Editor's Pick

Editorial

Government advertisement

The distribution process should be decentralised
17 June 2003
• EDITORIAL
The report on two daily newspapers getting the highest government advertisements during the current fiscal year caught our attention quite naturally. Not so because the said newspapers are owned by supporters of the ruling coalition, but more so because we had noticed an almost familiar scene in the past. During the regime of Awami League, newspapers who were supporters of the then government were rewarded similarly. What is so disconcerting is the fact that all democratically elected governments had professed to uphold the freedom of press, they had promised that there would be no manipulation in distributing government advertisements. But as the saying goes, promises are meant to be broken.

We think that the pattern of seeking media support with money is solely responsible for the disruption in promoting business in a fair way. It now seems that politicisation of advertisement distribution is dominating the fundamental aspect of the print media. May be an example would make it easier to understand. It is not just the national dailies who have been enjoying favouritism, there are many newspapers at district levels, which brings out daily editions and survives solely on government advertisements thus becoming a mouthpiece of the government. This kind of practice distorts the position of the press as an institution.

However, politicians may come and go, but one thing is likely to remain the same. The Daily Star has always remained in the lowest rung among the recipients of government advertisements, irrespective of which party is in power. Even the latest estimation disclosed by the Information Minister in the parliament shows that The Daily Star is among those newspapers who received the lowest amount in advertisement. This fact only vindicates that we have been neutral all along.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source google-preferred-source-badge

Google News LinkFor all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

Click to comment

Related News