Nepalgunj, Apr. 12: Former central president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Mr. Kishor Nepal says that journalists whether they belong to the 21st century or the previous century have an important and equal role to play in the political, economic and social awakening of their motherland.

The former FNJ president said this while presenting a working paper on ” Nepalese journalism in the twenty-first century: a voice for the voiceless” at a workshop entitled “professional journalism for the 21st century” jointly organised by the FNJ central committee and the Frederick Ebert Stiftung in Thakurdwara of Bardiya district on other day.

He said journalism prior to the popular movement of 1990 was a “movement”, therefore, its “mission” was not over.

Rather the mission has started after the success of the 1990 Popular Movement and the mission is safeguarding and consolidation of democracy, he added.

‘Professionalism’ in journalism does not signify ‘business’ as is understood commonly, he said, adding that rather it denotes development of skills, the style of functioning and professionalism in work and the newsroom.

It also means a degree of responsibility and becoming mentally and physically strong so as to be able to make a living out of the profession. He further said.

Dinesh Kumar Shrestha of Bardiya commented on the working paper while senior journalist from Kanchanpur Ram Bahadur Chand chaired the session.

Presenting a working paper on “Professionalism and trustworthiness of the Nepali journalism” at the opening session, editor of the Nepal Samacharpatra national daily Kapil Kafle said that while talking of reliability and responsibility of the Nepali journalism in terms of its professional development, emphasis should be given to the elements of liberal organisation, implementation of the code of conduct and training and evaluation.

Presenting a working paper entitled “the challenges of journalism in the countryside in terms of professional journalism” in the second session of the workshop recently, Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) mid-west regional bureau chief Pramod Pradhan said that the government, journalists and the society, the three main players in the development of journalism, should make earnest efforts from their respective sides for facing up the challenges of journalism sector in rural and outlying areas.