The media and negative writing (!)

By Salam, 3rd year, Department of law, Chittagong University
10 November 2003, 18:00 PM
According to The Daily Star report (Monday, October 20) Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has condemned the so called media's negative reporting over her coalition government's success. It's fashionable indeed and in this regard I would say that it's the media which put her four party alliance in power.

During the last Awami League period, media had played a vital role in publishing the wrong-doings of government and their stooges. People were mostly influenced by the fair media reports, not by the rhetorical speeches of the alliance leaders.

Print media like The Daily Star plays a pioneering role in exposing both the good and bad side of the society. It's the duty and obligation of media to express the real situation of the society whatever may be its scenario. Though it's not exceptional that some media don't follow the same path.

But, accusing the media of negative reporting cannot be the solution. In practice, it will make the problem more complex and provoke the partymen to do whatever they like.

Besides, democracy is unworkable without criticism.