Experts’ panel furnishes recommendations to Press Council

A panel of experts formed by the Press Council Nepal (PCN) for the reforms in monitoring journalists’ code of conduct has submitted its report. The task force constituted on July 4 submitted the report with recommended actions in 10 days on Sunday.

Experts’ panel member and former President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Taranath Dahal expressed his confidence that the Press Council Nepal (PCN) would immediately initiate executing reformative actions based on the recommendations of the report.

Dahal further informed that recommendations regarding online media operated – being classified or not – were provided taking reference from the existing Council practice, journalists’ code of conduct and ongoing regulatory actions as well as the country’s legal framework and international practices.

Likewise, another member and FNJ’s former President Mahendra Bista shared that recommendations were furnished in the areas related to newer dimensions of Nepali journalism, social media and regulation of legacy and new media.

Another expert member Babita Basnet said the report had incorporated evolving issues related to the online and YouTube.

FNJ President Bipul Pokharel expressed his hope that the recommendations of the experts’ panel would be spectacular for the PCN and FNJ along with all categories of the media and citizens at large.

Receiving the report, PCN Chairperson Balkrishna Basnet noted that the experts’ panel was entrusted with the responsibility by realizing its necessity and expressed commitment to adopt and execute the recommendations for reforms. He further said, “The report-furnished recommendations would be taken into account in a way to address emerging challenges of the media sector and safeguard the freedom of expression in accordance with the laws”.

The PCN had formed the experts’ panel comprising senior journalists, Dahal, Bista and Basnet with a mandate to prepare a report with recommendations.