CMR unveils four books; exhibition on misinformation kicks off

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 31: Centre for Media Research Nepal (CMR) has unveiled four books.Books “Press Tatha Nagarik Swatantrata Suchanka -2079”, “Dababma Nagarik Samaj”, “Sankuchanma Press” and “Media Coverage of Nepali Labour Migrants during COVID-19 Pandemic” were unveiled at a programme held at the Nepal Art Council in Kathmandu on Thursday.

An exhibition of informative materials related to misinformation under the title “The Glassroom: Misinformation” was also inaugurated on the occasion.  

“The Glassroom: Misinformation” exhibition will continue at the Nepal Art Council until December 31.

A study has shown that after the country adopted federalism, several laws and bills related to media were introduced at the federal, provincial and local levels with provisions that restrict the press and freedom of expression.

In the study report published by the Centre for Media Research Nepal, it is mentioned that the three levels of government can curtail the freedom of press and expression at any time due to the provisions inserted in the new laws. 

According to the report, 14 policies were passed in the centre and the Provinces after Nepal became a federal state. 

Media-related laws have also been enacted at the local levels. Although bills were registered in the parliament to regulate advertisement in the centre, due to lack of consensus, the Bill on Media Council, the Bill on Public Service Broadcasting, and the Bill on Information Technology  were not passed. The draft of the Mass Communication Bill was also not registered in the Parliament.

Although,  the Constitution of Nepal guarantees freedom of press and expression, the report mentions that media-related laws and bills contain provisions that can revoke license, ban broadcasting and revoke registration.

In the programme, Professor P. Kharel said that since the preamble of the constitution guarantees full freedom of the press, provisions that contradict the constitution should be removed.

President of Press Council Nepal Balkrishna Basnet said that the government has not given priority to the press and added that  the Council  was protecting the freedom of the press.