Cover Story (Spotlight Weekly)

MEDIA
Questions Of Credibility

After the dismissal of prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government by King Gyanendra, country’s political process was suddenly thrown out of the track. Along with other political processes, media too seems to have lost its own path. Since Nepali media already has nation- wide reach, swinging reports written with vested interests are filling in the minds of people with false information. Nepalese media that enjoy the enormous freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990 is in a very critical phase to prove its credibility and usefulness disseminating accurate news

By KESHAB POUDEL

Newspaper stand : Deluge of information

“The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them; in as much as he knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors,” wrote Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States in 1807.

“Silence is better than deliberate lies, reporters have an unending mission to seek the truth and find it and report it, objectivity, the key stone of our profession; accuracy, thoroughness, and speed,” said UPI Whitehouse correspondent Helen Thomas.

These two quotations one by former US president and other by a senior American journalist speak volumes regarding the role of newspapers. At a time when Nepalese society has been passing through a critical phase of transition, challenges before the media are how to prevent lies and disseminate accurate information to the larger public.

Tired of reading frequent distorted versions and lies, one of well-known judges who lobbied for unlimited freedom of expression for Nepalese media during the period of drafting the country’s constitution, privately expressed that he would not mind putting certain restrictions on press if he were to draft the relevant section once again.

Not only the former senior judge, others too share similar views when they see the way Nepalese media is leading the society bringing the news and views with certain interests. Journalists should not be emotive or subjective. In Nepalese media, most of the news either is written on the basis of emotion or subjective arguments. If a reporter feels the incident emotively, he/she does not mind to write it on such basis. Which are completely wrong practices?

Despite its powerful role in disseminating information and generating awareness, media has been blamed for encouraging forces of violence and anarchy at times by disseminating false or twisted news.

During the Panchayat era (1960-90), most of the weekly newspapers followed such practices. The role has now reversed. But critics say, even broadsheet dailies with huge investments are following the practice of weekly tabloids appearing with stories of character assassinations, distorted versions and false plots.

“One cannot generalize the situation. There are good and bad practices. I firmly believe that we have to be accountable towards accuracy of news. There are certainly positive developments and we are moving towards professional journalism but legacy of the past- running the media by the vested interests both with internal and external dimensions – continues. That interest will not allow the fact as it is to get into print if that goes against the vested interest,” said senior journalist and former editor of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies Yubaraj Ghimire. “There should also be a statutory body to look into the matters of complaints against the press, also covering unethical and unprofessional practices of the media, both print and electronic, if any.”

From leading politicians to businessmen and diplomats, all have bitter experiences regarding their opinions and views published in different broadsheet newspapers. Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala recently in his visit to Nepalgunj shrugged off the reporters saying that they better not cover him rather than publish the distorted views. The district-based correspondents reportedly then passed the blame on to their superiors in the capital.

But the big shots in Kathmandu defend their position. “As far as my publication is concerned, no body has seriously challenged the news stories published in Kantipur. If we find any complaints, after internal verification we don’t mind to correct it,” said Narayan Wagle, editor of Kantipur Daily. “Of course, there is a need to increase the number of professional manpower. Since Nepalese media has very short history of growth, it will turn more professional over the period of time,” he added.

Other broadsheet dailies, too, hold similar views. “We are always careful to bring the accurate news,” said Pushkar Lal Shrestha, chief editor of Nepal Samacharpatra Daily. But Shrestha was very critical about the role of newspapers, which have vested interests. “How can we talk about credibility when there are papers here which published that Lord Buddha was born in Orissa? As far as my paper is concerned, I have never received any complaints from political leaders regarding misquotes or distorted views,” he said.

What is News?

In the Nepalese media, like all other media around the world, sensational, violent and similar events are regarded as the best news and put in the front page giving top priority. In the process of furnishing the news, newspapers are said to distort the facts and figures to suit their own interests. Priority is given to fictions and emotions rather than the fact.

“Journalism is an analysis based on facts. News reporting has good as well as bad aspects to cover. A journalist has to explain events objectively,” said senior journalist and editor of Himal South Asia magazine, Kanak Mani Dixit, addressing an interaction program organized by Nepal Tourism Board. “Journalists cannot ignore the country’s real situation but they have to write them on the basis of facts.”

Everyone wants to read stories based on facts but it is often blamed they appear in a fictitious manner ignoring the available possibility to verify events. “We are always available for comments but the newspapers run stories without verifying with us,” complained colonel Deepak Gurung, spokesman of the Royal Nepalese Army.

In the stories related to the Royal Nepalese Army, it seems to be some sort of regular practice on part of the newspapers to publish headline news with army’s involvement in student agitation and publishing comment of Defense Ministry about the false reporting.

Whether Nepalese owned newspapers or newspapers with foreign investment, they sometimes file similar stories, and even unverified statements, particularly on political issues. Recently, Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the UML, had complained that newspapers in Kathmandu wrote that he was in Bhairahawa at a time when he was in fact in Chennai, India. Of course, media is almost fair and perfect while reporting on development and social issues.

“At a time when the country does not have parliament and constitutional bodies are ineffective, media is the only hope for the people,” said Narayan Wagle. “We are trying to bring the truth but the problem is that there is limitation now due to militias and militarization.”

Media Trend

In the first ten years of democracy, newspapers produced large number of stories regarding corruption and malpractices, these stories generated hatred against politicians and even the political system. In the second stage, media now seems to have turned against the country’s two oldest institutions-- monarchy and the Royal Nepalese Army.

“It can be understood that the monarch’s role in choosing the country’s prime minister last year has put him into controversy, but the RNA – which is waging the war against Maoist rebels, is being victimized without any known reason,” said an analyst who preferred not to be named.

Many blame that media also publish news with vested interest. “We don’t have any vested interest and this is a baseless allegation against the media. One of the main functions of the mainstream media has been to see how to bring the constitutional process to the right track and resume the peace process and protect the human rights,” said Wagle.

Trial by Media

From early morning till mid night, media outlets launch trial of different individuals and institutions irrespective of their post. First of all, the newspapers bring the story in early morning, then FM radios air them and there will be repetition of the news several times. The media thus helps to create situation favourable to particular individual and matters. Whether in the court or during other decision-making process, media’s influence is said to have been crucial.

Even if the story is not based on facts, there will be little room for correction. Till the time anybody stands up to complain against such news, information will already have travelled all over the country and beyond—thanks to the on-line portals of major newspapers and organisations. A decade ago, the news and information travelled very slowly with restrictions but today information can travel throughout the country within a very short period of time.

Although media by nature needs to be credible and hence powerful, they are gradually loosing their credibility among the people. Although they are supposed to write stories based on facts, the complaint is that they do not make any corrections.

Nepalese media has also been passing through a similar situation what the American press has seen two hundred years ago. From tabloid era of Panchayat days to involvement of big Nepalese business houses to a backdoor entry of foreign investment, Nepalese media is witnessing different phases.

In Nepal today, the proper relationship between, the government and media and the media and society is still being debated. Although the number of media has increased during the last twelve years, the quality of news is said to be deteriorating further.

Nepal is the only country in South Asia where large number of media is functioning in private sector as well as public sector producing news as per their wish.

Diverse Interest of Big Newspaper Houses

Although the investment of many business houses has helped to flourish professional journalism in the country, their diverse interest is always directly or indirectly reflected in the media.

Student agitation : Violent mind-set

The investors of Kantipur Publication had interest in carpet business in early days and now the same investors are said to be showing interest to get involved in Airlines business. A group of investor of Nepal Samacharpatra has interest in vegetables ghee and oil. Likewise, the investors of Rajdhani have interest in manpower business.

Since there is investment from Indian business groups, nobody has ventured to see what diverse interests The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post have in publishing the newspapers. Whenever there is any dispute over accountability, newspapers with foreign investment find themselves in tough spot. This may be one of the reasons why Indian government has posed many restrictions against allowing the foreign investment in the media sector.

Not only the business communities, the government and political parties also own the newspapers. CPN-UML publishes a number of weekly newspapers while the government runs two dailies besides owning the only news agency in the country - RSS, radio and television stations.

When the diverse interests clash, there is a possibility for influences from internal and external elements. There is a saying that -- I do objective journalism because I work with certain objective in mind.

Following the promulgation of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 which guarantees the investment in the press, many private investors ventured into the business of media . Kantipur Publication was the first to join the race followed by Nepal Samacharpatra to challenge the monopoly of the government media house, the Gorkhapatra Corporation.

In the last one decade, government monopoly of the information ceased and big houses established different newspapers offering the latest news to the readers. Opening up of the Nepalese sky to FM stations was another milestone in the history of media development.

With the weak governments in power, there came the breaking of codes. Despite getting license for the entertainment programs, almost all FM radios include the news and opinion contents. Unlike the newspapers, there are very few restrictions on radio and limited legal remedy to challenge the news broadcast by the FM stations.

Along with disseminating the information relaying the radio news from various national channels, the FM stations offer the latest news flash of the incidents. Although most of the news are even found to be incomplete and distorted, they broadcast it to a large number of viewers.

“In the writings of literature, a writer first develops a story plot, then he/she starts writing. In other words, literature deals with fictions but a journalist can never write without fact. Both of them are writers but it makes a fundamental difference between them. Journalists deal with nothing but facts. It is said that facts are scary,” said senior journalist Dhruba Hari Adhikari. (See box)

The Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990 guarantees the freedom of the press. According to the article 13 Press and Publication Right, (1) no news item, article or other reading material shall be censored provided that nothing shall prevent the making of laws to impose reasonable restrictions on any act which may undermine the sovereignty and integrity of the Kingdom of Nepal, or which may undermine sovereignty and integrity of the Kingdom of Nepal, or which may jeopardize the harmonious relations subsisting among the people of various castes, tribes or communities; or any act of sedition, defamation, contempt of court or incitement to an offence; or on any act which may be contrary to decent public behaviour or morality.

2. No press shall be closed or seized for printing any news item, article or other reading materials,

3. The registration of a newspaper or periodical shall not be cancelled merely for publishing any news item, article or other reading materials

The role that the media can play in creating conscious public opinion by disseminating information in a democratic or an open society cannot be exaggerated.

Remedy to Viewers

Although media is still in early stage and it is trying to evolve through correcting itself, there requires certain organizations to monitor the misuse of media power by vested interests.

“Defamation laws have to be made stronger and judicial remedy should be time bound. More importantly, Press Council has to be strengthened and packed with people who should be above the media politics,” said senior journalist Yubraj Ghimire. “There should also be a statutory body something like the Press Complaint Commission in the U.K which should look into unethical and unprofessional practices by media, both in print and electronic.”

Nepal has Press Council but it is yet to monitor the media effectively. It will act only months after it receives complaints. In the last few years, many people lodged the complaints at the Council but its response was quite sluggish.

Number of Media

According to the annual report 2003 of Press Council Nepal, there are altogether 1879 newspapers registered in Nepal. Interestingly, only 454 newspapers are publishing on regular basis while 1425 are unpublished.

Among the published newspapers, 77 are dailies, 4 bi-weeklies, 334 weeklies and 39 fortnightlies. The unpublished papers include 183 dailies, 17 bi-weeklies, 1001 weeklies 224 fortnightlies.

In terms of development region, Central Region has the highest number of news papers with 303 papers published from here including 41 dailies. Eastern region has altogether 84 regular newspapers and far western region has just 12 regular newspapers with 3 dailies and 9 weeklies.

In terms of district, the capital Kathmandu district has the highest number of registered papers and the highest number of regular papers. Among 861 registered newspapers, 177 are regular and 684 are unpublished. Kathmandu has 25 dailies, 134 weeklies and 119 fortnightlies, which are published regularly. Interestingly, all the 10 broadsheet dailies are published from Kathmandu. Most of the renowned weeklies are also published from Kathmandu.

According to the report, most of the dailies except broadsheet engage in the practice of just copying the broadsheet dailies in terms of news and views. The report points out that many small dallies come out by copying broadsheets. In most of the daily newspapers, same items are published in several issues. Although they copy the news from broadsheet dailies, they do not disclose the source.

In terms of classification, there are 12 dailies, 10 weeklies and two fortnightlies in A category. 20 dailies, 38 weeklies and one fortnightly in B category; and nine dailies, 90 weeklies and 2 fortnightlies are in C category.

Complaints Against Newspapers

Press Council Nepal is the only body to register the complaints. In the year 2002/2003, the council received 65 complaints against the newspapers for publishing the stories related to malafide intentions and character assassination.

This does not include distortions of news published by different newspapers. Since the process of registration of news is long, only a few people lodge the complaint at the council whereas many simply ignore them. From dailies to weeklies, the complaints were related to violation of code of conducts and character assassination. Four complaints were registered against Kantipur daily, two against Nepal Samacharpatra and one against Rajdhani. Most of the complaints were against the weekly newspapers.

FM Radios and Television Channels

Apart from the expansion of the newspapers, the number of FM radio stations has also grown. According to the annual report of Press Council Nepal, there are 43 FM stations across the country and 7 Television channels.

In Kathmandu valley alone, there are 14 FM stations and four television stations targeting the audiences in the valley. Pokhara valley has the second highest number of FM stations with 4 stations followed by Biratnagar. FM stations are airing their programs from Jhapa of eastern region to Kailali and Kanchanpur of far western regions.

Along with the FM stations and newspapers, there are a large number of television stations like Nepal Television Metro, Kantipur Television, Image TV Metro and Channel Nepal.

From print media to Radio and Television, Nepalese media has flourished but the question remains how to make media accountable and credible in the days ahead.

“The Credibility Of The News Media Is Going Down”

— Dhruba Hari Adhikary

DHRUBA HARI ADHIKARY practices and teaches journalism. He has been working in the media sector for the long time. Along with writing for a number of foreign newspapers, Adhikary is also the vice- president of Nepal Press Institute. Adhikary writes with equal flair in both Nepali and English media. He also critically analyzes media sector from time to time. Adhikary spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues of related to Nepalese press at present. Excerpts:

What is the role of Nepalese media?

Whether it is in practice or in teaching, I follow certain values. Whenever I enter into a classroom, I always ask questions like what is the difference between a journalist and a literature writer. The literature writing is based on fiction where a writer can create a story plot out of his imagination. In other words, literature deals with fiction but a journalist can never write without basing himself on hard facts. Both of them are writers but there are fundamental differences between them. Journalists deal with nothing but facts. It is said that facts are sacred. This has been the belief in journalism for centuries. After the publication of facts, the journalists may analyze what is right and what is wrong in editorial pages and commentaries. This is known as considered view of editor. One thing one has to remember is that even these editorials and commentaries have to be based on facts. We quote various people and cite different books in our stories. They must be quotable quotes.

Does media have any limit, then?

Nothing is limitless. There is nothing, which is absolute. Freedom cannot be exercised on absolute term. From developed western countries to developing, no journalists can enjoy absolute freedom. There are free presses in the United States, Britain, India and other European countries but journalists do also have to follow their responsibility. In these western countries, if the newspapers are found guilty on charges of character assassination of certain individuals, newspaper owners, reporters and editors will be fined millions of dollars. There are millions of dollars of penalty on charges of assassination of character. While writing news, the reporters, therefore, have to be cautious. There are many other legal as well as personal obligations, which limit the journalists.

To whom is the media accountable for?

Journalists have to keep in mind that they are primarily accountable to their audiences for whatever they have spoken or written. The writers, reporters and editors are responsible to their readers or audiences. The audiences are certainly the targeted population. That means the newspapers published from and Radio and Television broadcast from Nepal have responsibility towards their own targeted audiences – which is the Nepalese people. Those newspapers published from Nepal are accountable to Nepalese audiences. This is one of the reason journalists and publishers have to answer if Nepalese readers raise questions. Journalists and publishers need to respect the audiences and readers. No reader wants views hostile to his/her own interest.

Along with their contributions to raise the awareness by disseminating information, Nepalese media are also criticized for distortion of opinions and misquotes as well as acting in provocative manner. How do you look at it?

This charge is not absolutely baseless. There are many newspapers, FM Radio Stations and Television but not all of their news and views are credible. We don’t have any measures to gauge the level of credibility but I can say the credibility of the news media is going down. Numbers of newspapers and other media have increased but their impact and credibility have gone down. There are many people who challenge the credibility of news. People often say that they don’t believe what newspapers write. If media have to publish corrections and contention of its own news the following day, how can one rely on their news wholly? It is very disturbing and unfortunate that the credibility of media is going down. As a journalist, we feel pride when people confirm to the news as an art of writing based on fact not fiction.

What do you see are the reasons behind this situation?

It may be the result of carelessness. There are many newspapers but there lacks trained persons and people with inclination to be journalist. The journalist should know basic news writing skills. News cannot be written without citing proper quotes. News is not a subjective description. Just highlighting issues on the basis of fiction cannot fulfill the responsibility of journalists but they must be aware of the consequences of such news. Most of the reporters write news on the basis of assumption and biasness on particular individual without giving any detailed analysis. When I read some news, I find that they seem to be inspired by certain external elements. There needs to be accuracy and balance in the news. The situation is not good but lets hope that it will improve. As all other sectors, media is also in a transition phase so it will also improve in future. Many newspapers have come up and many of them even closed down like LokPatra, Everest Herald and Sagarmatha. The present situation will stabilize in future. The education and training level of the journalists also need to be improved since many young journalists working in the newspapers have either the qualification of 10+2 (higher secondary level) or those without proper training. There is a trend in the newspapers to give major responsibility to such new and young journalists who cannot pick up or cite the core matter expressed by speakers. This, I think, is natural because nobody had realized a decade ago that there will be such a flooding of media. So, it was natural that we would be facing the shortages of trained journalists. One of the basic things journalists require is the understanding of what ingredients does a news require. To be a journalist, one requires long experiences and perfections but here every Tom, Dick and Harry are given the role of columnists.

What about the investment in media?

We don’t have the problem of investment and technology. The main problem is the quality of news and journalists. There is an agency called Press Council, Nepal, which should have raised these concerns but it is too politicized. We can see that the Federation of Nepalese Journalists has become no more than a place of playing politics. One cannot expect that it can play effective role in making the journalists professional. The federation is too busy raising the issues like human rights and other matters. Thanks to the appointment of politically motivated people in Press Council, it could not play the desired role. Since a retired judge of Supreme Court has now been appointed as the chairman of Press Council, one can hope it will act independently to develop the professional journalism in the days ahead.

From teacher to writer and media critic, you have been working in different capacities, how do you see the future of journalism and what has been its positive contribution to the country?

Media has definitely contributed many positive things to our society. With the restoration of democracy, the media played important role in generating awareness among people. Media still has a certain level of impact. Media has become a power to reckon with and nobody can ignore it simply. If media maintains the credibility, the situation will be much better and it will have a bright future.