President stresses media’s role in strengthening democracy

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 10: President Ramchandra Paudel has said that the media has a crucial role in strengthening democracy and creating an environment where the people can benefit from it.

Addressing the first anniversary of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Nepal and the formal launch of Public Service Broadcasting and NTV World today, President Paudel expressed this view.

"Democracy was established through the great sacrifices of the Nepali people. Strengthening it and creating an environment where the people can reap benefits is a task where the media plays a significant role," he said.

The government had announced plans for the NTV World, an English language television channel, in 2020 with an objective to broadcast information to international audiences and enhance global presence.

President Paudel emphasised the need to make the March 5 elections successful to advance good governance and democracy. "Considering the aspirations of the youth for good governance and development, the media must play a more effective role in making the upcoming elections for the House of Representatives a success to further strengthen and advance the constitution and democracy," he said.

The President urged the media and journalists to wholeheartedly commit themselves to the important responsibility of informing citizens about the positive changes, development initiatives, potential opportunities, and challenges in the country. "PSB is not a tool for governmental or commercial interests, it is an institution for the people. It must rise above governmental interference and commercial pressures, working in the national interest and for the benefit of citizens," he added.

President Paudel pointed out that public broadcasting has developed as an independent and autonomous institution. "In line with democratic values and the principles of independent, professional journalism, I believe you will embrace the basic principles recognised globally in the PSB, ensuring transparency, fairness, and responsibility towards the citizens," he remarked.  

He emphasised that access to truthful, factual, and reliable information is a fundamental right of the citizens, and that the media has a duty to provide information based on truth and facts. He also expressed concern about the increasing spread of misinformation, misleading news, and rumours. "In this context, all media under public service broadcasting must focus on serving the public and the nation by maintaining journalistic integrity and delivering information in a responsible and impartial manner," said President Paudel.

The President further noted that the development of the internet and information technology has brought significant changes in news content, communication, and information dissemination. He acknowledged the rise of social media and the development of various broadcasting technologies, which have also strengthened citizen journalism. "In such an environment, it is the responsibility of the media to prevent the misuse of easily available technologies that could mislead the public by spreading false, confusing, and deceptive information," he stressed.

President Paudel praised the efforts and initiatives to transform Radio Nepal and Nepal Television into public service broadcasters. 

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel, said that public broadcasting must be of high quality, reliable, and effective.

He emphasised that the content provided by PSB should be strong, impactful, and sustainable.

"The slogan of the PSB must be justified. The content it provides must be strong, innovative, and creative, and its presentation must be refined. PSB’s reach should be accessible and straightforward for the public," he said. 

He also noted the positive start of PSB despite challenges, stressing the need for its sustainability and diversity in content. He mentioned that it is essential to include content that highlights Nepal's identity and pride, especially for Nepali citizens living abroad, as well as for foreign audiences.

Minister Kharel pointed out that not only in Nepal but across the world, the media is facing challenging circumstances, and PSB should increase its viewership and listenership through mobile and digital platforms for radio and TV. 

"Television cannot just be placed on a wall like in the past. With changing times, technology, and equipment, improvements must be made. We must figure out how to gain the trust of the people through all five channels of NTV and increase likes and viewership. PSB should also be competitive with the private sector," Minister Kharel added.