scope for making any policy decision once the Election Commission announces polls schedule,鈥� he added.
鈥榃e will soon place the 鈥淥ne House, One Media Policy鈥� and the Journalist Protection Act before the cabinet. We will also finalise the policy for online news portals,鈥� he said.
Action will be taken against newspapers that no longer publish printed editions but are taking facilities, he added.
Referring to the absence of any law regulating private television channels, he said, 鈥楲icences were issued to owners linked to the Awami League-affiliated business groups. They still hold ownership in the channels and are enjoying profits staying abroad.鈥�
On the issue of over-the-top platforms, he said, 鈥楧iscussions are ongoing with the ICT Division. We are working to regulate online contents. Any monetised content on YouTube will also come under regulation.鈥�
鈥業 support reducing the number of print publications while increasing advertisement rates to strengthen the media鈥檚 financial base. But we need accurate circulation data first,鈥� he said.
鈥榃e intend to ensure a basic salary for journalists and houses unable to meet the standard will lose access to certain benefits,鈥� he said.
The adviser also said that despite holding three meetings in the past year with the Newspaper Owners鈥� Association of Bangladesh and media proprietors regarding the 9th Wage Board, no decision was reached.
鈥業f owners remain unwilling, we will reduce advertisement rates. Those unable to compete will exit the market,鈥� he warned.
Chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam at the event said that the information adviser had consistently emphasised ensuring decent pay for journalists.
鈥楧ue to low wages, journalists often turn to union leaders, who then sell their [journalists鈥橾 interests, and some of the union leaders have even acquired houses at Gulshan and Banani,鈥� he said.
Hundreds of 鈥榮o-called鈥� news portals have mushroomed, said the press secretary, alleging that many stole others鈥� news items, and when action was taken, they cried about government interference.
The government wants to promote ethical journalism and protect those investing in quality reporting, he added.
The event was also attended, among others, by chief adviser鈥檚 senior assistant press secretary Foyez Ahammad, DRU president Abu Saleh Akon and general secretary Mainul Hassan Sohel.
