The recent list includes such thought-provoking and mind-blowing titles as "From Watergate to Monicagate: Ten Controversies in Modern Journalism and Media" by Herbert N Foerstel. The book's first three chapters: "Monopolistic Control of Journalism," "Public Relations and The News," and "Spies In The Media" are simply fascinating. The contents of the chapter "Spies In The Media" jolted me. This will be dealt with in a separate article on another occasion.

For the purpose of this piece of writing, I am more interested in a very old title, a 1947 publication by the University of Chicago Press. This is a small 139- page volume, titled: "A Free and Responsible Press". This is a report by the commission on the Freedom of The Press and is more popularly known as The Hutchins Commission report on Freedom of The Press in the USA. This is considered a landmark document in the history of American Journalism. Robert M Hutchins, Chancellor, the University of Chicago, was the Chairman of the Commission.

Before I mention the names of the other distinguished members of the Commission, it will be appropriate at this stage to briefly mention how and under what circumstances this landmark commission was constituted. I am tempted to quote the two beginning paragraphs from the foreword of the commission's report by Robert M Hutchins himself. He wrote: "In December 1942, Henry R Luce, of Time Inc. suggested to me an inquiry into the present state future prospects of the Freedom of the Press. A year later, this commission, whose members were selected by me, began its deliberations."

The other paragraph which runs as follows, is more heartening: "The inquiry was financed by grants of $200, 000 from Time Inc. and $15, 000 from Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. the money was disbursed through the University of Chicago. Nether Time Inc., Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. nor the University of Chicago has had any control over or assumed any responsibility for the progress or the conclusion of the inquiry.

The beauty of the whole matter is that a US university chancellor and a group of intellectuals did not set themselves up for the task. The idea, the initiative and resources for the enterprise came from one of America's giant media organisations and media tycoons. Although the commission's inquiry included all agencies of Mass Communications, such as newspapers, radio, books and magazines, motion pictures, etc. its central report was largely concerned with the newspapers.

The Commission spent three years and came out with the warning that only a responsible press can remain free.

To give the readers a feel of the composition of the commission, following are the names of the other members of the commission: Zechariah Chaffe, Jr., Professor of Law, Harvard University- Vice Chairman, John M Clark, Professor of Economics, Columbia University, John Dickinson, Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania, William E Hocking, Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, Harvard University, Harold D Lasswell, Professor of Law, Yale University, Archibald Macleish, formerly Assistant Secretary of State, Charles E Merriam, Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, The University of Chicago, Reinhold Niebuhr, Professor of Ethics and Philosophy of Religion, Union Theological Seminary, Robert Redfied, Professor of Anthropology, The University of Chicago, Beardsley Ruml, Chairman, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Arthur M Schlesinger, Professor of History, Harvard University, George N Shuster, President, Hunter College. Besides, there were four foreign advisors.

The commission held that "only a responsible press can remain free." It went on to emphasise, "morally considered the freedom of the press is conditional -- conditional on the honesty and responsibility of the writer, broadcaster, publisher. A man who lies, intentionally or carelessly, is not morally entitled to claim the protection of the First Amendment."

The fundamental theme of the Hutchins Commission report is that freedom can survive only if media-men fulfil their responsibilities. Freedom can survive if media-men inform their audience fully and fairly. Freedom can survive when the media take honest stand on issues and problems that affects the lives of the people.

The media is always a critic of other institution and individual. It draws its rights from the constitution. But what happens when it overplays its role in the name of freedom of expression. What happens when it takes the role of the propagandist to promote its own economic and political agenda?

The media in Bangladesh in general is coming under intense public scrutiny. The press in particular is no longer considered the guardian of the public trust. It is no longer of the Fourth Estate; rather a fourth branch either of the government or of the opposition. There is now a growing concern about the crumbling credibility of the media. There are now widespread allegations that the media organisations are now cheapening the value of their products. There is a general public distrust of the media. Our media is not forthright; it does not have the courage to take a firm stand on issues of national and societal concern.

It is now time that some right- thinking people both in the media and outside should focus on some of the basic questions, problems, issues and concerns of journalism and the media in Bangladesh. There is an urgent need to promote and elevate standards of our journalism. Besides, when the people in the media will be sensitive about their rights and responsibilities, a better balance will be restored.

However, the problems of the media cannot be solved by other agencies, such as the government. It is more a responsibility of sensible and right thinking people in society including in the media itself to make the media accountable and responsible. The fact is, as an institution, the media must also receive its own due share of criticism. My proposal, in the main is to have some kind of an independent forum, a Commission of open criticism and appraisal of the performance of the media in Bangladesh. The Hutchins Commission can serve as a useful guide as to the composition and financing of the Commission.

I am sure many of our respected editors, owners and senior journalists are familiar with the Hutchins Commission Report and its recommendations. As a media researcher, I just took the opportunity to remind them of the task and its urgency. I only hope that my thoughts and ideas will spur some discussions on the subject and will eventually set the tone for the big task.

A former journalist, Quazi Abdul Mannan is a Fulbright Scholar and Professor, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka.