7 May, Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel has said that the role of the journalism sector has been remarkable in every political, social, and cultural change in Nepal.
Addressing the Senior Journalist Honors and National Journalism Award distribution program organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology today on the occasion of National Journalism Day, he said that journalism is a tool of change and powerful and effective means of nation-building. “Democracy cannot be imagined without journalism as democracy is a prerequisite for free, impartial and neutral journalism.” Referring to the Constitution that guarantees freedom of the press and expression, he said pursuant to spirit of the Constitution it is the responsibility of the state to create an environment for journalists to carry out their work without any fearlessly and in an independent manner.
“Similarly, it is the duty of a responsible press to disseminate truth and fact-based news and inform the public,” he added. President Paudel said that the situation where journalists are insecure for the news they report should end and that everyone’s attention needs to be focused on ensuring a safe and risk-free environment for news reporting and dissemination. He also expressed the confidence that the Nepali press will work more effectively to further the campaign of strengthening the federal democratic republic and fulfilling the people’s desires of good governance, development and economic prosperity. Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that the government is working to formulate and amend the necessary laws to make journalism systematic and dignified.
“It is a transition in legal terms as well as the process of formulating laws is ongoing,” Minister Gurung said, “It is necessary to make the journalism profession more systematic and dignified.” Federation of Nepali Journalists President Nirmala Sharma said that the economic crisis as well as professional challenges are increasing in the journalism sector and the state should pay attention to both professional as well as physical security of journalists. On the occasion, former President of Federation of Nepali Journalists Bipul Pokharel and former President of Press Chautari Nepal Ganesh Basnet were honoured with the Senior Journalist Award-2081.
The National Journalism Award-2081 was presented to Bimal Gautam (Baglung), Dipendra Shrestha (Kaski), Logshari Kunwar (Kailali), Dipendra Bantawa (Sankhuwasabha), Dilliram Khatiwada (Udayapur) and Sagar Pandit (Tanahun). President Paudel gave away the awards presented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The Senior Journalist Award-2081 carries a purse of Rs. 200,000 and the National Journalism Award-2081 includes Rs. 100,000 in cash.
