Press Center team holds discussion with GC management, editorial team

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Aug 20: A leadership team of the Press Center Nepal (PCN) held a discussion with the management and editorial team of the Gorkhapatra Corporation at the latter's central office in New Road today.

The discussion was focused on ways to further enhance Gorkhapatra Corporation's image as a media house of the state that upholds democratic values and provides space for the voices and concerns of the opposition parties in the government.

Led by its Chairman Kamal Giri, the PCN team comprised of Vice Chairman Laxman Khadka and General Secretary Manoj Gharti Magar, among other central office bearers while the GC team led by Executive Chairman Bishnu Prasad Subedi comprised of General Manger Lal Bahadur Airi, Acting Editor-in-Chief of the Gorkhapatra daily, Junar Babu Basnet, Managing Editor of the Gorkhapatra daily, Ram Prasad Acharya, Acting Editor-in-Chief of The Rising Nepal, Bishnu Prasad Gautam, Digital Head of the Gorkhpatra Corporation, Narad Muni Gautam, and Coordinator of the risingnepaldaily.com, Nanda Lal Tiwari.

"Gorkhapatra is a media house of the state, and presently we feel as if it is the servant only of the current government. Daily publications should provide appropriate placing for the news and pictures of the opposition parties, particularly the main opposition. We also want to see that the Gorkhapatra leads the discussion on main issues of the country," said PCN Chairman Giri during the discussion.

Other office bearers who spoke during the discussion expressed expectation that the GC gives priority to essence of democracy, and congratulated the management for operational benefits.

They also drew attention to job security of the district reporters and journalists and employees working on contract basis.

Responding to the concerns of the PCN team, Executive Chairman of the Gorkhapatra Corporation, Bishnu Prasad Subedi, said that the Corporation was responsive to the state, citizens and its business. "We have three duties, one related to the state, another related to the citizens and the next related to the business."

He said efforts were being made to make the Gorkhapatra as a strong media house of the state and that it earned Rs. 720 million in previous year and this year it earned Rs. 820 million.

General Manger Airi urged the PCN to run debate on further ways to make Gorkhapatra a strong media of the state. He said new Act related to Gorkhapatra was being formulated to replace the one made over six decades ago.

The editorial team briefed the PCN team that although limitation of space created some challenges with coverage in the print media, there was no such problem in the digital platforms and views and news of all were treated in the same manner for digital platforms.