Nepali journalism lacks professionalism

I have been the witness of so many events that have happened in Kathmandu wherein either the Nepali government (most of the time indeed) or at the least the Nepali press have badly been criticized for its lopsided performances. Though I am a man involved in the press but then yet I have had to gulp the bitter pill as and when the first and the fourth pillar of the nation have had to bear with the scathing criticisms made against these two very important organs of a nation-state. I had no other options left with me other than to listen to those fiery and insulting remarks both coming as it did from foreign and our own nationals.

I am sure about my sincerity towards the profession wherein I am involved for well over three decades plus. I can guarantee about myself. I wish that my colleagues too adhere to the basics of the profession. We have been taught many a do's and don'ts that we are supposed to apply while being in this profession. Unfortunately this is not so and hence we have been the target of attacks from all possible quarters.

Regarding the sincerity of the government, I prefer not to disturb the peace of mind of my valued readers. For I think that it would be a futile exercise simply because today's informed citizenry is better informed about the sincerity of the governments formed after 1990 change. I leave it upto my readers to judge for themselves.

About two weeks back, the Nepal chapter of the International Press Institute had invited some media personalities for a short trip to Nepal.

At the end of their visit, the IPI team had organized a press conference to share their concerns regarding the state of Nepali journalism and a host of other things that had a direct bearing on Nepali state of affairs.

Among the many criticisms that the IPI team made against the Nepali State of affairs, what shocked me the most were the IPI's blunt comments that "Nepali media lacked professionalism".

I was surprised as to how a team in its very short stay in the Kingdom came to this conclusion which for me was like a bombshell.

At the meeting, I questioned their conclusion but then I had to silence myself apparently concluding that the men attending the press conference belonged to the lot what had been described by the visiting IPI team.

Though I agree to the conclusion of the IPI team fifty-fifty, but then I wish to question the IPI team as to what factors or which elements put together make a journalist professional as wished by the international team? Will they speak in this regard? I do agree that some in my profession were certainly rotten eggs, but this should not mean that the rest too were bad an unprofessional as "seen and perceived" by the IPI team.

But then yet, since it is a comment and hence we the Nepali media men must take it seriously and try to become more professional in order to avoid the repetition of similar comments in the future more so from foreign nationals.

It pinches the heart when one is forced to listen to such scathing comments.

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