5 Questions The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)

5 Q U E S T I O N S

Once again, the question of Foreign Direct Investment has propped up in the Nepalese media. Leaders of various media organization have scathingly criticized the inflow of FDI into the Nepalese media sector. As such, some organizations have even hinted that they would go to any extent in harassing the flow of FDI in this sector. Therefore, we thought it important and opportune to project the views and opinions of the young journalists regarding this burning question of the nation.

The participants in this column are young journalists who are being trained at NPI and some are freelance journalists. In addition to it, they are qualified enough to form their own independent ideas and opinions on the burning question.

T. N. Ghimire compiled some of the impressions of his fellow trainee journos for The Telegraph Weekly. Below the results – Chief Editor.

FDI might bring in foreign concepts

-Hari Om Shrestha, NPI Trainee Journalist

TGQ1: How you Mr. Shrestha take the FDI in the media sector? Your comments please!

Hari Om Shrestha: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Nepali media sector is certainly against our national interests. Press is regarded as the fourth estate of a nation and is a serious sector indeed. Any information emanating from it can have a direct effect at the national and international levels.

The media of a nation should be pro-national, that can save the national interests. But because of FDI, foreign concepts can be disseminated that can tilt the public opinion towards a foreign nation. Thus, it will have an adverse effect on our nation. Therefore, I am strongly against the FDI in our media sector.

Topic of FDI is not worth debating at all

-Rajesh Jha, NPI Trainee journalist

TGQ2: What you Mr. Jha think of FDI making its way into Nepali media sector? Your opinions please!

Rajesh Jha: It is sinful to object to FDI whereas we openly run to have a chance of working for the foreign media. The FDI can do no harm should we all unite when it goes against our national interests.

Another point is that the people who work in the FDI in Nepali media are Nepali citizens, they are not from any foreign land. So far as the question of personal benefits of the investor is concerned, the government and the private organizations need to be strengthened to counter the same.

If the employees involved in the FDI and the readers as well are indigenous people, the topic of foreign direct investment is not worth debating at all.

Foreign direct investment in the Nepalese media is unpatriotic-decision

-Rajan Kuinkel, NPI Trainee journalist

TGQ3: What you Mr. Kuinkel have to say regarding the foreign investment in Nepali media sector? Will it proper or otherwise? Your opinions please!

Rajan Kuinkel: Foreign direct investment in the Nepalese media is totally wrong and unpatriotic-decision. It can have dire effects on the important national decisions, natural resources, and historical and cultural heritage of our nation. Not only in media, the FDI has been a failure in other sectors like construction and engineering. Of course, this has been possible because of our shortsighted politicians.

We must not forget that what will be the fate of the small-scale media-houses when foreigners having big budget get a free entry into the Nepalese media sector.

We must do some thing to attract the attention of the government towards this grave issue.

The country might face irreparable damage because of FDI inflow

-Ms. Asha Giri, NPI Trainee journalist

TGQ4: Should the FDI in the media sector be considered acceptable or just the otherwise? Your remarks please Ms. Asha Giri!

Ms. Asha Giri: The entry of foreign direct investment into the Nepali press is an out and out unacceptable development that may have ill effects on the Nepalese media in the long run. Owing to this, the country may in the future face a really irreparable damage, because the fourth estate is a very serious and delicate sector. It can be used to shape the very opinion of the public in order to suit to the needs of the foreigners. Therefore, time has come that we all nag our brains to find a permanent solution to the question of the FDI in our media sector.

One FDI if allowed might pave way for yet another

-Anand Gurung, Freelance journalist

TGQ5: Do you see the need of a timely review of the Nepali laws in this regard? Your opinions please Mr. Gurung!

Anand Gurung: At this point, when our government has already bull-dozed amidst scathing condemnations and has still paved the way for foreign direct investment in the fourth estate of Nepal—there would only be an ambiguous interpretation of Nepal's laws if it doesn't allow further inflow of the same. Personally, I may even find this business not fair. Obviously, one makes way for another and possibly more in the future.