The Department of Media and Mass Communication (MMC) at the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) successfully hosted the 10th Communication and Journalism Educators Network (CJEN) Conference, marking the largest and most dynamic gathering in the network’s history.
Held on October 24–25, 2025, the two-day national event brought together over 200 participants — including educators, researchers, media professionals, and students from across Bangladesh — for a milestone celebration of scholarship and collaboration in communication and journalism education.
Organized in partnership with DW Akademie, the conference carried the theme “Media Transformed: Bangladesh at a Crossroads.” This year’s edition represented a major academic leap forward with 58 research paper presentations across multiple parallel technical sessions, underscoring the growing vitality of media scholarship in Bangladesh.
The conference opened on October 24 with an inaugural ceremony graced by Professor Dr. S. M. A. Faiz, Honorable Chairman of the Bangladesh University Grants Commission, as Chief Guest. Mr. Ishtiaque Abedin, Founder and Member of the Board of Trustees of AIUB, attended as Guest of Honor. The event was also joined by distinguished AIUB leaders including Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, Member, Board of Trustees; Professor Dr. Saiful Islam, Vice Chancellor; Professor Dr. Abdur Rahman, Pro Vice Chancellor; Professor Dr. Tazul Islam, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; Professor Dr. A. J. M. Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, Advisor, MMC Department; Dr. Manzur H. Khan, Proctor; and Professor Dr. Mohammad Zahidul Islam Khan, Registrar. The inauguration set a distinguished tone for the conference’s landmark 10th edition.
Following the opening, participants engaged in six parallel sessions tackling pressing issues such as media transformation, freedom of expression, digital content creation, social media impact, and the media’s role in the July uprising.
A key feature of Day One was the hands-on workshop “AI: Its Practice in Journalism and Animation,” facilitated by Mr. Ferdous Bin Ali, Co-founder of ViSIE and Consultant at DW Akademie, and moderated by Ms. Rani Ellen Ramos of AIUB. The day also highlighted a DW Akademie panel discussion on “New Trends in Journalism: Creative Approaches,” moderated by Ms. Jimi Amir, and a roundtable on “Press Freedom in Contemporary Bangladesh” moderated by Ms. Afroja Sultana of AIUB.
Day Two (October 25) focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence, misinformation, and journalism education, exploring cutting-edge topics such as AI-assisted journalism, news automation, and the role of AI in student learning.
The conference’s keynote address was delivered by Mr. Ramon Guillermo R. Tuazon, Secretary-General of the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), who spoke on “Six Triggers That Call for Reinventing Communication and Journalism Education and Practice in Asia.”
The day also featured a CJEN business session, “CJEN and the Way Forward: Challenges and Opportunities,” which engaged participants in charting the network’s future direction.
Another highlight was the second roundtable, “Employability of Journalism Graduates in the Age of AI,” featuring leading industry voices including Mr. Maruf Kabir (Viscom), Mr. Jabed Sultan (Prothom Alo), Mr. Fakhrul Arefeen Khan (Gorai Films), Mr. Md. Abdul Quayyum (UNDP Bangladesh), and Dr. Mohammad Shazzad Hossain (ULAB), moderated by Ms. Nasrin Akter of AIUB.
The closing ceremony was graced by Dr. Hasanul A. Hasan, Founder and Member of the Board of Trustees, AIUB, as Chief Guest.
The 10th CJEN Conference concluded with renewed commitments to academic excellence, collaboration, and innovation — marking a defining moment in the evolution of journalism and communication education in Bangladesh.
