“It was in 2004, I was passing leisure in Singapore. One day while browsing on my laptop I noticed that online is coming forward. Just a few days back media Mogul Rupart Murdoc had started giving emphasis on online media.
At that time I thought to start something like that in Bangladesh. Soon I engaged myself in work on that line. To find a name I started searching domain names on Myspacedotcom. I searched News24.com.
However I noticed that there was an online newspaper already functioning in Africa with same name. Then I added BD with the news24.com and got a domain name-- bdnews24.com. Quickly I purchased the domain name using credit card.
After returning to country I just jumped into working on it. And I got a group of spirited journalists with me who appreciated it as their work place. bdnews24.com started growing very rapidly, which is now a history of a decade.”
Just in this way Alamgir Hossain was telling about the primary days of online journalism in this country. This unique history was being heard with rapt attention by the students and teachers of Mass communication and Journalism department of University of Liberal Arts (ULAB).
On Thursday (July 14), a program titled ‘Meet the Editor’ was arranged at ULAB Dhanmondi campus. Alamgir Hossain was answering the students of their very questions there.
The forerunner of online journalism in Bangladesh is now working as the Editor-in-Chief of the most popular online news portal Banglanews24.com.
Addressing the students, he told that if we want to make it competitive in media market, then it needs skilled manpower and to guide them in a proper way. The way banglanews24.com has become popular in a similar way bdnews24.com only in two years got a very high position.
The journalists of bdnews working then are now working in many media with responsibility and fame. Now even the media people of Banglanews are also earning good name in other media, he told.
This sexagenarian journalist was sharing there his vast experiences of his long career of forty five years.
He told that this profession needs devotion as well as patriotism.
Alamgir Hossain told that after working in print media for 32 years, once I thought to leave this profession. But many of my colleagues told that still you have many things to do. However I came back and again started journalism. I am here in this profession just love for it.
He also put up his vast experiences gathered from traveling more than hundred countries around the globe where he covered many international events and met many editors and journalists of repute.
Regarding hard work, this icon journalist told the students-- the leader of mass media must be laborious.
Citing example of the night of Gulshan Holey Artisan Café attack, he said, “I personally gave directives to my reporters to go to the spot and myself passed the whole night at newsroom after coming from my residence. No newsman can take rest in such time.”
Now it is the time of online. There are many devices which are being used by the pressmen. In those days I used to carry a type writer of my self.
Alamgir Hossain informed that bad days are coming ahead for print media. Now eighty percent news reader are visiting Banglanews portal on their smartphones. Now the readers only go through the newspapers for special articles. Because all print media materials are old to them.
Day by day the size of print newspapers are getting smaller, he said adding example of London Times, which was such large in size that if the paper is opened then side sitting man had to be disturbed. Those are now published in tabloid size. Sunday Times followed the same. Now to make things comfortable online news media is coming forward. Besides, the largest print media of the country has already reduced its manpower size.
The Editor in Chief also pointed out that the print media needs paper which originates from trees that affects the ecology.
One student asked about some news items of Banglanews on SP Babul Akhtar and his wife.
In reply, Alamgir Hossain told that here you must examine the quality of sources of newsman. The news men who did not get initial reports they opposed Banglanews stories. But later on it was proved that the story of Banglanews was correct and gradually other media followed.
Such incidents changes its face in every moment and the on line media makes news of every development. Those news men who maintain strong sources he will always stay in advanced position.
Another student asked that first due to Tonu murder case the Bangladesh Bank reserve heist incident was hushed. Next Babul Akhtar incident pushed Tonu at the back hill. Next Holey Artisan incident pushed Babul Akhtar incident at the back. Whether the media are diverting our attention from the important incidents when the old happenings are lost in oblivion.
In reply Alamgir Hossain told that if there is a traffic jam now in front of ULAB we are to publish it today. If we publish it after three days then it loses its news value. However the news must have follow up and follow up of news stories is very important. Besides, he gave importance on the side stories of the main story.
In reply to another questioner Alamgir Hossain told that every news media should have skilled and devoted manpower and the editor must be sincere to his job and he should remain up dated of every incident.
Regarding the income of on line media, he informed that the income position is now better than before. The private organizations have set up new teams for on line advertisements with skilled people.
On transparency he told that if you check the copy of the reporters then it will be evident about it transparency of story. The organization is affected if there is no transparency.
Regarding breaking news while answering one student Mainul, he told that if we look at the mass media we will notice ‘Feared’ has become very much known. In any incident of dead or injuries it is told that so many people are feared to be killed or injured. Later on if that speculation becomes incorrect then its explanation is being given.
He criticized the bit system of reporting by the news men and added that a reporter must work in all sectors and gradually he will be specialized in particular sector. Now one reporter will say that I work in this bit. If you go through the International media then you will see that the reporters are being appointed as trainees and gradually one is becoming specialized in a bit.
He informed that in our country the number English news readers are less. However if the news product in English media is good enough then readers will increase, he added.
In reply to another student he said that hundreds of on line papers are growing every day like toadstool depending copy paste tactics. Do we read these! However if there is no money those toadstool like online will be lost.
After the question –answer session of Alamgir Hossain, assistant Professor of Media Studies and Journalism of the University Dr. Anisuzzaman told the students that there are differences between the writings of books and the reality.
Now you have learnt about the realities of on line media from the founder of the on line journalism in the country.
Earlier at the introduction stage Associate Professor Dr. Mubassar Rahman told that Alamgir Hossain has begun on line news media when people of this country were quite ignorant about it.
He started bdnews24.com in 2004 bringing the stone rolling. Before that he worked in the daily Ittefaq for 32 years.
In the Meet the Editor function, the head of department of Media Studies and Journalism of the University Professor Jud William R Genilo and the departmental teachers were present.
BDST: 1833 HRS, July 14, 2016
Edited by Shahjahan
