Minister Kharel urges journalists to practice responsible, accountable journalism

Bhaktapur, Jan 7: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel has emphasized the need for credibility, balance, and fact-based reporting in journalism.

Inaugurating the 29th Establishment Day celebration of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Bhaktapur chapter, here today, the Minister who also serves as the Government Spokesperson questioned the credibility of reports claiming that he would be competing in the election.

He reiterated that the election scheduled for March 5 would be conducted in an impartial, free, and fair manner. He also urged journalists to cover election-related news in line with journalistic principles, norms, and values.

The Minister said he has not yet decided whether to contest the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5.

He clarified that, as of now, he has neither decided to contest the election nor joined any political party. “I have neither discussed this matter with any political party nor made any commitments,” he said.

Stating that the main priority of the Sushila Karki-led government is to conduct the election successfully, the Minister said that he, along with other members of the Cabinet, is focused on ensuring that the election is held in a free, fair, and impartial environment.

Emphasizing the need for credibility, balance, and fact-based reporting in journalism, he reiterated that the election scheduled for March 5 would be conducted in an impartial, free, and fair manner. He also urged journalists to cover election-related news in line with journalistic principles, norms, and values.

The Minister further said that effective voter education, fair conduct of the election, nomination of capable candidates, proper voting practices, the importance of high voter turnout, and the election of good leadership become crucial as the election approaches. He added that the role of the media would be vital in achieving these objectives.

Minister Kharel said the media should write news on issues as why the country could not develop and who is responsible for it despite the fact that so many political changes and practice of many forms of governance since 2007 BS.

“There was the Panchayat system, democracy was reinstated, then there was Loktantra followed by the republican system of governance. So many people were in the helm of government. There were so many ministers, but why could not the nation progress. Why did not the condition of the people improve and why the Gen Z uprising warranted, and why so many people laid down their lives in the movements, the media should write on these.” the Communications Minister suggested on the occasion.

Stating that the country is looking for a change, he said, “The country seeks change, and there should be no more bloodshed for change. The days for our brothers and sisters having to die should not return. The circumstances demanding sacrifice should not arise again. In the current adverse conditions, all parties should be responsible and make good use of the House of Representatives election to be held on March 5.”

Referring to the context that media in Nepal has not been able to move toward professionalism and commercialism due to the large number of outlets, Minister of Communications Kharel said, “There are about 13,000 journalists and 13,000 media outlets, or maybe even more, in our country. How can this be sustainable, who can be trusted, who should be believed, is 13,000 media outlets necessary for the country or not, can it be sustained or not, how to preserve these media outlets, we all need to be serious about this.”

He said that due to the media, people are becoming victims of ‘misinformation’, ‘disinformation’ and ‘fake news’, and it is time to think about how to discourage this and how to bring professionalism in journalism.

Executive Chairman of the National News Agency, Dharmendra Jha, expressed the view that press freedom and freedom of expression need to be understood differently, emphasising that as media professionals responsible for conveying truthful, impartial and balanced news and guiding the country on the right path, we must perform our roles accordingly.

Suresh Shrestha, Minister for Culture and Tourism of Bagmati Province, stated that problems have arisen in recent days due to popular journalism neglecting the facts and urged for responsible and accountable journalism.

Other speakers including Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur Umesh Kumar Dhakal, Central Vice President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Ummid Bagchan, Chief of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality Surendra Shrestha, FNJ Valley Province President Tenish Rekka, FNJ Kathmandu President Shobha Aryal, Lalitpur President Ramhari Karki, senior journalist Kabir Rana, FNJ Bhaktapur Branch President Sundar Shilpakar and former President Narayan Sundar Kilambu, and journalist Peshal Acharya, who was honoured on the occasion, expressed their views on journalists’ rights and interests, emphasising on responsible and accountable journalism.

On the occasion, journalist Peshal Acharya was awarded the Late Bhagwandas–Rajkumar Maharjan Memorial Journalism Award, Leela Shrestha received the Active Women Journalism Award, and Binod Koju was given the Late Maiyadevi Shilpakar Memorial Journalism Award.