A Brief Introduction
Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) founded in 1995, is the only professional body of all working reporters based in Bangladesh capital Dhaka, representing all newspaper, electronic media and news organizations. DRU is an independent and non-affiliate professional body, which is dedicated towards increasing the professional expertise and skills of newsmen. DRU also actively monitors
the freedom of reporters. One of the major aims of the Dhaka Reporters Unity is to provide a platform to work together under one umbrella for the improvement of the standard of journalism in our country and try to adhere to fair professional practices. Our intention is also to inculcate among members the need to maintain high ethical standards and strive to report accurately for enhancing the credibility of a free press, which is the voice of the people and the nation. As part of its efforts to develop and focus on professional expertise, DRU occasionally organizes discourses, training programs, workshops and computer courses. As the organization enters its fourteenth year, it intends to take some more specific and custom- made projects to enhance the professional expertise of the members. Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has a regular program, titled “Meet the Reporters” where diplomats, leaders of the ruling party, the opposition and people from various strata of the society face the reporters to respond to questions on various aspects touching our national life. DRU has also launched the first professional newsletter, “Reporters Voice”, to highlight activities in Bangladesh journalism and act as a springboard for debate and dissemination of activities related to the profession. DRU offers several awards each year for excellence in reporting in various fields, including Investigative, Business, Education, Crime, Sports, each carrying a prize money of Taka 50,000 which are offered by reputed organizations. It intends to further expand the area of awards. The organization also holds sports events, cultural activities grand picnic and get-togethers for the recreation of its members. DRU maintains an office in the city (8/4-A, Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Tel: 88-02-7169574, 88-02-9561040) which, besides acting as a Secretariat, provides space for holding press conferences and discussion meetings. It also houses a media center, library and canteen. It has also developed a website (www.dru.com.bd) which contains information about DRU activities and highlights and headlines of day-to-day important news in addition to ads of various companies. (Please visit our website and put your opinions). It regularly publishes a Comprehensive Directory containing names of its members and information on the media besides bringing out souvenirs and brochures on various occasions. DRU, which has a 21-member executive committee, is the first organization in Bangladesh that introduced fully computerized voting system and conducted its elections successfully in the past twelve terms.
