Think thrice while penning stories about victimized girls!

Nepali journalism has definitely taken a quantum jump both quantitatively and qualitatively during these years. It could be safely predicted at this stage that this profession will attain new heights in the coming years. However, certain aspects need to be accurately grasped by Nepali journalism if it were to remain credible in the eyes of the majority of the Nepali population.

The one aspect, which I wish to stress in these columns, is the one, which we the media men have either forgotten or ignored totally for reasons unknown to me.

It is the matter related with the ethics. Yes! Maintaining ethics while penning stories and write-ups is what perhaps we the media men have completely ignored. Writing hair raising stories to attract attention of the readers is one thing, but going deep into the factual causes of the story is entirely different. Nepali media at times even forgets the fact while penning the stories that stories could have a chain negative effect in the society if the things mentioned in the said stories were not true. It might create a havoc in the entire society and might cause unimaginable events in the said society. Thus penning stories one has to think the nitty-gritty's of the fabric of the existing Nepali society. One must take into proper consideration the composition of the society, the role of the male and the female members of the society. Above all, while penning sad stories related to the women folks, one has to remain extra cautious in order that no damage is done to the future life of the female folk. For the Nepali society becomes extra sensitive towards a female folk as and when her character is brought under question.

To cut it short, Nepali media of late has been making sad stories about Nepali girls who fall prey to the aggressiveness of some of the sex maniacs. In the process, to make the story more authentic and readable the Nepali journalists mention the name, age, and village of the girl which later creates Himalayan problem for the said girl. The moment the media announces the name and the village of the victimised girl, the entire society instead of sympathizing with the girl begins making different stories which later damages whatever prestige the girl and her family possess in the society. The problem begins with the said girl not at the time of the rape but after the rape when she enters her home after the sad event. The composition of the Nepali society is such that a male member is tentatively allowed to do as many blunders as he could. However, a Nepali girl, even if she is raped by hooligans, she instead of getting love and parental care by the society is treated just the other way round. At times such "humiliations"' meted out to the victim or for that matter the family men forces them to commit suicide.

Only recently, some youths abducted a girl in her teens. The news that came to the public was that a band of some Maoists abducted the girl and the girl is since then missing for about two weeks. In the process, Nepali media announced the name of the girl and every thing about the family of that poor girl. The media forgets to understand that what will happen to the future life of the girl if she comes completely unscathed and enters into her parental family. The question comes then will the existing Nepali society accept the abducted girl as their bride? Who will marry this girl later when she comes of her age?

Lectures apart, the fact is that even a number one social worker who day in day out makes speeches on bringing about a revolutionary changes in the existing patterns of the society will in all probability hesitate to bring in the said girl for his illustrious son. The rest my readers can imagine.

Thus my humble advice to the men in the media would be to remain ever susceptible to the affairs of the women folks more so of those girls who wish to enjoy a respectable and honored life with her would be husband. We must respect their concerns much the same way we ever remain concerned about our own personal prestige. A word to the wise should be perhaps enough.

The conclusion is that we totally disagree with that sort of journalism which ultimately forces the victimized girl to opt for suicide. It is time that we in the media change our attitudes.

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