BMM Team: Bangladesh's media landscape is characterised by a varied yet demanding atmosphere for media workers. The sector has been greatly impacted by the lack of legal protections, pressure from marketers, and government intervention. A research carried out from March 2020 to December 2021 showed a drop in advertising revenue, which prompted cost-cutting initiatives and more pressure to reach agreements with advertisers. Furthermore, media freedom has been further restricted and professional harassment has increased as a result of the government's tightening control and the passing of the Digital Security Act. These obstacles have made it more difficult for the media to raise public awareness, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. In order to preserve press freedom and the safety of media workers, it is important to pay attention to and take action in response to the challenges faced by Bangladeshi journalists in this intricate and demanding media environment._x000D_ _x000D_ Irregular Salary and Financial Strain_x000D_ _x000D_ In Bangladesh, the problem of inconsistent pay and financial hardship is a major topic that affects many industries, including media. Paying employees on a sporadic basis can cause financial instability for media professionals, which can negatively impact their well-being and possibly lower the calibre of their work. Broader economic problems in the nation, like black money and undeclared income, which can lead to financial imbalances and inequalities, make this problem worse._x000D_ _x000D_ There are already several obstacles facing Bangladesh's media environment, such as government meddling and a drop in ad revenue, which can put additional pressure on media organisations' financial resources and affect their ability to pay journalists' salaries. Inconsistencies in salary disbursements can also cause journalists' professional discontent and make it more difficult for them to carry out their jobs efficiently._x000D_ _x000D_ Overview of Salary Irregularities_x000D_ _x000D_ The prevalence of irregular salary payments among journalists in various media outlets in Bangladesh is a pressing issue that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, few journalists in Bangladesh were already facing financial crises due to the non-receipt of regular salary allowances, and this situation has become more pronounced during the pandemic. The pandemic has led to irregular salaries and layoffs of media workers in the country, with some media organizations implementing salary cuts and sending journalists on unpaid leave. These challenges have significantly impacted the financial stability of journalists in Bangladesh, reflecting a broader trend of woefully low salaries and irregular payment of salaries, as evidenced by a study where 30 percent of respondents reported experiencing frequent irregular salary payments. This prevalence of irregular salary payments underscores the urgent need to address the financial challenges faced by journalists in Bangladesh to ensure their well-being and the sustainability of the media industry._x000D_ _x000D_ Impact on Journalists_x000D_ _x000D_ For Bangladeshi journalists, the inconsistent salary payments have had a significant impact on their financial security and general well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the already difficult situations worse, resulting in wage irregularities, salary reductions, and layoffs in the nation's media outlets. Journalists' livelihoods have been severely harmed by this; several media professionals are now experiencing salary arrears and financial uncertainty, which exacerbates the financial strain already created by irregular revenue distributions._x000D_ _x000D_ The effects of these anomalies have been especially severe for female journalists, who have had to deal with underpayment, nonpayment of salary, and a lack of recognition in the field, which has made their already difficult financial and professional circumstances even worse. A declining working environment, more demands on journalists' time, and emotional discomfort have all been exacerbated by the frequency of irregular wage payments and the ensuing financial burden; many journalists are experiencing severe emotional strain and fear losing their jobs._x000D_ _x000D_ Inadequate Resources_x000D_ _x000D_ The lack of proper resources and outdated equipment can significantly hinder the work of journalists, affecting their ability to gather and report news effectively. Some of the challenges faced by journalists due to these resource constraints include:_x000D_ _x000D_ 1. Reduced investigative capabilities: Insufficient funding and resources can limit a journalist's ability to conduct thorough investigations and extensive research, which may result in in incomplete or inaccurate stories._x000D_ _x000D_ 2. Safety risks: Journalists may face increased risks while reporting in dangerous situations, as they may lack the necessary equipment and resources to protect themselves or their sources._x000D_ _x000D_ 3. Limited access to information: Inadequate resources can restrict a journalist's access to crucial information, as they may be unable to afford expensive databases, subscriptions, or access to exclusive sources._x000D_ _x000D_ 4. Inability to compete with larger outlets: Smaller media outlets with limited resources may struggle to compete with larger organizations that have more extensive resources and can afford to invest in state-of-the-art equipment._x000D_ _x000D_ 5. Lack of training and development: Insufficient resources can hinder journalists' ability to acquire new skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends, which may negatively impact their professional performance._x000D_ _x000D_ 6. Increased workload and stress: Journalists may be required to take on additional responsibilities or work longer hours to compensate for the lack of resources, leading to increased stress and potential burnout._x000D_ _x000D_ Corruption and Extortion:_x000D_ _x000D_ 1. Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit (I-Unit): Zulkarnain Saer Khan, a Bangladeshi journalist who worked with Al Jazeera's I-Unit, was part of the team that unearthed corruption at the highest level of power in Bangladesh[5]. Since then, Zulkarnain has worked with several media organizations, and his work has exposed high-ranking government officials' involvement in corruption._x000D_ _x000D_ 2. Lack of acceptance of women as journalists: Women are significantly underrepresented in the media in Bangladesh, with women comprising less than 7% of the journalist community and occupying only 0.6% of editorial and management positions. This lack of representation can contribute to underpayment and non-payment of wages, further exacerbating the financial and professional challenges faced by female journalists._x000D_ _x000D_ 3. Layoffs and salary cuts: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many journalists in Bangladesh faced layoffs, salary cuts, and irregular payment of salaries. This financial strain can make journalists more susceptible to engaging in corrupt practices to gather information or advance their careers._x000D_ _x000D_ Public trust is undermined and journalism's credibility is harmed by media corruption. As stated by 46% of journalists, the main difficulty facing modern journalism is the public's lack of faith in the news. Journalists who are struggling financially as a result of irregular pay and scarce resources are more likely to take part in unscrupulous activities like accepting bribes or extortion. Public trust may be further eroded as a result of tainted reporting, the propagation of false information, and a reduction in the calibre of journalism._x000D_ _x000D_ The COVID-19 epidemic has had a major effect on Bangladesh's media environment, resulting in a drop in ad revenue and a compromise of journalistic ethics in order to sell commercials. In particular during the pandemic, the media's capacity to promote public awareness has been hampered by pressure from both the government and advertising. The public's trust has been further undermined by these difficulties, which have led to a reduction in the media sector's reputation in Bangladesh._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Publishing News for Monetary Gains:_x000D_ _x000D_ Lack of funding for journalists has resulted in a drop in journalistic quality and the propagation of false information._x000D_ _x000D_ Concerns over the perceived editorial independence of news from financing sources have arisen in the United States as a result of charitable organisations' growing sponsorship for journalism. Similar concerns exist for journalists in Bangladesh, where a lack of funding and insufficient safety precautions can result in bodily and psychological suffering._x000D_ _x000D_ Journalists' journalistic integrity may also be compromised if they accept remuneration for publishing news articles that are favourable or biassed. Politicians in Cameroon, for example, have been known to affect news coverage through paid press conferences; journalists depend on these payments to make up for wages that are not paid._x000D_ _x000D_ Factors Contributing to Corruption_x000D_ _x000D_ Economic Pressures: Financial challenges contribute to journalists engaging in corrupt activities by exacerbating the pressure to compromise their professional standards and integrity. Some of the ways financial challenges can lead to corrupt practices include:_x000D_ _x000D_ 1. Reduced income: Journalists may face financial constraints due to irregular salaries, underpayment, and non-payment of wages, making them more susceptible to accepting payment for publishing biased or favorable news stories._x000D_ _x000D_ 2. Lack of resources: Insufficient funding and resources can limit a journalist's ability to conduct thorough investigations and extensive research, potentially leading to compromised reporting and the spread of fake news._x000D_ _x000D_ 3. Unsafe working conditions: Journalists may face increased risks while reporting in dangerous situations, as they may lack the necessary equipment and resources to protect themselves or their sources._x000D_ _x000D_ 4. Job insecurity: The loss of jobs or reduced staff numbers can lead to increased workloads and pressure on remaining staff, potentially contributing to the compromise of journalistic integrity._x000D_ _x000D_ 5. Lack of trust in the news: The decline in trust in the news can further exacerbate the challenges faced by journalists, as it may lead to a decrease in advertising revenue and reduced support for investigative journalism._x000D_ _x000D_ Absence of Ethical Standards: The media sector may engage in corrupt activities as a result of a lack of attention on ethical journalism brought on by scarce resources, low pay, and technological limitations. The media's ethical framework may be impacted by inadequate professional standards and quality control, which frequently results from budgetary limitations and compromises integrity and trustworthiness. This is especially troubling because it has the potential to destroy public faith in the media and, eventually, undermine journalism's core function of giving the public accurate and unbiased information._x000D_ _x000D_ Ethical compromises are more likely to happen in an environment when journalists experience difficulties including financial strain and inadequate resources. Sensationalism and the preference for attention-grabbing tales above ethical reporting can result from the erosion of professional standards and the growing pressure to compete in a crowded media market. Furthermore, the media industry's declining ethical standards may be exacerbated by the opaqueness of funding and advertising practices._x000D_ _x000D_ Conclusion_x000D_ _x000D_ The search results demonstrate the magnitude and diversity of the difficulties faced by Bangladeshi journalists. Inadequate resources, hazardous working conditions, irregular compensation, underpayment or nonpayment of wages, and other issues have all led to the decline of journalistic credibility and integrity. These issues have been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in pay irregularities, layoffs, and salary reductions for a number of the nation's media businesses._x000D_ _x000D_ Due to a lack of funding, low pay, and technical capabilities, ethical journalism may not receive as much attention as it should, which can encourage unethical behaviour in the media and further erode public faith in the media. Modern journalism is seriously threatened by the public's growing mistrust of the media, which puts more pressure on journalists to sacrifice their morality and ethical standards._x000D_ _x000D_ In order to address these issues, the Bangladeshi media landscape needs to undergo extensive reforms. Support from media organisations, government regulators, and the general public is also required to make sure that journalists have the tools, supplies, and training they need to carry out their jobs in a safe and efficient manner. The media may lessen the detrimental effects of budgetary limitations on journalists and create a more stable and professional media environment by encouraging accountability and openness in resource allocation and safety measures. Rebuilding public trust and maintaining the integrity of journalism depend on the promotion of moral principles and ethics.