Kathmandu, May 15: Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Bikram Timilsina, has assured that government would not take any move that breaches the fundamental rights of citizens like freedom of press and expression.
“Government is fully aware that press freedom is a fundamental pillar of democratic system. However, it is for the initiatives to make media sector more responsible, dignified and professional,” he reminded a delegation of Sancharika Samuha, a group of women journalists at the Ministry, Singh Durbar today.
The Minister reiterated government’s commitment to press freedom. But it is imperative for media and citizens both to realize responsibility while exercising freedom of expression. “Media carries social responsibility when it exercises freedoms. Sensitivity in news production and presentation is equally vital,” he viewed.
According to the Minister, the media sector has witnessed a host of challenges in recent times, and the Ministry is serious for reform in entire communication field. “For this to happen, cooperation between the organizations working for journalists’ rights and the State is necessary so that journalism could be made further credible, dignified and professional,” he said, underlining urgency of fact-based and responsible journalism to boost democratic system.
In his observation, some media were presenting content on women, children and social issues in a very reckless and insensitive manner, which he asserted, would create negative impact on social psychology. “The growing trend of sensational and insensitive media presentation on sensitive issues needs to be eliminated,” he urged the media persons. The journalism requires further responsibility also in the wake of increasing influence of content produced and disseminated via social media and digital platforms. The recent trend of click bait, inflated presentation and spread of baseless information are sheer digression from journalistic norms and code of conduct, the essential canon of journalism.
The Minister however pledged efforts to enforce the provisions relating to minimum wage of journalists as mentioned in the Working Journalists Act. The Ministry was for ending the trend of non-payment to working journalists. The problems of unsafe environment and violation of labour rights at media houses would be addressed gradually. Minister Timilsina informed that the government was for making the distribution of government advertisement systematic, transparent and standard. The trend of distributing advertisements based on one’s undue access should be ended, he reminded.
Chairperson of the Sancharika Samuha, Kamala Panthi, shared the problems faced by media sector in the country of late. The profession was getting unsafe. Many journalists were reporting that they were unpaid by the media houses, while the female journalists are bound to work in an increasingly hostile situation.
She sought government’s seriousness against discrimination against female journalists. Issues of workplace risk and online harassment also warrant attention. Panthi also complained that some media outlets were presenting news in an exaggerated and sensational manner, thereby belittling women rights and dignity.
