Minister stresses effective media regulation to promote credible journalism

Kathmandu, July 27: The Ministry of Information and Communications on Monday held comprehensive discussions on a draft bill prepared to amend and integrate the media council-related laws.     

The meeting discussed issues arising from the changing media ecosystem, the expansion of digital journalism, press freedom, the credibility of journalism, and the need to establish an effective regulatory mechanism.     

During the discussion programme, Minister for Information and Communications Dr Bikram Timilsina underlined the need for a robust and effective regulatory body in a democratic society to promote independent, accountable and credible journalism.     

He said the role of such regulatory body should be strengthened to meet the needs of the time.     

Dr Timilsina stressed that the Bill should include clear provisions for regulating and controlling activities that violate the journalism norms, and values and the code of conduct.     

He was of the opinion of finalising the draft after detailed preparations so that it could contribute to the further effectiveness of the proposed Media Council, making it a stronger and competent regulatory body in compared to the existing Press Council.     

While freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental to a democratic system, they also entail responsibilities, the Minister said, underlining the need for striking a balance between freedom and accountability.     

The Bill should focus on the development of credible, impartial and fact-based journalism while protecting press freedom, he added     

Stating that lately public trust in the media has eroded to some extent, the Minister highlighted the need for effective self-regulation, strict implementation of the code of conduct and the promotion of accountable journalism to address the situation. He added that the proposed media council should also work towards enhancing the quality of journalism.     

Stating that rapid expansion of digital journalism has also led to growing media regulatory challenges, the Minister said that the draft would be finalised in a way that brings digital journalism, online platforms and new media within the ambit of regulation. He asserted that programmes to enhance digital literacy should also be prioritized by keeping them within the responsibility of the media council.     

Communications Minister Dr Timilsina shared that the bill would incorporate the issues that what type of mechanism is needed and what type of role media council can play for fact checking considering the challenges of wrong information, incomplete news and misleading content.     

A fact-checking system has becoming indispensable to maintain credibility as speed of information flow has become rapid in the digital era, he argued.     

The Communications Minister underlined that a clear legal basis would be established in the bill to make council institutionally capable, autonomous and accountable.     

Amendment and integration of existing laws is necessary to establish media council as an autonomous body with an objective of maintaining professional conduct in journalism, promoting self-regulation, developing and safeguarding fair, independent and accountable journalism, he opined.     

During the discussion, the participants expressed views that it should be clear that whether the government is going to bring new laws by establishing new media council or making preparation to amend the existing laws keeping the name of existing Press Council Nepal intact.     

They suggested the ministry to make the journalism sector more responsible, professional and effective and to enhance regulatory mechanism for this purpose.     

Secretary, joint-secretaries at the Ministry, Chairperson of Press Council Nepal, Director General of the Department of Information and Broadcasting, among other were present on the occasion.(RSS)