FNJ objects to govt policy on media

KATHMANDU: President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Mahendra Bista on Wednesday objected to government plan to ‘amend the journalists’ code of ethics to make information dissemination credible and descent’.

In the policy and programmes, presented by Federation of Nepali Journalists , the government has mentioned about amending ‘the journalists’ code of ethics to make information dissemination credible and descent’.

“Code of ethics for journalists is determined by journalists themselves. The current code of ethics was jointly issued by the Federation of Nepali Journalists and Press Council Nepal and both are preparing for a revision,” Bista said in a press statement issued on Wednesday.

“So, including this topic in the policy and programmes that is implemented by the government cannot be even imagined in press freedom and democratic system. Ot is objectionable,” Bista added in the statement.

Only the press laws can regulate the online media and the government’s announcement to imagine separate law for their regulation is suspicious, Bista said.

He expressed concern about not including other media related agendas including establishment of Mass Communication Training Academy, which was included even in the last year’s fiscal budget, in the government policy and programmes.