Kathmandu, Jan 1: The delayed law-making in the sector of media and mass communications has been blamed for the anti-press atmosphere, thereby keeping journalists at receiving end.
Welcoming a step forwarded on Media Council Bill with its passage from the Upper House of federal parliament and launch of public service broadcasting, a media report has underlined the need for speeding up the law-making in media sector with strict adherence to constitutional provision and human rights principles so that freedom of expression (FoE) and journalists’ rights would be secured and promoted.
The annual media report-2024 released by Freedom Forum titled ‘Hostility to Media Continues Unabated’. It has noted the trend of “increased number of media persons affected by the press freedom violations; weak enforcement of RTI law; noncooperation from any side for recovery of media suffering a financial crisis; deluge of misinformation, disinformation and discredit to media in the wake of rising digital spheres and expansion of internet; continuous shift of advertisement to digital platforms and applications” as some of the pressing problems facing Nepali media in the past one year.
In the total 53 anti-press incidents, 92 media persons were directly affected, the report said, adding that among which, 15 percent were female and 85 percent male. In the previous year, 2023, there were 52 incidents. It has categorized the press freedom violations into the threat/death threat, manhandle/attack, misbehavior, court case, arrest/detention. The highest number comes to manhandle/attack, 29, followed by obstruction/vandalism, 27.
The report also mentioned the murder of right to information (RTI) activist and journalist Suresh Bhul in Sudurpaschim Province. It wrote: “Initially doubted whether it was because of media profession Bhul was killed, later, it was found theft was fabricated for his murder over his RTI activism and media. Although most of those involved in murder were arrested, one is still absconding. It is essential to bring to book the absconded one and ensure justice to victim family.”
As in the past, the document has shown concentration of press freedom violations in Bagmati Province. In this province, 47 journalists were directly affected in 21 incidents of press freedom violations, while Karnali and Lumbini Province had only a single incident with its effect on one journalist each during a year. The province witnessing violation following Bagmati were from Gandaki (15 affected) and it is further followed by Madhesh province (14 affected).
Moreover, the report has also brought to fore the data that online journalists were targeted most in the country. Among total journalists affected, majority- 43. It has mentioned the hostility meted out to journalist by Dharan City Mayor as a serious concern. Investigative journalist Gopal Dahal was receiving series of threat over news reporting in Dharan, according to the report.
Observing the report finding, Freedom Forum Executive Chief Taranath Dahal said, “Although number of press freedom violations declined over the past five years, the anti-press attitude is deepening in the country, while favourable law and policy making are much awaited.” He suggested governance and financial autonomy along with editorial independence in the public service broadcasting.
Dahal pointed out that as the much needed laws on media were not intensified, existing anti-press law like Electronic Transaction Act was being misused, thereby meting out adversity to practice of FoE online and journalists’ rights.
Similarly, FoE advocate and rights defender Sanjeeb Ghimire remarked that independent and robust presence of media is vital for functional democracy. “The annual media status reflects how Nepali media is faring. The media sustainability must be a wider concern now. Equally important is protection of FoE on digital sphere by making tech platforms more accountable toward its users,” Ghimire underlined. #FOE #nepal #freedom #expression
