By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel Thursday said that he would move ahead in collaboration with journalists and the media.
During a meeting with office bearers of the Federation of Nepali Journalists at Finance Ministry today, he said that the government would encourage collaboration and cooperation with the media and journalists. Paudel said the government would cultivate close relation with the FNJ for securing journalists’ rights, press freedom, freedom of expression and addressing other issues.
He urged the media to be effective and forceful by playing the role of the fourth state in a democracy.
Finance Minister Paudel urged the media to be vigilant over the government activities and give suggestion and criticize if there is any wrongdoing stating that such act of the media would help the government to work in favour of the people.
He said he would resolve problems and demands of the media community through talks and discussions after consultation with the ministry officials and the FNJ office bearers. Paudel said that the Nepali media’s role was increasing to create an environment to resolve problems that had surfaced due to COVID-19 and minimize virus transmission.
FNJ chair Govinda Acharya, vice-chair Dilip Thapa Magar, general secretary Ramesh Bista, secretary Ram Prasad Dahal and other office bearers submitted 13-point suggestions to the Finance Minister.
Acharya urged the government to formulate short-term and long-term plan to tackle the problem of media created by COVID-19.
The FNJ demanded for fellowships and other relief measures to journalists who lost their jobs or are in long forced leave.
The FNJ demanded for soft loan to the media implementing Working Journalists Act for regular payment and bear operational costs. It also demanded that the government not provide state advertisement and other facilities to those media resisting implementation of Working Journalists Act and regulations.
It also urged to recognize the media as service industry.