A national public opinion survey on media has revealed that people rely more on mobile phones than conventional media for getting news.
“Overall, people haven’t lost trust in the media, but interference from political, government and influential persons is seen as a major obstacle in publishing objective news,” said a press release today signed by Mohammad Sayem Hossain, senior information officer of the Media Reforms Commission.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) conducted the survey from January 1-7, 2025, in accordance with the Media Reform Commission formed by the interim government. It sought opinions from 45,000 households aged over 10 in 64 districts across the country. This is the first such comprehensive national survey on media use in the country.
It said the survey was conducted mainly to obtain a picture of readers, viewers, and listeners’ opinions about the role of the media in the July Movement.
The survey found that although people used to read printed newspapers less, they now read online versions on mobile phones while they still keep their eyes on the television screen to get information about national disasters or crises.
It said the survey has expressed the desire to see the media independent, impartial, and free from government and political influence.
However, most respondents believe the government should control Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.
About 73 percent of the participants, while giving their opinions on media, said they do not read printed versions of the newspapers. Some 46 percent of them claimed that they do not feel the need to read newspapers.
It was found that 59 percent of respondents read the online version on their mobile phones even though they do not read printed versions of newspapers.
As many as 2.5 percent of respondents said they read the online version of newspapers on computers, laptops, or tabs.
88 percent of respondents said they use mobile phones to follow media. In this case, the rate of computer use for this purpose is 7 percent.
This rate is more than 53 percent for television. However, 65 percent of the people who participated in the survey said they watch television.
However, the relevance of radio as a medium for information is at its lowest point at present, and statistically, radio’s condition is more delicate.
The survey found that 94 percent of respondents do not listen to the radio, and 54 percent do not feel the need to listen to the radio.
About 35 percent of the participants mentioned the unavailability of radio sets.
Among social media, 31 percent of respondents keep confidence in Facebook and 16.5 percent in YouTube for news.
Meanwhile, most of them trust teachers more than the usual media to learn something or gain knowledge. In this case, teachers are also the most trustworthy for 42 percent of respondents.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk/BSS
