Journalists Honored for Risky Reporting

Sabika Shrestha

Nepal’s Five television journalists have been honored for reporting from dangerous situations, including climate-related disasters and the Gen Z movement.

The journalists received the Hem-Sunil Risky Television Journalism Award 2083 at a ceremony held at Nepal Television on Wednesday.

Information and Communications Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina presented the awards at the ceremony.

Kantipur Television senior cameraman Shyam Shrestha, Himalaya Television journalist Ram Chandra Aryal and cameraman Diwakar Pokharel and Nepal Television correspondents Shiva Silwal and Anjir Singh BK were honored for their work under high-risk conditions.

The annual award is presented by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Nepal Television Chapter, to television journalists who gather news while working under natural, physical and other forms of risk.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister Timilsina said journalists and media institutions must critically review their shortcomings and work to improve professionalism, credibility and institutional dignity in journalism.

Dr. Bikram Timilsina, Minister for Information and Communications, said: “If everyone comes together, corrects themselves, comes to a common ground, and feels the need to make the institution stronger, then—there is no greater Mahabharata. Other countries have done it too; in many countries, the journalism sector is moving in a good direction, so there is no reason why Nepal cannot do the same. Fundamentally, without correcting the things that are wrong, we cannot improve.”

Public Service Broadcasting Nepal Acting Chairperson Urvashi Basnyat said the organization would move forward with management reforms while building on the positive work of the past.

Expert member of the award selection committee, Dr. Shriram Poudel, spoke about the different forms of risk journalists face in the course of their profession.

FNJ Nepal Television Chapter Chairperson Surendra Poudel called for initiatives to address the professional and occupational risks faced by journalists as those risks continue to change.

The award was established in memory of Nepal Television journalists Hem Bhandari and Sunil Kumar Singh.

Both journalists died while covering the 2006 helicopter crash in Ghunsa, Taplejung, which also killed then Minister of State for Forests Gopal Rai and several conservation figures.

The Nepal Television Establishment Branch established the Hem-Sunil Risky Television Journalism Award Fund in their memory, and the award has been presented annually since October 7, 2007.

The ceremony also recognized other contributors to Nepal’s television journalism.

Nepal Television Chief News Editor and Head of the Planning, Research and International Relations Division, Rewant Oli, received the Rajendra Dev Acharya Memorial Award.

Former FNJ NTV Chapter Chairperson and senior cameraman Purushottam Ghimire, along with executive cameraman Sudip Budhathoki, were honored with the Shashi Chalise Memorial Award.

The Hem-Sunil award continues to recognize television journalists who work in difficult and risky conditions to bring news to the public.

This year marks the 20th edition of the award.