Journalism researcher Meenakshi Neupane argues that journalism requires not only experience but also academic qualifications in the subject area, and that it should not be assumed that only female journalists are required to write news about women and raise women's issues.
What you should know
A discussion program on the topic 'Questions in Journalism: Responsibility and Accountability' was concluded on Sunday afternoon as part of the third Lumbini News Festival organized in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha.
Speaking at the discussion program of the second session of the third Lumbini News Festival organized by Lumbini Press Club Bhairahawa, Nepal Press Council Chairman Dr. Kumar Sharma Acharya said that it is inevitable for the media to double-triple verify information and edit news at various levels. He said that the media should always be aware that news that is circulated without verification and editing information can mislead the society and even lead to unpleasant incidents.
He argued that the media is called the fourth organ because it monitors the three organs of the state, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, and acts as a bridge between them. ‘It is not enough for the media to be more rights-oriented, it is equally important to be responsible, and they must follow the code of conduct,’ he said, ‘Journalism is dignified only when journalists maintain their dignity.’
Annapurna Post Editor-in-Chief Akhand Bhandari emphasized that the media should always speak the truth, write the truth and act truthfully. Bhandari pointed out that the media and journalists are being stingy in apologizing (saying sorry) and saying thank you. Bhandari suggested that the use of technology in the media should be taken positively. Saying that technology will take us forward, not backward, Bhandari pointed out that if the media cannot keep up with technology, it will become a dinosaur.
Krishna Prasad Sharma, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Lumbini, said that the media is a mirror for both the government and the private sector. However, saying that the media's credibility has decreased due to its inability to provide truthful information, he urged them to disseminate news only by selecting truthful information.
Sharma urged that not only the migration of youth abroad should be negative, but also positive information should be brought out about the knowledge and skills they have learned from there and applied in the country. Sharma pointed out the need for the Indian media to also write about smuggling, customs fraud, drug trafficking and the birth of Buddha in Nepal.
Journalism scholar Meenakshi Neupane said that it should be clear that not all those working in the media are journalists. She said that journalists should only work on news and that journalists should have special knowledge and skills. She said that journalism requires not only experience but also subject-specific educational qualifications. Neupane said that it should not be assumed that only female journalists are needed to write news about women and raise women's issues.
During the discussion program, Federation of Nepali Journalists President Nirmala Sharma, outgoing Federation President Bipul Pokharel, Lumbini Province Vice President Shukrarishi Chaulagain and others emphasized that the main task of the media's responsibility and accountability is to continuously ask questions to the state and warn against injustice. The program was facilitated by Lumbini Press Club Vice President and Program Coordinator Dipendra Baduwal.
