I plan to make RSS a vibrant wire service provider : Tara Nath Dahal

Abuse of state-owned media against the democratic forces during the direct rule of King Gyanendra has triggered debates to turn the government-run media houses into public media bodies. Experts say this would help media remain independent of the government influences. Former president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Tara Nath Dahal is also one of the advocats of favouring turning the state media into public bodies and ensure their independence from government censorship. Dahal had led campaigns in favour of independent media for free and fair reporting on national issues, providing uncensored information to the people. After he was recently appointed as the Chairman of Rastriya Samachar Samiti-RSS (National News Agency), Dahal spoke with Indra Adhikari of Nepalnews about his future strategies. Excerpts:

Why do you think you are fit for this job?

First and foremost, I am a working media person. I have been in this field for the last 20 years. I advocated for the need of an efficient and effective national news agency that provides useful services to all other media bodies. And I also believe, as a media activist, in independent journalism, away from state influences and political interventions. I think these are the reasons why the government gave this responsibility to me.

What are the weaknesses of the RSS? How do your plan to improve them?

In its 45 years of history, the RSS has limited its services only to periodical bulletins. It has not been able to start wire service. The bulletin service is very traditional. In addition to that, for years, the agency was made a means to disseminate pro-government information. The news and other services provided by the agency included only formal events. I plan to make it a vibrant wire service provider. I will also put my efforts to make it a quality content supplying agency. Special feature bulletins will be launched on specific subjects like sports, business, entertainment and culture. The bulletins will give in-depth coverage on those subjects. I also plan running opinion polls on subjects of national importance. This will raise the concern of citizens on national agenda. Media houses in the country cannot station their correspondents in all parts of the country. So, it is the responsibility of RSS to have them stationed all over so that events and issues from all over the country get space in national media. More than 180 FM radio stations have come up in the country. They also require news of national events. However, they cannot place their correspondents in all places. RSS must reach there to supply the contents. To meet their needs, I also plan to start voice news service. Services of RSS should be based on demands of the market.

Should RSS still be a state-controlled agency?

In fact, news agency was started by private sector in the country. In early 1960s, the privately published weeklies and other newspapers had formed two news agencies. One of them was Nepal Sambad Samiti. In 1961, after the dismissal of the elected government by King Mahendra, both these agencies were merged into one – Rastriya Samachar Samiti. The agency was brought under government control and was turned into a 'government information dissemination window'. I don't think the agency should now be run under similar condition. It should be given autonomy for promotion and supplying independent content, which is the basic value of journalism. Finally, RSS must become the common and reliable news agency for all media houses in the country.

How would the RSS service be useful to media houses at a time when they are turning to internet from where they receive news very quickly?

International news agencies publish their news online only after they supply the matter through wire services. RSS must be able to supply these contents to its customers faster than the international agencies upload their news online. For national news, RSS needs to expand its networks to supply news to media houses, consequently, helping the national media houses to cut their expenditure.

Has the RSS adequately reported on all aspects of national issues?

Not in all subjects but it has adequately reported on formal political and developmental issues. Thus, the RSS needs to diversify its services. I already stated some of my plans to diversify these services. However, we have constraints of human and financial resources. Technical lacking is another major obstacle for RSS not being able to provide its service faster. I target for technical enhancement, finding financial resources and generating skilled human resources so that the agency would be able to cover on all aspects of national issues. Nepalnews.com Mar 14 07

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