KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 22

Media Action Nepal celebrated its 9th Foundation Day and 3rd Convention on Saturday, in Kathmandu, marking significant milestones with the election of new leadership and strategic plans to support independent, inclusive, and accountable media for strengthening democracy in Nepal.

Over 65 attendees joined the event, which featured a presentation highlighting MAN's nine-year journey. The organization has published 26 reports and directly benefited 7,073 journalists through research, policy discussions, capacity building, and monitoring press freedom violations.

Priyanka Jha was elected as the new Chairperson, supported by Mim Bahadur Pariyar (Vice President), Bal Krishna Sah (Secretary), and Laxmi Khatiwada (Treasurer). Ganesh Prasad Ghimire, Yam Bahadur Dura, and Triguna Bhattarai were elected as members. The executive committee appointed Laxman Datt Pant, MAN's founding Chairperson, as Executive Director, ensuring continuity in leadership.

On the occasion, province coordinators-Hadis Khuddar (Madhesh), Narendra Dhakal (Koshi), and Lalit Bahadur Budha (Karnali)- were awarded for their exceptional contributions to media development and reappointed as province coordinators for the next four years.

At the inaugural session, Laxman Datt Pant stressed the urgent need to address growing threats to independent media. He warned of increasing impunity for crimes against journalists and the misuse of disinformation laws to suppress press freedom.

Two separate panel discussions examined challenges facing journalism and digital disinformation. Experts called for strengthened investigative reporting, fair wages, and innovative strategies to adapt to evolving media landscapes. Gham Raj Luintel emphasized innovation in converging media; senior journalist Namrata Sharma stressed the need for robust investigative reporting; and Rajan Pokhrel, Editor of the Himalayan Times highlighted leveraging technology for accuracy and speed. Chandra Shekhar Adhikari raised concerns about job insecurity in the media, while Santosh Sigdel underscored the role of fact-checking tools in combating disinformation. Rabi Raj Baral advocated for editorial gatekeeping, and Manjima Dhakal and Mahesh Kushwaha discussed responsible journalism and the challenges posed by generative AI in amplifying echo chambers.

Meanwhile, newly elected Chairperson Priyanka Jha pledged to uphold MAN's mission to defend independent media and foster accountability. She emphasized promoting responsible journalism and expanding MAN's reach in the coming years. The convention concluded with a renewed commitment to addressing challenges, fostering inclusive governance, and enhancing the media's role as a democratic pillar.

Media Action Nepal, a grassroots civil society organization, actively participates in influential global media development and press freedom alliances, including the Consultative Network of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC-CN), the Global Forum on Media Development (GFMD), and the ACOS Alliance. Laxman Datt Pant, the founding Chairperson and current Executive Director, served as one of the elected Co-Chairs of the MFC-CN from 2024 to 2024, further strengthening the organization's global leadership and advocacy efforts.