Minister Sharma commits to make journalism sector advance, professional

Kathmandu: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma has said that the incumbent government was committed to making the journalism sector more advanced professional,  and prosperous by protecting press freedom.

Minister Sharma made those statements while addressing the program organized on the 39th anniversary of Nepal Television. She mentioned that Nepal Television and Radio Nepal would be merged and developed as more independent, autonomous, and people-oriented public service broadcasters. ‘Earlier, government-owned media were understood as the mouthpiece of the government. But now, we are trying to change such type of working style, ‘said Minister Sharma.

She even explained that government-owned media is working to convey the state’s information, message, and activities among the people and people’s message and expectations to the state.’A committee on suggestions for reform of the mass media sector has been formed keeping in mind the restructuring of the mass media sector, and the Nepal Media Council Bill and the Mass Communications Bill have been prepared with the Committee’s report as the basis,’ said Minister Sharma.

Similarly, Minister Sharma further added that emphasis has been given to the formulation of the policies and laws related to the mass communication sector aiming to make the province and the local level also stronger as per the situation developed through the federal structure and practices as well as in line with the Mass Communication Policy, 2073 BS. She said the journalism sector should stress the production and dissemination of content defending the political achievements made from people’s sacrifice and discouraging the vulgar and uncivil tendencies seen at present in society.

Likewise, Minister Sharma stated that the government is always ready for the timely development, expansion, and transformation of Nepal Television and wishes that NTV would carry with it a glorious history of four decades established as a more strong and popular broadcasting medium in the coming days by saying ‘It would be difficult to expand the reach of television if arrangements are not made to watch television on hand-held devices, taking into account the development of information technology and the changing tastes of the mass audiences,’.

The Minister urged the NTV management to make the operation cost-effective and bring quality to the service delivery through clean and efficient management—Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

Similarly, Ram Krishna Subedi also urged the television to play a role in reducing the negative impact that misinformation and disinformation can have on society reminding  Nepal Television to practice responsible journalism by making the people well-informed and stressing the need for television to remain active in materializing the inclusiveness adopted by the constitution.

Employees providing uninterrupted service for a long time in NTV were awarded the Long Service Medal on the occasion.

RSS