Encouraging Report
FREE press is very young in Nepal. Only after the advent of
multi-party democracy in 1990, free press witnessed rapid progress. Within 12 years of
democracy, the number of broad-sheets has reached 11 from 2, not to mention the rise in
the number of weeklies and tabloid dailies. Similar progress has been made in the sector
of electronic media with the emergence of the increasing number of F. M. radio stations
and television channels. In fact, the media, both electronic and print, have recorded
tremendous progress. Film, a powerful media, has been flourishing well during these years.
Despite a geometrical growth both in quality and quantity, Nepalese press is not free from
crisis and controversies. A report presented the other day by the Task Force, constituted
to suggest ways to develop the press, to Minister for Information and Communications and
General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey has suggested the possible remedies of the
problems facing the Nepalese press as well as the Nepalese journalists.
It seems the report left no stone unturned while identifying
the problems of the Nepalese press and recommending the necessary solutions. The report
includes suggestions ranging from as to what sort of relation should exist between the
state and the press to what role the government has to play to promote the press and to
make it self-reliant together with what sort of advertisement policies are essential for
the promotion of the press. Besides, the task force has recommended measures for a
transparent and institutional investment for the ownership of the press, to establish
Journalists' Welfare Fund and Journalism Development Fund for the development of mass
media, build the capacity of journalists and to classify the newspapers at national,
regional and town levels. In sum, the report is encouraging for the development of a fair
press and capable journalists in the country. But, reports and recommendations alone are
not sufficient to produce the desired results unless they are implemented effectively. In
the past, too, such reports were prepared but most of them were limited only in paper not
in deeds. However, this time the Nepalese press sector is hopeful that all the
recommendations made by the Task Force will be implemented. Minister Pandey's assurance,
while accepting the report, that the government is fully committed to implementing the
suggestions has raised high hopes.
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