Whither Radio?

THE show cause notice issued by Supreme Court on Tuesday to relevant government agencies and private electronic media on a public interest litigation filed a day earlier has brought to the fore the issues that have been much discussed particularly in the community radio promoters’ circles in the country ever since Nepal’s first, and indeed, South Asia’s first non-government, non-commercial, independent radio station, Radio Sagarmatha, got the licence in early 1997 after a long struggle of almost five years. At the heart of the writ petition, filed by convenor of Community Radio Support Centre of Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists, lies this: the provisions under which electronic media outlets are made to pay royalty and renewal fee flies utterly in the face of the stated objectives of the country’s communication policy that unambiguously advocates community radio. When Communication Policy was formulated in 1992 by the country’s first elected government after the restoration of multi-party democracy, it was much hailed by votaries of community radio because it called for allowing private FM radio stations. Unfortunately, it has been an extremely uphill task to get the spirit of that forward-looking Policy translated into practice. The requisite conduciveness for the growth of Nepal’s community radio is conspicuous by its absence with the result that a scene where hundreds of community radio stations bloom in this country is not going to appear too soon. Prohibitive licence fee, royalty and renewal fee, among others, constitute a major set of disincentives to potential community radio broadcasters.

It has been over three years now since Nepal liberalised radiowaves. In this period, only eight private, commercial and non-commercial, radio stations have been established. Though opening the doors of radio certainly earns the past governments pats on the back, the rate at which radio is expanding is no cause for satisfaction. The lackadaisical bureaucratic attitude to promoting community radio is to be blamed for this. Going by the prevalent mindset, it is as if having in place National Broadcasting Regulations was all that the governments could do in order to encourage community radio. That is a patently wrong thinking. There is a need for active promotion of this medium and that encouragement should primarily come from the governments that have, one after another, however stated their conviction that in contexts like those of Nepal, radio was the only cheap and easy way to reach people who are largely illiterate and live in areas where the reach of print media and TV beams is difficult to extend to for various reasons. What better way to transmute that conviction into action by giving a fillip to community radio through eliminating the hurdles posed by restrictive provisions and phlegmatic licencing authority? Let’s hope the debate triggered off by the writ petition yields positive results.

Media’s Responsibility

DEMOCRACY was re-established in the country after a long struggle lasting more than three decades. In the struggle for democracy, the media played a significant role by helping the democratic forces and also creating awareness among the people. It must be remembered that it was very dangerous for journalists to fall out of favour with the powers during that period. Yet, they braved such dangers and continuously worked to restore multi-party system in the country. It was encouraging that the media sector also saw consequential growth after the dawn of democracy. Journalists were reassured of their fundamental rights and also the right to information. However, media people have realised that their contribution and responsibilities for the nation have not ended with the re-ushering in of democracy alone. They have an equally challenging role to play in the consolidation of the hard won system. Speaking as the chief guest at the meeting of the consultants of the Nepal Press Union the other day, Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel quite rightly reminded that as attempts were being made to weaken democracy, democratic journalists should generate awareness among the people against such conspiracies.

In recent times, there have been a spate of activities that go against the spirit of a democratic system. Groups challenging democracy, the present democratic Constitution and also resorting to violence have raised their heads to disturb the otherwise peaceful environment in the country. Like before, the press should generate public opinion against such forces and not allow them to destroy what has been attained with so much struggle and sacrifice. Of course, the press too should play a responsible role and carry out their duty in a dignified and credible manner. How the media people themselves conduct their behaviour, will go a long way in how they are looked at by the people. In no way should the media lose its credibility. But the government too must cooperate with the Fourth Estate and support it to see its healthy growth. In this regard, it is encouraging that the government is about to introduce a bill concerning the rights to information. This will help the media people disseminate news more effectively. With the joint efforts of the democratic forces and the media, there is no reason why the present challenges before the nation cannot be faced and resolved in an effective manner.