Govt media should raise issues of people: PM's press advisor Acharya

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 26: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's press advisor Govinda Acharya has viewed that the government media including Gorkhapatra Corporation should carry the voice of the people.

Press advisor Acharya made it clear that the government was resolutely committed to press freedom and editorial independence.

Acharya, who is also former Chairperson of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), said so while addressing the annual general meeting of the Press Center Nepal, Gorkhapatra Corporation chapter held today.

"Media in general is expected to be the voice of the voiceless. Government media houses should particularly bear the responsibility of raising issues of the people and the voice of the state. It does not mean government media should serve only the interest of a given government," said Acharya.

He pointed at the need for the Gorkhapatra, being the oldest government media, to initiate restructuring to catch up with the pace and need of time. "There could be discussion on whether it should be restructured in the model of a cooperative or a company."

Saying that the PCN has been raising genuine agenda of the press sector including establishing the issue of minimum remuneration of the journalists, Acharya, who is also the founding member of the PCN, stressed that the CPN (Maoist Center), as a political party, has always stood for press freedom and ensuring people's access to information as indicated by the way the Right to Information (RTI) Act was introduced when the party was in the leadership of the Communication Ministry.

Bishnu Sapkota Jugal, Chairman of the Press Center Nepal, said that the PCN, as an institution, was campaigning for safeguarding the rights of the journalists and ensuring their welfare.

He said PCN was emphasizing pro-people journalism so that media becomes truly the voice of the voiceless.

PCN vice-chair Bidur Khadka, general secretary Santosh Paudel, secretary Nanda Lal Tiwari, PCN secretary and board member of Minimum Wages Fixation Committee of the Working Journalists Shanta Adhikari, PCN central member Birendra Oli also spoke in the programme highlighting the responsibilities of the journalists for disseminating accurate, balanced and credible news and views to the people.

Presenting her work report, Majima Dhakal, Chairperson of the PCN Gorkhapatra, said that PCN Gorkhapatara has been repeatedly raising issues of journalists with the management.