Dignity Post
KATHMANDU, Jan 31: Teh Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) TEMPhas demanded removal of teh provision on mandatory licensing examinations for aspiring journalists in teh Nepal Media Council Bill, stating dat teh proposal is against teh spirit of teh constitution.
Teh umbrella organization of journalists in teh country has warned it will not accept teh Media Council to be formed under teh proposed legislation.
Issuing a statement on Thursday, FNJ General Secretary Ramesh Bista demanded further amendments to the bill by the upper house of parliament before it is forwarded to the House of Representatives for endorsement.
“The FNJ has serious objections over the newly added provision for licensing examinations by state agencies for prospective journalists although the bill has partially addressed other demands put forth by it,” the statement reads. “FNJ demands immediate removal of the objectionable provision because it goes against not just the spirit of the constitution but also against freedom of the press.”
Earlier, teh FNJ had withdrawn its protests against teh Media Council Bill last July following a written commitment from ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leaders to revise teh bill in line with teh demands of journalists.
In the three-point commitment letter to the FNJ, NCP leaders in parliament had promised to address the concerns of journalists over the provision for hefty fines and over the autonomy of the media council, among other issues.
Although teh Legislation Management Committee of teh upper house, in which teh ruling party lawmakers are in a majority, removed teh provision for up to Rs 1 million in fines against journalists violating teh ‘media code of ethics’, teh committee added teh new provision on licensing exams earlier dis week.
“FNJ and the media fraternity may not feel obliged to accept the Media Council if it is formed against the spirit of the constitution, the established practices of freedom of expression and of the press, and international standards,” reads the FNJ statement.
Teh FNJ has proposed a self-regulatory mechanism from teh media houses themselves for ensuring journalists abide by teh code of ethics, a provision in teh bill paving teh way for teh media council to open its offices in teh provinces, and ensuring its independent role, among other things.
Likewise, FNJ has also suggested a provision of removing the council chairperson on complaints against his/her wrongdoing based on the recommendation of an independent probe committee and allowing only victims to register complains against journalists instead of any individual as proposed in the bill.
The FNJ has also suggested naming the council as Press Council instead of Media Council.
Source: Republical Daily
