Rights and duties of press

Two dates relating to press have come into discussion this week. The first was World Press Freedom Day on May 3. On this day journalists across the globe put forward their demands of occupational rights and security. Celebrated since 1993 on United Nation's call, this Day pays obeisance to journalists around the world. Being a UN event, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) takes initiative in choosing slogans and discussion issues for this day. UNESCO, from its central office in Paris, assesses challenges working journalists face across all regions in the world. Director General's message is disseminated worldwide. There is a tradition of conducting public discussions and seminars whether journalists were freely allowed to use their right to expression for providing information in people's interest.

This year a seminar was held in joint organization of UNESCO and Finland government to review risks and difficulties journalists across the countries face. It is but natural that saddening condition in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan became the central issue in the seminar. There was international outcry against assault in Charlie Hebdo's office and murder of journalists for publishing a cartoon that allegedly offended a group's faith. Political reprisals have haunted Turkish press. Worrisome developments in Bangladesh where some writers lost their lives to religious intolerance also became a topic of discussion. Taking these events in background, Federation of Nepalese Journalists President Dr. Mahendra Bista termed the year 2015 to be the year of assault on press freedom which is true.

Let's now focus on our national status. Even till previous year formal practice of holding discussions on press and journalism coinciding with May 3 were held. Participants in these discussions used to follow the map prepared by organisations in the west to arrive at the conclusion about level of press freedom in individual states. There was not a dedicated day or occasion to monitor or review Nepali journalism. The need to celebrate the occasion was not felt till now. The field of journalism has seen a remarkable broadening after the political change in the 1990s. Gorkhapatra was synonymous to print journalism while Radio Nepal and Nepal Television held monopoly in airwaves.

Things have radically changed in the last 25 years. Print and broadcast media have proliferated and there are more than 300 registered online news portals. One can easily guess that more than 10,000 journalists work in these media. Moreover, there are correspondents in foreign countries working for Nepali media and a sizeable number of active Nepalis in the country with responsibility of producing contents for foreign media. Journalism sector flourishing in such speed has already become a field of study for reviewing its challenges and possibilities. In this context, it is a timely decision to fix a date to celebrate Nepal's "National Press Day". The government deserves appreciation for coming to this decision. It is welcome that the Day commemorates the establishment date of the country's oldest newspaper Gorkhapatra.

Studying Nepali context on the occasion of National Press Day merits close observation of the country's political instability. Transition period has not come to an end. The constitution has been promulgated but its implementation has proved difficult because of voices of oppositions and disagreements from different quarters. Foreign interference in Nepal's internal affairs has increased. Groups that do not appear on the surface have been playing games of disrupting Nepal's unified social and cultural speciality. Some interest groups might be trying to influence media. Questions are raised on Nepal's integrity or existence. It is not easy to assess opportunities and challenges in the field of journalism at such a delicate time.

Therefore journalists themselves and organisations working for journalists' benefit need to be alert. The constitution has guaranteed different rights including freedom of expression, publication and broadcast freedom and right to information but journalists need to use their discretion in using those rights. Reviewing the overall condition of journalism in the country, journalists should not hesitate to assess whether they have skills to use constitutional rights. There will be consequences when journalists with low academic qualification and half-baked knowledge analyse sensitive matters. Journalists and organisations for journalists should discuss on these issues on the Press Day.

National Press Day has provided the opportunity to all journalists to review their works and make criticisms for their mistakes. "Lokaantar", too, is aware of its responsibilities.