Executive Chair Dharmendra Jha
Kathmandu, Aug 27: The present
Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) is the one that came into establishment after
the merger of two news agencies- Sagarmatha Sambad Samiti and Nepal Sambad
Samiti in 2018BS.
The journey of RSS, the State-run
news agency, begun with the limited service from a small room in the federal
capital, gradually expanded and made thriving presence with the cooperation and
contribution from different sectors, including its subscribers and commoners.
It has been catering to country's
need for information, thereby building informed citizenry. It has continuously
expanded its services and established itself as a 'news bank' and 'source of
media'.
In addition to its regular Nepali
and English bulletins, the photos, audiovisual clips, opinions and feature news
are other features. Incorporation of news in Abadhi language added further
diversity last year to serve the media pluralism in line with federalism and
inclusion envisioned by the Constitution.
However, subscribers' demand for
diverse service is growing in the changed context where people want varieties
of credible information in a short time.
Keeping in mind the subscribers'
demand, RSS service expansion drive to enrich diversity and in an attempt to
stand in line with the international news agencies, RSS is launching its Nepali
news service for 24 hours today. The 24 hours service goes for experiment
now.
We expect that expansion of current
17 hours service to the round-of-clock upgrading will add new dimension to
RSS.
RSS is aware of its responsibility
towards promotion and consolidation of democracy and empowerment of citizens
with production and dissemination of credible information. So, it we are
working actively. Undoubtedly, the latest drive has come to this regard.
Importantly, the proportional
inclusion emphasized by the federal system warrants widening RSS service to
reach additional communities and regions in the country and bringing their news
and views to the fore.
The diversity and globalization of
information and news have been further amplified by the digital technology of
late. The RSS once limited to select society, region and time can not remain a
backwater anymore. RSS is also for gradually leveraging the digital technology
which has broken the barriers of space and time.
Although the population of Nepali
language speakers is negligible in the world, the Nepali people are settled
across the globe, and yearn for Nepali news. They want Nepali news quickly and
conveniently. It is also one of the cogent developments behind the RSS going 24
hours.
From today, RSS Nepali news service
goes 24 hours! It is now for experiment.
At a time when the present information
ecosystem is badly affected by the mis- and disinformation along with digital
deluge, the credible news produced and disseminated by RSS is believed to help
build trust in media and system.
As always, RSS further expects
suggestions, inputs and assistances from our subscribers and news readers in
relation to the 24 hours news in experiment so that the service could be made
further sustainable. Similarly, we express gratitude to the government for its
guiding role and the RSS employees for their enduring cooperation to this
end.RSS