Communication Minister Timilsina Calls for Technology Driven Communication Practice

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr Bikram Timilsina has emphasized that press freedom, professional journalism, and technology-oriented communication practices are imperative to strengthen democracy.

While addressing the National Journalism Day 2083 and the award distribution ceremony held today at the Office of President, Sheetal Niwas, Minister Timilsina articulated the government’s policy of protecting freedom and dignity of press.

He highlighted that the government acknowledges journalism as the fourth pillar of the state and asserted that free, fair, and dignified journalism is essential to democracy. “The government does not endorse any actions that would restrict press freedom,” he said while adding that alongside freedom, responsibility and accountability are imperative.

Journalism based on facts and truth can steer society in a positive direction. Referring to this year’s National Journalism Day theme, ‘Foundation of Good Governance: Technology-Friendly Responsible Journalists,’ he pointed out the increasing necessity for technology-driven and responsible journalism in our digital era.

“As the flow of information has increased with advancements in global information technology, the emergence of ‘fake news’ and the misuse of social media present considerable challenges,” Developing fact-checking as a crucial element of journalism is vital to address these concerns, he added. The government prioritizes the professionalism and sustainability of the media, while measures are being implemented to create policy frameworks that support the media sector, particularly through the formulation of the Advertising Policy 2083.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the full enforcement of the Working Journalists Act, assuring that more effective initiatives will be introduced towards that end. On this occasion, Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Laxmi Kumari Basnet, stated that responsible and technology-oriented journalism forms the foundation of good governance.

She emphasized the necessity of educating citizens responsibly by maximizing the use of technology, asserting that technology is merely a tool, and its application determines the quality of governance. During the event, senior journalists Chandra Kishore Jha and Namrata Sharma were honoured with Senior Journalist Award.

Additionally, the National Journalism Award was presented to Umesh Shrestha, Bhola Kumar Paswan, and Rupa Gahatraj. On this occasion, Deepak Acharya, the Acting President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, highlighted the necessity for the new government to act responsibly in pursuit of good governance, transparency, and meeting the citizens’ expectations.

He conveyed his belief that the role of responsible, unbiased, and fact-based journalism will be crucial in societal transformation and urged the government to establish media-friendly laws. (RSS)