Campus journalists in Bangladesh play a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability within universities, yet they operate under multiple structural constraints, this is highlighted in a mixed-method study conducted by Bangladesh Media Monitor. Based on data from 118 campus correspondents across 17 public and private universities, the study identifies three major crises, financial insecurity, security risks and institutional apathy. Around 65 percent of respondents receive no remuneration, 72 percent reported facing direct threats or harassment, and only 22.6 percent of those affected received any form of support from their respective media organizations.
The qualitative findings indicate that while ideological commitment to journalism remains strong among young people (93.2 percent), 59 percent are unwilling to pursue it as a full-time profession due to insecurity and economic instability. This growing disillusionment is pushing the profession into a state of “precarity” or structural uncertainty. Additionally, more than 51 percent of respondents reported negative impacts on their academic performance and the extremely low participation of women (only 7 respondents) highlights significant gender disparity. The study recommends structural reforms, including institutional protection, a fair remuneration framework and the implementation of a collaborative approach between university administrations and media organizations.
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