Kathmandu, January 28

Experts from media sectors and other stakeholders today discussed the draft of the proposed Child Sensitive Media Directives-2016, which aims to enable media houses and journalists to portray women and children issues in a more balanced manner.

Press Council Nepal today organised a national workshop and an interaction on the 11-point draft of the directives.

The programme was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare CP Mainali, Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai, Director General of Department of Information Laxmi Bilash Koirala, chairperson of PCN Borna Bahadur Karki, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Mahendra Bista and senior journalists Prakash Rimal, Suman Kharel, Babita Basnet, Kundan Aryal and executive director of Central Child Welfare Board, Tarak Dhital.

Aryal had presented a paper on the draft of the directives, while senior journalists’ Rimal, Kharel and Basnet had commented on it.

According to CCWB, the directives was being prepared under the clause 3 (10) of Code of Journalistic Ethics 2003 (Amended and Revised 2008) and in collaboration with PCN, MoWCSW, DoI and FNJto encourage high standard professional practice regarding reporting and dissemination of news, information and other materials related to children in mass media.

The draft directives state that the media house or journalists should be sensitive and responsible while disseminating news about children below the age of 18. It says that the media house and journalists should not reveal the identity of the children unless necessary and ensure the content does not harm the image of a child. It also states that the news related to children should not be sensitised or given a sensational angle.

It further aims to avoid use of children in the advertisement, which is ill-intentioned or motivated purely by business purpose.

It has also asked media houses to maintain special caution while disseminating scary pictures and videos

that could have a negative impact on child psychology.