Karnali declaration on CSJ inspires journalists of Madhesh to embrace sensitive reporting
KATHMANDU/ November 20: Media Action Nepal successfully hosted a knowledge-sharing webinar on Conflict-Sensitive Journalism (CSJ) on November 19, 2024, engaging 10 journalists from all districts of Madhesh Province. Conducted under the GiZ-Civil Peace Service-supported project, “Strengthening the Role of Media, Youth, and CSOs in Peacebuilding,” the webinar equipped journalists with practical tools to report with utmost sensitivity through ethical reporting.
Led by Laxman Datt Pant, Chairperson of Media Action Nepal, the webinar highlighted the fundamentals of CSJ and its critical role in fostering peace and mitigating conflict. Pant emphasized the ethical responsibilities of journalists, urging them to avoid biases related to gender, religion, or community in their reporting. Using real-world examples, he provided actionable guidelines on conflict-sensitive practices, focusing on topics such as indicators of conflict-sensitive reporting, gender sensitivity in journalism and newsroom strategies to foster empathy.
Similarly, Rama KC, a correspondent at Himal Press based in Surkhet of Karnali Province, co-facilitated the session by spotlighting the Journalist Code of Conduct and the Karnali Declaration—a landmark document emphasizing ethical journalism practices such as respecting privacy, avoiding sensationalism, and ensuring responsible photo use.
Rama, one of the 10 selected trainees from Media Action Nepal’s residential training workshop held last September in Karnali, reflected on her learning experience and the significance of the Karnali Declaration in shaping her reporting approach. She shared personal stories of how these principles transformed her journalism and inspired her peers to embrace ethical practices. Highlighting the “Do No Harm” approach, she explained its role in promoting peace and safeguarding individual dignity, particularly in sensitive cases like child marriage prevention.
Participants from Madhesh Province brought invaluable perspectives to the discussion, enriching the dialogue with their diverse experiences. Mohammad Intakab Aalam from Dhanusha emphasized the importance of accountability in journalism and called for more CSJ webinars to enhance awareness among media practitioners. Manilal Vishwakarma from Siraha highlighted the critical need for gender sensitivity and thorough fact-checking in reporting, while Lalita Kumari Sah from Saptari advocated for nuanced reporting on gender issues to prevent societal conflicts. Similarly, Sajir Mansoor from Bara underscored the importance of cultural and religious sensitivity in fostering harmony within communities.
The group included Madhuri Mahato from Parsa, affiliated with Radio Narayani; Jyoti Jha from Dhanusha, working with TodayAwaj.com; Rina Ale from Sarlahi, reporting for Radio Sarlahi; Lalita Kumari Sah from Saptari, associated with National Weekly Newspaper; Anjana Singh from Sarlahi, affiliated with Radio Barahathawa; Sajir Mansoor from Bara, representing Bishwas FM; Manilal Vishwakarma from Siraha, working with Naya Patrika; Hadis Khuddar from Janakpur, reporting for Naya Patrika; Santosh Singh from Mahottari, representing Kantipur TV; and Mohammad Intekhab Aalam from Dhanusha, affiliated with Arthik Abhiyan.
This webinar is the second in the row, with the next one for journalists of Bagmati Province scheduled for November 20, while the final webinar will take place on November 27 for journalists of Kathmandu Valley.
The webinar was streamed live on Media Action Nepal’s Facebook page.