Kathmandu, May 7

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has said that the journalism sector should be committed to helping the national journey to prosperity in view of the country making headway with political stability, peace and financial development.

At a programme organised to honour and confer award on journalists on the occasion of National Journalism Day 2019 at her residence Sheetal Niwas, today, President Bhandari reminded that the constitution has fully guaranteed press freedom. Press freedom helps strengthen democracy, so responsible journalism will play role to materialise press freedom.

At the programme organised by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the president further said journalism had contributed tremendously to increasing social awareness, human rights and to strengthening the democratic system.

“Democracy and responsible journalism are inseparably related.

In the absence of one, another cannot function well,” she underscored.

According to the president, the state mechanism was committed to promoting tourism and modernisation of agriculture.

Industrialization, employment creation and self entrepreneurship were also in the priority list. “It is the moral duty of media to relay good news of socioeconomic sectors to the people. It is, however, a bitter reality that the country is yet to be free from social ills.

Now, with the country making headway on the path of socialism based on social justice and equality, the social evils will gradually decline,” the president underscored.

Moreover, she mentioned that a new culture will be set up with socioeconomic development.

The honour and awards to noted personalities in journalism will help forge harmonious relations between the state and the media.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Gokul Banskota said the government was planning to bring new laws on media by respecting professional integrity, and editorial independence to ensure the golden age of the press. Democracy is the foundational system in Nepal. The government accepts criticisms made in the media, he added.

According to Minister of Communications, a system would be developed to make the press formulate its code in view of its readers/audience, and make public its analytical description every six months.

Secretary at MoCIT Mahendraman Gurung also said the government was for responsible and free press.

Chair of Federation of Nepali Journalists Govind Acharya said the media could also contribute to the country’s prosperity and development.