National 12 (Spotlight Weekly)

Award For Commitment

A prominent professional who helped change the face of Nepalese journalism wins the prestigious Magsaysay Award

By KESHAB POUDEL

Koirala : A man of commitment

Eighteen years ago, when this scribe was a bachelor's degree student of journalism at R.R. Campus, Bharat Dutta Koirala walked into the class-room not with chalk and duster, but with a bundle of newspapers.

In the midst of students bored with writing down notes on the theories and practice of journalism, Koirala, then executive chairman and general manger of Gorkhapatra Corporation, used a different way of teaching. Distributing the newspapers to all 14 students, Koirala asked them to identify stories related to development activities and the lives of the people.

This week, Koirala's photograph appeared in daily newspapers, having won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award. Established in honor of the third president of the Philippines, the award recognizes individuals and institutions in Asia that work successfully for the welfare of the people.

Koirala won the award, recognized as the Asian Nobel Prize, for his contributions to initiating development journalism in Nepal. He is the second Nepali to have received the award. Mahesh Chandra Regmi was awarded for his research of the land system of Nepal in the 1970s.

During his tenure as chief editor of Gorkhapatra, Koirala introduced a weekly village profile column covering the issues of development and change taking place in rural areas.

Koirala remains a source of inspiration to many Nepalese journalists, having encouraged them to write on development issues. He has helped to enhance professional journalism in Nepal with development at its core. In his long career, Koirala has made many contributions to bring changes in all spheres of the media, including printing technology and reporting.

Be it the concept of wall newspaper, opening the country's first community radio station or training journalists in development reporting, Koirala has played an important role in developing Nepalese mass media.

Koirala contributions to the development of community radio in Nepal have been immense. After six years of hard work, the government issued the license for Radio Sagarmatha. Nepal has more than half a dozens community radio stations airing programs in different parts of the country.

In a press traditionally dominated by political news and gossip, development journalism changed the pattern of coverage. Journalists have started to give priority to the achievements and changes in the rural areas.

Koirala's efforts for change continue and he has never aspired for personal publicity for his cause. For young individuals who aspire to become a journalist, Koirala has always been a source of encouragement. It was Koirala who encouraged this scribe to become involved in rural reporting. As executive director of Nepal Press Institute, he played an important role in the institutionalized development of media professionals in the country.

In letter-press-dominated print media, Koirala introduced modern printing technology with photocompose and wave offset. The introduction of this technology in the Gorkhapatra Corporation, the government-controlled publishing house, paved the way for the modernization of printing technology in the country.

During the Panchayat days when journalists were not allowed to go for political reporting, Koirala's new approach encouraged them to enjoy freedom in writing development-related news.

Awarded by Knight Journalism Foundation a few years ago, Koirala is still active in promoting development journalism, community radio and inspiring youth toward journalism. Koirala has always maintained a low profile in public but few journalism programs have seen the light of day without his active contribution. He started his career in journalism as chief reporter of The Rising Nepal in 1965 and became editor of Gorkhapatra daily and executive chairman and general manager of Gorkhapatra Corporation. Besides serving as general secretary of Nepal Press Institute, Koirala is executive producer of Young Asia Television.

From their first encounter in the classroom until this day, an entire generation of journalists† continue to be inspired by Koirala's commitment and rejoice in the recognition he has received through the Magsaysay Award.