Minister Sharma: Journalism Cements Democracy Impartially

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has said healthy, impartial and dignified journalism cements democracy. There would be no meaning of political freedom in absence of freedom of expression, she shared.

 Addressing a programme organised on the occasion of 54th anniversary of Press Council Nepal here today, Minister Sharma mentioned that political freedom and freedom of expression are related with each other.

"I am confident that you journalists would move ahead in order to make democracy and republic further strong through media", she stressed. The Communications Minister believed the Press Council had been encouraging journalists to follow the code of conduct in order to develop dignified and responsible journalism by protecting and promoting press freedom.

Stating that discussion was underway regarding restructuring of the Press Council in order to make Nepali journalism more responsible and accountable in the changed context, she suggested the Council to be more focused on regulation and self-regulation of the journalism sector.

Also the Spokesperson of the government, Sharma opined, "Control of media is beyond the imagination in democracy. What is now to be done is regulation in the self-regulation framework. Experts of the mass media sector have suggested that the Media Council Act should be brought to take ahead the press freedom, freedom of expression and development of dignified journalism.

" Sharing the information that the journalism sector of the country has witnessed much development as compared to other sectors in recent periods, the Communications Minister expressed the view that challenges of the overall journalism sector should also be reviewed.

 The Ministry has passed significant laws including cyber security, she shared.

On the occasion, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Bipul Pokharel, mentioned that the journalism sector should alert all sectors while Council Chairperson Bal Krishna Basnet stressed the need of making the journalism sector more responsible and technology-friendly.

 Council's annual report and publication 'Samhita' were also unveiled on the occasion. ----