Unbridled online sites and YouTube to be regulated

Stakeholders have said that it is necessary to regulate the spread of false news through online and YouTube, which has been operating in Nepal lately.

This was stated by a speaker at a one-day program on Solidarity of Journalists, Jagran, and hearing of public grievances against the media held in Solukhumbu. Addressing the program chaired by Bhoj Raj Karki, acting president of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Solukhumbu branch, Bal Krishna Basnet, president of the Press Council Nepal, said that the council was doing its homework to control the problem due to the recent operation of YouTube and online. He said that the government should come up with a concrete plan to manage and regulate such YouTube channels as people's character is being killed in the hope of making money.

The Press Council has so far registered 3,002 online, 1,300 radio, 400 print, and two television operations. Councilmember Thakur Belwase said that the court of journalists is a council and any complaint and grievance can be lodged with confidence. Stating that Nepal's journalism has been collapsing recently due to the YouTube channel, he urged to emphasize clean journalism. He says that journalism is not about the profession but about prestige.

Addressing a similar program, Solukhumbu Chief District Officer Ganesh Bikram Shahi said that the situation in Nepal was weak despite the continuation of professional journalism in the district. He said that the regulatory body should be more active as journalists have to speak the voice of the people but now they have to flee when they see the camera.

Addressing the program, Kavit Katwal, Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Police Office, Solukhumbu, said that problems would be created when a journalist becomes an investigator himself. He said that the regulatory body should pay attention to the issue as it would affect the criminal investigation if the issues being investigated by the police are not covered in the media and resources are not protected.

Similarly, Manoj Kumar Shrestha, the outgoing president of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Solukhumbu, said that professional journalism has been started since 2061 BS. Narayan Kumar Shrestha, Founder President of Federation of Nepali Journalists, Solukhumbu, Lakpa Ji Sherpa, President of Federation of Nepali Journalists, Okhaldhunga, Dinesh Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Armed Police Force, Solukhumbu, and other media persons were present on the occasion.