Corporate houses need strong PR wings

As lack of access to information hampers proper news coverage, speakers at a workshop in Dhaka yesterday called for setting up of strong public relations wings in corporate houses.

They also said the companies should practise corporate social responsibility (CSR) for their sustainable development.

They were speaking at the workshop organised by Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) with support from Manusher Jonno. Representatives from banks, insurance, telecommunication, real estate companies, chambers and print and electronic media took part in the workshop.

One-month newspaper content analysis, assessment of newspaper gatekeepers and corporate sector, and findings derived from three roundtables were presented in the workshop moderated by Moazzem Hossain, editor of The Financial Express.

Dewan Sultan Ahmed, vice president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said governance in the state level is a pre-condition for ensuring governance in corporate houses.

Sadat Hossain Salim, managing director of Anwar Landmark Ltd, said media should also be governed by ethics and guidelines when it comes to publishing advertisements.

Farid Hossain, bureau chief of Associated Press (AP), said business reports lack depth and news value. He also said some advertisements, especially in electronic media, are destroying the country's social values.

Syed Yamin Bakht, general manager (information) of GrameenPhone Ltd, said local business news gets less coverage in media. He also said if the corporate PR wings influence news coverage, it is the failure on the part of the newspapers.

Lopa Rahman, senior research fellow of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), said CSR is not charity. Companies should continue with CSR activity, it is not one-off assistance, she added.

Nasir A. Chowdhury, managing director and CEO of Green Delta Insurance Ltd, said journalists need training for better corporate news coverage.

Mohd Sanaullah, company secretary of Singer Bangladesh Ltd, said recently launched Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines will help companies ensure corporate governance.

Pranab Saha, chief reporter of the Prothom Alo, said company press releases should be more informative for better coverage.

Mustak Hossain, manager of corporate affairs of Ranks Telecom Ltd, said the corporate houses should undertake issue-based training for journalists in collaboration with journalists' forum and associations.