AUGUST 13, 2008 Biratnagar- Media persons, legal practitioners, human rights activists and intellectuals of the eastern region have stressed on the need of restructuring of the media policies and laws at a time when the country is heading towards federal structure. At a two-day workshop organized here on June 30 by Freedom Forum Kathmandu, on 'Journalism policies and laws', Political Science Reader Dr. Govinda Man Singh of Mahendra Morang Multiple Campus Dr. Govinda Man Singh Karki suggested the implementation of laws in favour of nation and people's welfare rather than appeasing the media world while formulating media policies and laws.
Press Council Member Yagya Sharma while pointing out restructuring of the media laws, suggested giving some share to media houses gradually by not privatizing RSS, the only news agency of the country.
Freedom Forum Central Chairman and study report presenter Taranath Dahal while emphasizing new style of policy making in the changed federal framework of the state called on the media to be responsible to the citizen as it is not superior to the citizens.
Other participating speakers underlined the wider need and significance of a comprehensive and integrated national policy on media and mass communication, adding that an intensive exercise is a must to establish this essence in a broad based way.
They also concluded that the analysis of the journalism related policy and laws followed by necessary recommendations incorporated in the book would be milestone for the reform of Nepali media sector.
In this connection, the book would prove to be a foundation which can contribute to pave the way for a future course in media restructuring in consistent with federal democratic Nepal, the participants commented.
Expressing their views and comments on the report were Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Morang Chapter Chairperson Shambhu Bhandari, senior journalists, Kaushal Chemjong and Murali Yadav and Biajaya Santosi Rai, among others.
Altogether 50 individuals, including media workers, lawyers, civil society people and intellectuals of the eastern region of Nepal participated in the workshop presided over by Freedom Forum, Biratnagar Chairperson RP Sitaula.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022