ACORAB and SEJON announces partnership to strengthen economic journalism at the local level

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Feb 20: With the objective of equipping community journalists and strengthening media capacity to cover economic issues, Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (ACORAB) Nepal and the Society of Economic Journalists - Nepal (SEJON-Nepal) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on today.

The MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two organizations in the areas of economic journalism, financial literacy, and media coverage of economic issues through community and mainstream media.

The agreement was jointly signed by Arjun Giri, Chair of ACORAB Nepal, and Bhagawat Bhattarai, President of SEJON Nepal.

Under the partnership, both organizations will undertake joint journalism and media initiatives focusing on skill enhancement and training at the district and provincial levels. The collaboration also includes knowledge sharing, production and dissemination of content, and support for quality reporting of economic issues, among others.

Both organizations plan to strengthen the capacity of community radio and local journalists across Nepal. 

In the initial phase, ACORAB and SEJON will collaborate on coverage related to election manifestos issues by political parties, their agenda in terms of inclusive economy, and priorities for economic reforms. For this, both organizations have agreed to produce and disseminate neutral, impartial, and evidence-based content. ACORAB’s network of more than 380 community radio stations and digital platforms will be used to disseminate economic and financial content in accessible formats.

Following the MoU signing ceremony, ACORAB chair Arjun Giri said that the partnership is expected to help share expertise of SEJON in financial literacy and economic reporting. He added that the MoU takes immediate effect, with joint initiatives planned to disseminate content on the economic priorities of political parties in the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections. He also noted that community radio journalists would benefit from capacity-building and skill-focused training opportunities under the partnership.

SEJON President Bhagawat Bhattarai said the organization will increase the participation of community radio journalists in its future training and capacity development programs. 

He added that SEJON would use ACORAB’s network to disseminate major economic policies and priorities in simplified, jargon-free language, reaching communities in remote areas of the country.

Siromani Dhungana, Director at ACORAB Nepal, said that discussions on economic policies and strategies should not be limited to the national level alone, and must reach communities where local businesses and livelihoods play a key role in the economy. He further emphasized that economic journalism plays an important role in explaining budgets, entrepreneurship, and financial issues in clear and simple language. 

It is important that media content should reflect provincial and local realities when community media report on economic issues, he said. “ACORAB and SEJON can jointly use journalism and media initiatives to present economic issues in simple ways and strengthen public understanding of inclusive economic development.”

The Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) is an umbrella organization of the professional journalists working to disseminate facts and figures in the economic, business and financial sectors of Nepal. ACORAB Nepal is the umbrella organization representing over 380 community radio stations across the country, promoting democratic dialogue, inclusive governance, and the voices of marginalized communities.