KATHMANDU, AUGUST 3
Stakeholders stressed that the media sector should work to prevent misinformation and hate speech during election time.
They made this remark at an interaction organised by Nepal Voters' Right Forum here today.
On the occasion, Press Council Nepal Chairperson Bal Krishna Basnet said the media should stop disinformation and hate speech by duly following the code of conduct. "It is found that non-journalists spread misinformation in the name of journalists rather that professional media during election. The state should take special measures to control misleading and false information from the social media," opined Basnet.
A separate mechanism should be formed to control social media, he shared and added that activities could be carried out by remaining within the legal framework as the press council works as a bridge between the government and media.
Similarly, Chairperson of Federation of Nepali Journalists Bipul Pokharel expressed the view that media should disseminate only right information by preventing the dissemination of misinformation.
All should be aware about the dissemination of misinformation and hate speech as such matter spread more during the election, added Pokharel.
Likewise, Executive Chairperson of Rastriya Samachar Samiti Dharmendra Jha said it had become difficult to prevent the dissemination of misinformation and hate speech as such information was disseminated from outside rather than through the media. "Other forces outside the media are involved in disseminating false news and misinformation. How to control such forces? It is difficult to avoid misinformation."
Deputy General Manager of Nepal Television Arati Chataut, Editor of Online Khabar.Com Shiva Gaunle, Editor of Ghatana Ra Bichar Babita Basnet, and Forum Chair Bhakta Bishwokarma expressed their views on the occasion.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 4, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
