Kathmandu, Oct. 15: Some people always tend to look at the darker side of everything, and this has also happened in the newly announced ordinance to amend some provisions of the Communication Act.
There is no denying that the press should be free, fair and responsible. But even those who advocate for unbridled freedom agree that accountability has been the weakest point of journalism in Nepal. It has happened so many times that the media has gotten Scot-free for publishing and broadcasting no matter how false and libelous the published or broadcast material may be.
The provisions in the ordinance to make the media accountable to its conduct and performance must not be taken as otherwise, but be taken as an undertaking to enhance its integrity and trustworthiness among the people.
There had been some efforts in the past to make the media responsible and accountable to what they publish and broadcast, but they had always faced stiff oppositions from some member of the press, who take themselves as specially privileged and think they can write anything they want.
There is no denying that freedom of expression is a fundamental right and this is one of the prerequisites for vibrant and functioning democracy. But the other side of the coin that the press and media must also be responsible and accountable is equally true for active democracy.
But whenever there is even a little attempt to make the media a little more accountable to there have always been big noises locally as well as from outside saying the media has been gagged and clamped without assessing the actual situation of the country and also of the state of the media.
A statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on October 13 can be taken as none other than an attempt to put Nepal in a bad light. The statement accepted that it had not seen the actual content of the ordinance, and based its comment on the media report that additional restrictions have been imposed on the media.
No one denies that free and independent press is necessary for the people to enjoy their fundamental rights and democratic freedom, and curb on the freedom of expression and media, will inevitably be counterproductive. However, the press statement failed to mention one important point, which journalists everywhere in the world give so much importance – accountability. The statement can be taken as an unwanted and unwarranted interest in the affairs of another country.
Besides being an important part of the society and entrusted with such a huge responsibility, media cannot remain oblivion about the actual situation of the country and what it does must be for the overall benefit of the country and the people. The interest of the people and the country is more important than the interest of a certain group of section of the society, including that of the media.
