KATHMANDU, August 10

Press Council Nepal (PCN) is going to review the Code of Journalistic Ethics to make it relevant and timely in accordance with international practice and norms.

At a meeting between the Nepal Press Council and PCN on Monday, Borna Bahadur Karki, chairperson of PCN said that there was a need to change the existing Code of Journalistic Ethics, therefore they were going to review it soon. Karki said that the office had not been able to bear its responsibility completely of late.

“PCN has not been able to fulfil its role as a guardian in the journalism sector,” he said adding, “Similarly the media sector has also failed to consider us as their guardian.”

Press Council Nepal planning to take examination for people who want to pursue a career in journalism

He also urged media houses and mediapersons to identify the weaknesses of PCN so that it could correct itself to help journalists and media houses. He said that PCN was going to bring in a provision of examination for introducing certain criteria for the people who want to pursue a career in journalism.

He further said that they were also planning to establish a media museum and provide training to journalist to enhance their capacity.

During the programme, NPU officials such as Deepak Acharya, senior vice-president; Ajaya Babu Siwakoti, general secretary; Bhishma Raj Ojha, deputy general secretary; and Saroj Adhikari, treasurer; recommended that PCN revise the Code of Journalistic Ethics and monitor media houses as much as possible.

They said that as the state was going to be divided into different federal states, PCN should also works towards forming Federal Councils in the centre and Pradeshik Council at the Pradesh level.

PCN member Sudarsan Acharya and Chief Administrative Officer Jhabindra Bhusal, said media houses that are not following government rules and regulations would not be categorised and would be deprived of state facilities.