PCN to make monitoring of election code of conduct more effective

Kathmandu, Feb 6: The Press Council Nepal is set to roll out a nationwide series of programme on the election code of conduct and role of media across all major cities of all seven provinces. 

The statutory body of the government responsible for developing and enforcing journalist code of conduct, monitoring media content among others, has decided to further strengthen the monitoring of the election code of conduct put in force by the Election Commission Nepal in view of the March 5's House of Representatives (HoR) election. 

The recently held 12th meeting of the Council at Salyantar of Tripurasundari rural municipality in Dhanding district decided to run programmes focusing on study, research and awareness on election code of conduct this year as well as next year, shared Deepak Khanal, Spokesperson of the Council. 

The Council also decided to update the roster of the experts for newspaper evaluation and review the standards for auditing newspaper distribution. 

Spokesperson Khanal informed that major decisions of the meeting included taking necessary measures to make the newspaper classification process more realistic, objective and time-relevant.

Council will also work to improving and revising procedures regarding award distribution to make various awards provided by the Council more transparent and effective. 

Similarly, records of newspapers and other media outlets would be updated while a special action plan along with a concept paper will be formulated to address the challenges and problems relating to updating process.

Meanwhile, the Council has urged all concerned to fully implement and ensure the implementation of the election code of conduct to in order to conduct the upcoming HoR election in a free, fair, impartial, transparent and fear-free environment. 

The meeting resolved to appeal all the media outlets in Dhading district to prioritize publicity and promotion, conservation and development of including Tripurasundari Mai Bhagwati Temple, Phatik Khamba and Narsinghdham as well as Bhairavi Mai Temple located in Nilkantha municipality. (RSS)