Media’s Responsibility
MEDIA, both print and electronic, have undoubtedly a great
role to play not only for the physical development but also for the consolidation of
democracy in a country like Nepal where economy, like peace and security situations, is
almost in tatters. Both public and private media have equal responsibility of informing
the sovereign people on important issues, national or international, of their interest.
Private publishing houses and FM radio stations have flooded and flourished under the
freedom of multi-party democracy reestablished by the People’s Movement in 1990. And
especially FM radios, which are community based, have greater importance, as the people in
the far and remote areas of the country have yet to receive the state-run Radio Nepal
transmissions. Since electronic media can shape and influence the public opinion more
effectively, such radio stations need to refrain from producing and broadcasting the
programmes that provoke public sentiment and incite them to disturb peace. Apart from
entertainment, their task is also to inform and educate the commoners. They should,
therefore, focus on the production of programmes that aim at promoting national interests,
and preserving national heritage, culture, and language among others. In this context, the
opinion expressed by Information and Communications Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta the
other day in Pokhara is highly relevant. At a programme organised to mark the completion
of 100 days of transmission by Annapurna FM Radio, Minister Gupta said that as the
electronic media is highly sensitive its misuse might adversely affect society adding that
private radio stations should make efforts to banish social aberrations and stabilise
democracy. "The private FM stations and newspapers have a great role to play in
promoting Nepali art, culture and literature, dissemination of information and promotion
of public awareness. " He also clarified the government had no intention of
controlling the media, rather it was considering to provide it protection and make it more
effective.
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