Journalism is evolving rapidly with mobile reporting, AI, and digital storytelling reshaping the field. To explore this transformation, we spoke with Jamil Khan, Associate Professor at Daffodil International University. With extensive academic experience and international exposure, he has trained over 2,000 journalists.
Khan’s journalism journey began in Russia, where he translated news for Voice of Russia before becoming a Prothom Alo correspondent. Later, he transitioned into academia, earning a PhD while teaching in Moscow. Despite opportunities abroad, he returned to Bangladesh with a vision—to revolutionize journalism by integrating new media technologies and fostering ethical reporting practices.
Innovative Journalism & The Digital Shift
Khan defines innovative journalism as leveraging technology for better reporting. “Journalists now use smartphones as primary tools to report, edit, and instantly publish stories,” he says. However, the rise of mobile and social media has changed audience behavior—people consume news via social feeds, often without visiting traditional sites. This shift presents challenges, particularly misinformation. “Without media literacy, people can’t differentiate between reliable and false information,” Khan stresses, advocating for verification education from the school level.
Challenges in Modern Journalism & Democracy
Journalists face pressures from political influence, ownership bias, and the race for speed over accuracy. “In many cases, accuracy comes second to speed, which damages trust,” Khan warns. He emphasizes journalism’s role in democracy: “Without a free press, there’s no real democracy.” True press freedom, he argues, requires political stability and democratic practices.
The Future: AI & Journalism Education
Khan sees AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, journalism. AI helps analyze audience behavior, create graphics, and summarize data while journalists provide human storytelling. He urges journalism programs to integrate AI, programming, and sustainable journalism to prepare students for industry shifts.
Conclusion
Khan envisions a future where journalists balance technology with ethics. “Journalism and democracy go hand in hand. Without a free press, there’s no real democracy. And without innovation, journalism can’t survive the digital age,” he concludes.
