Media experts have stressed the need for 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 engage in monitoring social networking sites. The autonomy of Council was questioned now, she wondered.
Similarly, the Chairperson of Sancharika Samuha, Nitu Pandit, viewed that time has come to whet thorough debate on how professional code could be brought under certain rules.
Noted journalist Tirtha Koirala opined that Council needs to pay heed to the voices of media consumers. Whether the people have got the right information should be assured. The current code of conduct is not invoked in the case of cartoons, he said, suggesting the Council 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 the law as the determinant of press freedom. Therefore, Press Council should be aware in course of framing a law, he suggested.
Similarly, former Chairperson of FNJ, Shiva Gaunle, said Press Council should limit its role in monitoring the code of conduct of the 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 the 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.
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