Communication experts are of the opinion that social networks including YouTube should focus on increasing access and social responsibility. The participants of the editor's dialogue organized by the Press Council Nepal on Friday on the impact of social media on journalism suggested that social responsibility should be made a central point in order to make the profession dignified, credible and sustainable.
Participating editors were of the view that along with the changes in information technology, the effects and challenges seen in social media including YouTube should be addressed.
It was not just running to increase the views, the journalists did not forget their responsibility towards the country and society. Social media users also have to understand this, said Kishore Nepal, the former president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, who participated in the program.
He mentioned that in recent times, there is a lack of elements that should not be in the news, and even the mainstream media is giving incomplete news.
He said that due to the non-implementation of the laws, there is a crisis in social media, new media and newspapers. He said that recently the government seems to be moving towards controlling social media and media.
He pointed out that recently the Press Council's surveillance and monitoring of the media through social media is becoming effective.
Balkrishna Basnet, chairman of the Press Council of Nepal, said that the media run through the YouTube platform is being monitored like other media. He expects suggestions from the editor dialogue on how to make it effective. Recently, the council has been monitoring some YouTube channels. He mentioned that if the word "media" is amended instead of the word "newspaper" in the law of the Press Council, the legal hurdle of monitoring all the media will be removed.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Bipul Pokharel said that social media has had an impact on news content, advertisements, readers, etc. in mainstream media. He said that the lack of monitoring, control and editing of the news content of YouTube and other social networks will have a negative impact on the society. President Pokharel said that the public welfare advertisement is not a donation but an advertisement.
Barakhari Media Editor-in-Chief Prateek Pradhan, who is also the president of Digital Media Society, said that everyone should be careful while commenting on any incident through social media.
Editor-in-Chief of Rashtiya Samachar Samiti Ekraj Pathak said that the council should pay more attention to prevent copy-paste journalism as it has made the profession untrustworthy. Laxman Humagai, chairman of the advertisement board, said that although advertising and media are connected to each other, there is not much discussion about it. He is of the opinion that no media should do it for free while transmitting content.
Senior journalist Shambhu Shrestha said that if the media is not connected with new technology, the crisis will increase. The Press Council has started the editor dialogue series since last July to address the latest dimensions and challenges of journalism. Deepak Khanal, Senior Administrative Officer and Spokesperson of the Council informed that it will be continued.
In the program coordinated by the Professional Journalism Study Center, the founder of the center, Kishore Nepal, journalist, Binu Subedi and Ruchi Shrestha gave a presentation.
Editors in the program were Gunaraj Luitel, Hari Bahadur Thapa, Arun Baral, Gajendra Budhathoki, Shivakumar Bhattarai, Raju Silwal, Bimal Gautam, Pushpahari Campa Rai, Matrika Paudel, Saroj Mishra, Kalpana Acharya, Prakas Rimal, Milan Timilsina, KP Dhungana, Padamaraj Joshi, Bishnu Gopal Kusi. , Upasana Ghimire, Jyoti JC along with brief suggestions on the topic.
90 people including editors and heads of newsrooms from print media, online, radio, TV, YouTube channel were participating. Presidents and representatives of various media organizations including Press Union, Press Chautari, Press Center, Samajwadi Press Organization, Madhesi Journalists Association, and Online TV Association were also present.
General Secretary of Sancharika Samuha Basanti Bastola said that some things in the family should not be told to the younger members, but now because of social media, everyone knows at once. Badri Sigdel, a central member of the International Federation of Journalists, said that while giving priority to freedom of expression, bodies like the Council should monitor and regulate the code of conduct. President of Samajwadi Press Organization Bishwamani Subedi opined that now readers are turning to social media after the credibility of other media has decreased.
