First pressure in reporting corruption, irregularities comes on owner: A.K. Azad

“When a journalist goes to get the comment of the relevant person for preparing a report on corruption or irregularities, the first pressure often comes on the owner. The concerned person calls directly and tries to stop the publication or broadcast of the news. If that still does not work, in many cases pressure is created using influential circles, intelligence agencies or high-level government officials,” said A.K. Azad, an industrial and media entrepreneur and Managing Director of the Ha-Meem Group. 

He made the comments during the second day of the Bangladesh Journalism Conference at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in the capital on Saturday on the topics of ‘Media Self-Regulation in Bangladesh: Professional Oversight, Accountability and Grievance Redressal’.

A.K. Azad spoke openly about media freedom, ownership pressure and the reality of investigative journalism. 

He freely admitted that journalists are not able to work completely independently in the media he owns. He highlighted the interests and protection of his large business organisation as the main reason for this.

A.K. Azad said that his organisation employs about 75,000 officials and employees. Ensuring their safety and future is his first priority. Although freedom of journalism, objective journalism or democratic practices are important, in reality the issue of protecting business and employees often comes to the first.

He said, “In the case of my Channel 24 and Daily Samakal, I can say without hesitation that journalists are not able to work independently. Why are they not able to work independently? The main obstacle is because of my business organisation. I have 75,000 officials and employees working here, I have to look after their interests first. Then objective journalism, freedom of journalism or democracy – these are secondary to me; their protection is fundamental.”

He said, “A reporter has to spend a long time and take various risks to do investigative journalism. When a journalist goes to get the comments of the allegedly corrupted person for the preparation of a report on any corruption or irregularity, the first pressure often comes on the owner. The person concerned calls directly and tries to stop the publication or broadcast of the news. If even then it does not work, in many cases pressure is created by using influential circles, intelligence agencies or high-level government officials.”

A.K. Azad said that many times he himself requests journalists not to publish any reports. But then he gets a harsh response from journalists. Journalists said that if the collected information and evidence is not published, then the informant may think that the news has been kept secret through some exchange that damages the credibility and professional status of the journalist.

He said that as a media entrepreneur, this position also shakes his personal conscience. On the one hand, the freedom of the journalist, and on the other hand, the pressure of possible administrative or political reactions – he has to walk between these two realities.

A.K. Azad also said that if an environment can be ensured for media owners where there is no fear of harassment, arrest or administrative obstacles in running a business, then the owners will not impose unnecessary control on the work of journalists.

Regarding media ownership, he said that currently two types of owners are coming to the media. One group is investing in the media to work against corruption, irregularities, money laundering and political corruption in society. On the other hand, another group is owning the media to protect their business interests, hide illegal money or other irregularities. 

He believes that in order to sustain objective journalism, journalists must be ensured job security, regular salaries and professional protection. At the same time, protecting the media from the influence of black money owners is also an important challenge of the time.