Kathmandu, May 3:Journalist, publishers and officials today shared a platform to stress the need of law regarding right to information.

They said that the achievements gained in the field of mass media during the last ten years was not much of what was expected under democratic system. Hailing the present Constitution, a fruit of democratic movement of 1990, for the press freedom it has guaranteed, they urged all the concerned to impart impartial information to people within the framework of media ethics.

Both private and state-owned media made tremendous progress after the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990, said Nepal Press Council President Harihar Birahi at the programme organised on the occasion of International Press Freedom Day (May 3) by Reporters’ Club Nepal here this afternoon. “However, Nepalese press has not received support and help from the government despite its role in consolidating democracy in the country.”

The government should take some concrete initiatives towards formulating policy regarding press freedom, he said at the programme chaired by the Club President Hrishi Dhamala.

Acting Editor-in-Chief of Gorkhapatra daily Ramesh Tiwari presented a brief background of international press freedom and said that the concept was formulated by an international convention of journalists held in Namibia in 1991.

Stressing the significance of press freedom in the present context of terrorism, he said a huge number of countries lacked press freedom. “We have to guard ourselves against the elements hindering our freedom of imparting information.”

Nepal Television General Manager Durga Nath Sharma accused the Nepalese newspapers of misusing press freedom and of creating confusion regarding news publication. “Press has a great role in minimising the social problems, including terrorism.”

Nepal Press Institute President Gokul Pokharel said that there should be non-partisan presentation of news and facts.

Shangrila Channel Chairman Nir Bikram Shah said that the state-owned media should not only inform the public about the government plans and policies but also take people’s problems to the concerned authority.

Stressing on the need of professionalism in media, he said, “Journalists have been successful but journalism has not.”

Former NPC president Somnath Ghimire said that the lack of proper legal provision regarding press freedom resulted in confusion. He appealed to all to fight unitedly for the right to information.

Kantipur Publications Chairman Hemraj Gyawali urged all the concerned to correct their shortcomings, if any, by analysing the past deeds. He asked the government to reduce tax on newsprint so that the crawling newspapers of the country could heave a sigh of relief.

He showed the need of proper policy regarding the free flow of information from the government offices.

Senior journalist Malla K. Sundar said that in addition to the journalists ordinary citizens too should be given the right to information. He also accused the Nepalese media of neglecting to raise people’s problems.