Kathmandu, July 10- Media experts have stressed the need of further autonomy of Press Council Nepal and respectable journalism. The journalism could be made more effective and responsible, they added during a programme on ‘Press Council Nepal’s Role on Protection of Press Freedom’ here Saturday.
Senior journalist Babita Basnet suggested Press Council not to engage in monitoring of social networking sites. The autonomy of Council was questioned now, she wondered.
Similarly, Chairperson of Sancharika Samuha, Nitu Pandit, viewed time has come to whet thorough debate on how professional code could be brought under certain rule.
Noted journalist Tirtha Koirala opined that Council needs to pay heed to the voices of media consumers. Whether the people have got right information should be assured. The current code of conduct is not invoked in case of cartoon, he said, suggesting the Council to shun its role of classification of newspapers.
At the programme, former Chairperson of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and current Chairperson of Nepal Television, Dr Mahendra Bista, viewed law is the determinant of press freedom. Therefore, Press Council should be aware in course of framing law, he suggested.
Similarly, former Chairperson of FNJ, Shiva Gaunle, said Press Council should limit its role on monitoring the code of conduct of Nepali press. Press Chautari Chairperson Ganesh Basnet suggested the Council that it did more homework before regulating social networking sites.
On the occasion, Chairperson of Print Media Network, Dev Prakash Tripathi, argued that the ‘notion of everybody can be a journalist’ has contributed to reduced image of journalism and its credibility.
Former General Secretary of FNJ, Ujir Magar, said Council’s role was challenged after the province governments brought new policy on media.
Published Date : 10 Jul 2021
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