Protect the rights of the journalists: experts

Government officials and senior journalists have stressed on the need for effective and stronger laws for the protection of the rights of the working journalists.

Speaking in an interaction organised by Freedom Forum in the capital on Thursday, secretary of the information ministry Shankar Prasad Koirala suggested naming the act as 'Media Activists Act' rather than 'Working Journalists Act' as it puts psychological pressure on the journalists as inferior to their employers.

Koirala informed that draft of Right to Information bill has been sent to law ministry for necessary review and expressed commitments from the government's side to implement the draft of the right to information and other bills prepared by the media task force without any change or delay.

Chairman of the Nepal Press Council Rajendra Dahal said protection of the rights of the journalists would be guaranteed and their responsibility towards the media house would be strengthened if the media organisations sold some of their share to the journalists.

Coordinator of the media task force Kashi Raj Dahal stressed the need of an investment friendly environment in the media industry, strengthening the skills of the journalists and protecting their rights. He highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of journalists who have the responsibilities of protecting the rights to information of the citizens.

Meanwhile, at the same program, President of the Nepal Press Union Murari Sharma accused that Federation of the Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) was the major obstacle for implementing the working journalist act.

Other speakers suggested the provision of monitoring mechanism in media houses to see that laws are effectively implemented and recognition of the journalists working with production houses as 'working journalists'. The task force is expected to hand over the draft bill to the government next week. nepalnews.com ia Nov 30 06