Media Prioritized Negative Side?

I came across an interesting news bulletin yesterday. The ‘Reporters’ News Corner: News Bulletin of Reporters’ Club Nepal’ is the rapport of the face-to-face program on media organized by the club. The headline ‘we are aware to be balanced and responsible: senior journalists’ is accompanied by ‘journalists admit press prioritized negative side’ in bold face. Naturally, I was more attracted towards the second line and looked for the journalists who admitted it in the story.

Among eight speakers in the program, only two said that and three were – RK Manandhar, the chairman of Image Channel TV, Kapil Kafle, editor of Rajdhani daily and Sri Ram Singh Basnet, the senior journalist who spent all his time at state-owned National News Agency (RSS).

Manandhar said – “we should agree on the fact that political parties and media also played a role to disturb the nation’s peace” adding the claim that political parties never put peace establishment their agenda and media prioritized negative sides.

My concern here is: who is Mr. Manandhar to talk about media? Does investing on some media and being the chairman due to that factor make a person media critic? I would have no comments on the issue if that comments have come from any other speaker in the program, but since it is a businessman, I don’t personally like the comments. Should I try to write something criticizing his business and management tactics? I prefer not to make a fool of myself.

Basnet demanded establishment of a high-level Media Commission to establish the co-operative environment between media and state while adding that the government is chief responsible in making media more useful for the wellbeing of the state and people (Was it a satire on government control over a few media including RSS?). He told the conference that the situation worsen because of media’s priority to violent activities and said that ‘there is a need of establishing the environment of faith between state and media for establishment of peace.’ He also requested the press to be responsible while enjoying freedom.

Kafle admitted media lost its patience in Maoists issues.

Among eight, six, including Kafle, said that there is no need of media censorship in a situation where media are aware of their responsibilities. They also said that the media should be free as the King highlighted the role of media in his Royal Proclamation on Feb 1.

The speakers in the program included Harihar Birahi, former chairman of Nepal Press Council, Gokul Pokherel, Devendra Gautam, Club’s president Rishi Dhamala and Hari Lamsal.