Kathmandu, July 15

Media experts and political leaders put forth their views on the draft of the national media policy at an interaction held in the capital today.

Speaker Onsari Gharti said she would prioritise the policy if it accommodated the views and suggestions from diverse sectors.

She added that the media policy needs to reflect the changed context and duly address actively working journalists’ issues.

On the occasion, Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai said that the media policy was being drafted with a view to addressing the issues of the media and not to serve the interest of any political party.

“I hope the policy will be finalised by incorporating suggestions from experts,” said.

Similarly, former information and communications minister and central member of the Nepali Congress Minendra Rijal said although the preliminary draft of the policy seemed good, some amendments could be made.

Chairperson of Women, Children, Senior Citizen, and Social Welfare Committee of the Parliament Ranju Kumari Jha, CPN-Maoist Centre Whip Sita Nepali, Federal Socialist Forum Nepal leader Shivaji Yadav, and lawmakers Ramhari Khatiwada, Yogendra Chaudhary, Durga Poudel and Jakir Hussain argued that the draft of the media policy was good.

FNJ President Mahendra Bista said the draft media policy had included matters relating to transparency of investment in media and issues of working journalists.