Farzana Binte Hossain has been elected as the Chairperson of the Bangladesh chapter of the international organization Voice of Media. The core principle of Voice of Media is the development of journalists and journalism. With this guiding mantra, Farzana and her team aim to work for the welfare of professional journalists, journalism, and the media in Bangladesh.

The international organization, which believes in the slogan “Fight for Journalists and Journalism,” has its current headquarters in Mumbai, India. Voice of Media operates in 98 countries across all continents, working through full-fledged committees to promote the development of journalism and journalists. The organization has identified five key areas of concern for journalists through research, including overall development, health, children’s education, skill development, and post-retirement planning. Positive journalism is essential as it forms the foundation of public opinion. To achieve this, Voice of Media consistently works across national boundaries to create a strong network among journalists.

In her long career in print and television journalism, Farzana Shobha has received numerous awards, fellowships, and honors from both national and international organizations. Notable among them are the India-Bangladesh Friendship Award, the Vashani Memorial Award 2012, and the Fred Hollows Foundation Journalist Award. In addition, Farzana has been a vocal advocate for women’s empowerment and children’s rights. She has received the Violence Against Women and Girls Award 2018, the Meena Media Award, and the Deutsche Welle Young Media Journalist Award.

Farzana Shobha is also the convener of the Dhaka Metropolitan Journalists Forum and is serving her second term as the Vice President of the South Asian Journalists Forum. She is a permanent member of several journalist organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists, the National Press Club of Bangladesh, the Broadcast Journalist Center, and the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.

With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Farzana Binte Hossain has established herself as an expert political analyst. Her articles have been published in various media outlets across South Asia, including India and Nepal. She has participated in international conferences such as the 74th and 77th United Nations General Assemblies, the UN Climate Conference, the International Food Conference, and the Asian Development Summit.

Farzana shares that these experiences will help her fulfill her future responsibilities. Voice of Media, a platform that addresses the personal and professional issues of journalists in Maharashtra, India—such as health, children’s education, housing, skill development, and post-retirement planning—has now included Bangladesh within its scope. Farzana aims to work for positive journalism, press freedom, peaceful and safe journalism, research, and media innovation. She emphasizes that wherever issues have arisen in journalism in the past, Voice of Media has conducted thorough research and taken responsibility for solving them with the help of journalists.