Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Opinion

-Lekhnath Adhikari, Journalist, Nepal

I come basically from the Eastern Mountains. Dingla is the village in the Bhojpur district where I was born.

The entire schooling I have had right there.

Around 1992, I came to Kathmandu after completing the School Leaving Certificate Level for further studies.

As the luck would have it, I came in contact with some of my intimate friends who also belonged to the same village in Bhojpur who managed my entrance into the news paper domain.

Yes! Rastra Pukar was a very popular vernacular weekly then wherein I worked for well over six months or so and had first the honor to interview one UML stalwart, Jhal Nath Khanal which was appreciated not only by my colleagues at the paper but others as well who went through that particular interview.

The unexpected appreciation and the encouragement that followed thus naturally had an impact on my inner instinct which encouraged me to go in for studying this subject in details so that I could understand the internal dynamics of the profession as such.

I thus joined the then Ratna Rajya Campus wherein I studied Journalism and English language.

Upon graduating from the then RR Campus, I had a four stint at one of the sister publication of The Samachar Patra Broadfsheet daily, the Maha Nagar Daily. My area of interest was naturally the contemporary political events. Later, this four years stay at this Eveninger, I switched on to what is today the Samachar Patra Daily. This should have been some where around seven years ago.

Currently I have been entrusted with Foreign Policy/matters reporting. This domain is really interesting for this section provides one to write about Nepal’s relations with friendly countries. In the process, I meet Nepali as well as foreign diplomats.

Most of the news items that I have so far made on foreign policy fronts have become a resounding success and have gone not unnoticed by the Nepali as well foreign diplomatic community based in Kathmandu.

Any major issue that you took up that you recall?

Oh! Yes! Some years an Indian city in Gujarat was devastated by a major earthquake. I made an on-the-spot story as regards the plight of the Nepali citizens living in Gujarat. That particular story forced the Kathmandu government to come into immediate action and the needful was done.

But then while I make stories, I remain in dark as to how much impact my stories have had on the powers-that-be in Kathmandu.

What is journalism then?

In my humble opinion it is a very important and significant part of the society and also an effective medium as regards the flow of free and fair information. Journalism should cater to the needs of the society. It has also been observed that more often than not the government turns deaf ears to our stories wherein we push the aspirations, issues and the problems of the people and the society at large. The impact on the government thus remains “hard to pin down” matter. But then yet our duty and responsibility is to write and inform. The brighter side is also there.

Some times it has also been seen that certain stories bring about a sort of revolution in the country. By revolution I mean the government is forced to act at the earliest.

Are you then satisfied with what you write?

Yes! Very much. I am satisfied with what I write because I get instant response. This positive reaction encourages me even more.

However, I must admit on a different note that journalism as a profession has yet to become a lucrative occupation. Nevertheless, I hope that the future has some charms for those who are in this profession. It will take some time to compete with what our colleagues in the same profession have for themselves in this profession in the developed countries.

Is it a profession that commands respect and honor?

This is what exactly should be. It is indeed a dignified profession which demands courage, energy, skill and responsibility plus a bit of professional ethics as well. However, tragedy has been that at times we the men in the media sector appear acting irresponsibly ourselves. This is sad.

Where lay the fault then?

I see the need for the compliance of some established universal rules, regulations and ethics by the men in this profession in order to provide the needed and the required “credibility” to this profession. I see the faults, to some extent lay on us. We can’t escape from the general criticisms that are being hurled upon us by certain sectors of the society. What is also ailing this profession that we in this sector appear less interested in keeping abreast with the happening in and around us whether it is in this country or around the world? I mean the media men must be educated at the first place then only can we educate others. Some times, human error causes the damage to this profession. However, such occasional errors could be corrected later. To err is human.

Do you mean that the media men must be an educated creature?

Certainly yes! A personality who has the onerous task of educating others must himself be educated. Education, thus, is a must for the men in this profession.

It is not for nothing that people in the society at times brand us as JHOLEY PATRAKAR (a person having in his possession a demanding-bag or a person carrying the party tag). This is the general complain. More so, the local businessmen subscribe to this view.

Do you mean they take us as blackmailers?

Not exactly that way. But in a roundabout manner there is this perception among the men in the society that this profession too has some bad apples. Well, I too have been listening to this allegation but I am not sure about the existence of the same.

I consider that media institutions like the FNJ, and the Press Council or even the government could do some thing in order to make the profession a sacred one that is free from such allegations. Some laws or for that matter regulations must bind us all.

Do you consider a media man to be a political animal?

Indeed we are. However, I possess some other views as well as regards this. Well, while being engaged in a “mission”, we can have some political connotations. Nevertheless, in the name of the mission, we must not become a political tool. I think it is time now that we all collectively act in a way that brings about some tangible reforms in the society and the nation at large. Let’s not talk only of the political parties. Let’s talk of the nation as well. IT is time now to consolidate and institutionalize the political gains that we received from what is called the Lok Tantra. It is time now to concentrate our entire efforts in giving permanence to peace. By hurling allegations at the bad-old boys of the bygone era will do nothing. We should now proceed in order to rectify the mistakes of the past and build a New Nepal.

Do you see division among journalists over political affiliation?

If it is on the count of one’s personal beliefs, it should be taken in good stead. It is natural then. But then if we take this division taking into account the mission, it is incorrect. Yes! We are a divided lot. Nonetheless, I am hopeful that time permitting we will come together and remain as a solid rock.

Do you believe in what is called yellow journalism?

To be honest, I have heard of it. And since we do not practice this sort of journalism, I can’t say much about the existence of such practices. I can’t form a judgment for others.

Have you noticed some weaknesses that have gripped Nepali journalism?

Oh! Yes! There are some which I can tell you.

For example, there is an event in the society. We at different media organisations put it in a different way there by we are the ones to mystify the people who are our valued readers. The event is one. The truth, as a matter of fact, should be one. However, we put it in a manner that suits to our interests. It is here the people get confused. This should not happen in effect.

Other example is on matters pertaining to Nepal’s indisputable national interests. We in this profession differ even on matters that are related with our prime national interests. We should have been united as and when it came for the safeguarding of our national interests but we markedly differ. Such differences in opinion coming as it does from different media quarters, the government thus does not feel the heat and hence no action. The dissimilarity in our views perhaps confuses the government as well.

Even on matters of Terai movement, we differed with each other markedly. Our opinions were contradictory in nature with each other. This should not have happened but it did happen. This is sad.

I wrap up by saying that we the media men must come together as and when the situation so demanded. We are by all accounts answerable to the nation. At least we should be one on matters concerning Nepal’s national interests.

That’s all.