Remarks by Ambassador James F. Moriarty at the opening ceremony of the first in-house training program on “Ethics and Standards in Journalism” at the USAID-funded center for investigative journalism JATRI (Journalism Research and Training Initiative) August 10, 2009 Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Distinguished Senior Journalist, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Pro-Vice Chancellor, BRAC University, Barrister Manzoor Hasan, Director, Institute of Governance Studies, Members of the press, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen: Assalam-u-Alaikum, Namasker and Good Afternoon! It gives me great pleasure to be here today. I am proud that the United States Government helps to sponsor this center for investigative journalism, the first of its kind in Bangladesh. As President Obama has said; "Press freedom is like tending a garden, it's never done. It continually has to be nurtured and cultivated and the citizenry has to value it. It's one of those things that can slip away if we don't tend to it." In Bangladesh, JATRI is tending to that garden.
In just four months, the Journalism Training and Research Initiative, otherwise known as JATRI, has already trained 44 journalists. Those journalists have learned investigative techniques for print and broadcast media, multimedia reporting and storytelling, and journalistic ethics and standards. Today is a special day for JATRI as the center is launching investigative journalism training courses using its own facility. The media in Bangladesh – be it print, electronic or online – is dynamic and vibrant. It has become a key building block in the country’s continuing democratic development. Another important building block fell into place with the recent passage of the Right to Information Act of 2009. I congratulate Bangladesh for this achievement and I hope that the citizens and institutions of Bangladesh, especially the media, will make good use of this important act to further enrich democracy in this country. While it is easy to report a rumor or gossip, it takes real investigative skills to prove and report the truth. A journalist or media outlet’s credibility depends on reporting the truth. This is why the training program we are launching today on “Ethics and Standards in Journalism” is absolutely vital. Professional and accurate investigative journalism provides a powerful instrument for checks and balances in democracies around the world. Responsible news media give voice to the public and serve as a “watchdog” against corruption and abuse of power in all sectors. To be a true “watchdog,” journalists must promote the public interest by providing objective and accurate information. Responsible journalism, in turn, helps citizens, policymakers and institutions make responsible and informed choices and decisions. Today, virtually anyone can spread their views opinions to a wide audience through various media. Thus, the need for high ethics and standards among professional journalists has never been greater. The public must rely on these journalists to get to the bottom of the story and provide the truth. In addition to serving public interest, responsible and ethical reporting contributes significantly towards the long-term success of the media. People will support only those media they can trust. The United States of America, a longstanding friend of Bangladesh and its people, is committed to supporting the Bangladeshi media, helping it enhance its professional standards, and contributing to the development of Bangladesh. The launching of JATRI is a great example of that commitment and of our support to free, unbiased and credible journalism here. This innovative center is sponsored by USAID through its anti-corruption initiative, PROGATI. I would like to thank our partners - - BRAC University’s Institute of Governance Studies (IGS) and Development Alternatives Inc. -- for joining us in establishing JATRI. Through our collaborative efforts, we hope to help our media colleagues build a sustainable culture of discovery and reporting the truth; we also hope to help Bangladesh develop a solid pool of investigative reporters with the highest professional standards. I expect that today’s participants will use the training on “Ethics and Standards in Journalism” to establish the life-long approaches required for responsible journalism. I am confident you will put these lessons to good use. In closing, I want to thank the organizers for inviting me here today. The U.S. Government is proud to support this most important initiative. I wish great success to everyone involved in this endeavor. Thank you and Khoda Hafiz. | 
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