Pokhara, May 27: What constitutes good journalism? Reliability and objectivity of the news of course.
This view was expressed at a talk programme on “Professional journalism and the role of the Nepal Press Union” organised here recently by Nepal Press Union Kaski district branch on the occasion of the tenth establishment day of the Nepal Press Union.
Whatever the political faith of the journalist, if what he has written is objective and if the audience/readers are convinced that the news is reliable, then this might be called a good journalism, most of the speakers of the programme concurred.
The speakers stressed that journalists should not cross the limits while utilising their rights of freedom of the press and aspects like building up of necessary infrastructure, specialisation and diversification of news services, presentation style, distinction between opinion pieces and news, professional and institutionalised development of journalism and abiding of the journalists’ code of conduct should be given a serious consideration.
It was disclosed that there were altogether 1,400 members of the Nepal Press Union at the 47 union branches across the Kingdom. Press Council member Keshab Raj Parajuli, central member of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Badri Binod Pratik, member of the central advisory body of the FNJ Madhav Sharma, FNJ Central Resources Mobilisation Committee member Kusum Keshav Parajuli, journalist Tejnath Ghimire, advocate Surendra Thapa, journalists Narayan Karki and Rabindra Bastola and FNJ Kaski district branch president Krishna Prasad Bastola spoke on the present condition of journalism in the country.
Also expressing their views on the occasion were Nepal Press Union central member Ramesh Poudel, regional convenor Hem Raj Baral, Press Union Syangja district president Om Prakash Sharma, Nawaraj Pahadi of the Nepal Press Union Lamjung district chapter and Reporters’ Club, Kaski president Krishna Prasad Sharma.
Nepal Press Union Kaski district president Krishna Prasad Sharma presided.
Likewise in Gaur, Nepal Press Union, Rautahat district branch organised a colloquium around the topic- “The Press Union’s role in the development of free press” on the occasion of the tenth establishment day of the Union here recently. Addressing the colloquium, chief judge of the district court Mahabir Prasad Shrestha said it is the duty of the Nepal Press Union to expose the wrong traditions in the country’s journalism sector and defeat those who are practicing yellow journalism and giving a bad name to the profession.
Chairman of the district development committee (DDC) Rajendra Prasad Raut Kurmi appreciated the steps taken by the working journalists affiliated to the Nepal Press Union for their role in the development of the journalism in the district.
Nepali Congress Rautahat district president Gambhir Prasad Nirala said journalists must work as the “eyes” of the society.
Central member of the Nepal Communist Party (United) Udaya Narayan Hamal said that the development of the press in the district, especially after the restoration of democracy in 1990, has helped expose the wide network of smuggling and other such criminal acts in the district.
This has helped the state to check such criminal activities to some extent in the district, thanks to the press, he said.
Administrative officer Kedar Prasad Ghimire, Rewant Jha of the CPN (UML), CPN (ML) district secretary Sachidananda Saha, Satyendra Singh of the RPP, president of Nepal Trade Union Congress Rautahat district chapter Binda Sahani and Mayor of Gaur Municipality Gaurishankar Yadav also expressed their views at the programme presided over by Nepal Press Union Rautahat branch president Ratna Adhikari.