The stakeholders here have stressed on making the media policy all-encompassing by incorporating the issues from diverse regions and communities. At a talk programme on 'national media policy in changed context' organised by the Media Foundation Nepal Dhangadhi in the capital city on Wednesday, the media experts, NGO representatives and senior journalists said whether the media policy reflects the aspiration of the people and the working journalists was significant. On the occasion, freedom1 Forum's Chairman Taranath Dahal, who is also the former chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalist, said numerous policies on media were yet to be implemented. So, while formulating the media policy, the issues should be categorically and thoroughly discussed. According to him, the media policy should internalize the positive recommendations of the past committees and studies and encompass the latest trend and landscape of media. FNJ Chairman Dr Mahendra Bista said as the social media as facebook and twitter have been dominating the traditional media landscape, the media policy should be restructured in a way it would encompass multi-faceted issues. Chairman of Press Council Nepal, Borna Bahadur Karki, pointed out the need that press freedom1 and transparency in media were unavoidable points. Senior journalists Dharmendra Jha and Hasta Gurung said the private media must be inclusive. Other speakers on the occasion were Chairman of Nepal Press Union, Badri Sigdel; Chairman of Press Chautari Nepal, Rajendra Aryal and others.
Freedom Forum is a prominent non-governmental organization in Nepal dedicated to institutionalizing democracy, protecting and promoting human rights, press freedom, freedom of expression, right to information, promoting audit accountability, open and accountable budget, public finance reforms, citizen engagement in public finance management and citizen participation in audit. Established in February 2005, the organization emerged in response to the political turmoil following Former King Gyanendra’s coup dated February 1, 2005, which imposed severe restrictions on media and democratic rights. A group of media professionals, legal experts, and academics founded Freedom Forum to safeguard Nepal’s hard-earned democratic freedoms during this repressive period.
