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Practical Inputs
The High-level Media Commission submits its report to the government to reform the media sector
By A CORRESPONDENT
In a rare show of collective commitment, the 13-member High-level Media Commission has not only completed their assignment (of preparing a recommendation report) on time, but also did it unanimously.
The Committee headed by Radheshyam Adhikari presented their 40-page report to the Prime Minister on September 15. The report provides suggestions on various aspects of media such as advertisement policy, categorization and investment.
"Although there were 13 members in the commission, we could prepare the report on consensus within the allotted time of 2 months," said Babita Basnet, a member of the commission and president of Sancharika Samuha.
Explaining the salient features of the report, Basnet said that it provides concrete recommendations about regulating the media sector. "This time we have thoroughly studied about all kinds of media including print, electronic as well as online," she said. This is the first time that digital medium has been studied from the media perspective. It is a high time that authorities regulated digital media, as online news portals have assumed substantial significance as viable means of journalism.
The report also provides suggestions about regulating the advertisement. "The report suggests dividing government advertisement into three categories, namely commercial, public information and public interest. Among them, the latter two will have to be provided proportionally to all.”
On gender front, the report advises that government media agencies employ at least 33 percent of women. It also suggests promoting those private media houses who employ 33 percent women, said Basnet.
The issue of foreign investment in media has generated huge debates in the country in the past. "The report also suggests about foreign investment in media sector. It suggests that less than 50 percent of foreign investment be allowed in a transparent manner along with ensuring that Nepali citizens are employed in decision-making level," she said, adding, "If the recommendations of the report are implemented, they will bring a drastic change in Nepalese media sector."
Adds, another member of the Commission Raghu Mainali, “For the first time, the report talks about diffusing the media-hold from Kathmandu to mofussils. Till now, it is the media in Kathmandu that shape debates on every kind of policy. As a result, a minister representing far west region is compelled to go by how the Kathmandu-media views his policies. We want to bring about a change in this situation so that the minister will start taking into consideration what media in Nepalgunj have to say about his policies.”
Mainali, coordinator of Save the Independent Radio Campaign, added that the report, if implemented, would also be helpful to FM radios. The report also suggests that the government form Information and Communication Commission to regulate the media sector.
After the report was submitted, the State Minister for Information and Communication Dilendra Prasad Badu vowed to implement the report's suggestion soon. He said the government is planning to table a bill in the parliament to bring into force the Right to Information.
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