Media Action Nepal commemorates WPFD, launches its Annual Press Freedom Report
KATHMANDU/ May 13: Media Action Nepal’s Annual Press Freedom Report, titled “Media under Threat: Trends and Cases of Press Freedom in Nepal”, was launched on May 3 in Kathmandu commemorating the 31st World Press Freedom Day (WPFD). The event, hosted by Media Action Nepal, drew more than 75 participants representing various sectors.
The event was divided into two sessions i.e. inaugural session and the roundtable panel discussion. The inaugural session concluded with the launch of the 2024 annual press freedom report, featuring insightful remarks from distinguished figures such as Nawal Kishore Sah ‘Sudi’, Nepal’s Minister for Forests and Environment, Michael Croft, the UNESCO Representative to Nepal, esteemed Senior Journalist Dhruba Hari Adhikary, Media Action Nepal’s Vice-Chairperson Priyanka Jha, Former Vice- Chair of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Anita Bindu, and the Chairperson of Working Journalists Association Janma Dev Jaisi. The Minister inaugurated the event by pouring water on a plant, symbolizing the imperative to save the environment. The theme of this year’s WPFD is “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.”
The report was launched by minister Sudi, accompanied by UNESCO representative to Nepal Michael Croft. Minister Sah addressed the gathering, stating that the media is a country’s third eye, that press freedom is a sensitive issue, and that the government is responsible for protecting it. Adding that is critical to protect the environment and journalists who report on it, Minister Sudi highlighted, “If journalists feel safe, only democracy can flourish, so it is our collective responsibility to protect the torchbearer of free expression.”
Similarly, Michael Croft, UNESCO’s country representative in Nepal, discussed the UNESCO report ‘Press and Planet in Danger’, which revealed that at least 749 journalists and news media outlets reporting on environmental issues were targeted with murder, physical violence, detention and arrest, online harassment, or legal attacks between 2009 and 2023. He emphasized that attacks on press freedom are a global issue, with attacks occurring in 89 countries across all regions of the world.
At least 749 journalists and news media outlets reporting on environmental issues were targeted with murder, physical violence, detention and arrest, online harassment, or legal attacks between 2009 and 2023
Media Action Nepal’s vice-chair, Priyanka Jha, said, “This report is important to understand the trend of press freedom violations and the major incidents. Furthermore, it focuses on impunity, environmental issues and labour rights violations. This report can be useful to every individual who wants to understand the media freedom landscape in Nepal. The trends analysed and cases recorded cover the period of May 4, 2023, to April, 2024.”
Senior Journalist Dhruba Hari Adhikary stated that journalists and the role of fearless and independent journalism are critical to democracy’s empowerment and societal advancement. “As a result, journalists must not neglect their responsibilities while seeking privileges and benefits. Meanwhile, the government must ensure journalists’ safety while maintaining sensitivity at the core of the profession and refraining from activities that encroach upon the freedom of expression.”
The government must ensure journalists’ safety while maintaining sensitivity at the core of the profession and refraining from activities that encroach upon the freedom of expression.
Former Vice- Chair of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Anita Bindu, and the Chairperson of Working Journalists Association, Janma Dev Jaisi, also highlighted the job insecurities that journalists are facing and the increasing number of women journalists leaving the profession due to a lack of enabling environment in the media houses.
The programme also witnessed an enriching panel discussion on the critical role of media and communicators in times of environmental crises, in line with UNESCO World Press Freedom Day theme, ‘A Press For Planet: Journalism in the Face of Environmental Crises.’
The Panel provided a road map against climate disinformation, outlining the roles of governments, the media, academia and researchers, civil society, and digital platforms. Supporting and protecting environmental journalists will help to ensure the accuracy of information about the environment and climate change.
The panel included Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor in Chief of Annapurna Express English Daily, Chun Gurung, the faculty lead of journalism at St. Xavier College, Heemani Mukhia, from Creasion Nepal and Shree Adhikari, a human rights expert.
Report finds Media houses victimised 1,783 media workers, and 29 female journalists quit the profession
The Report on Media under Threat: Trends and Cases of Press Freedom in Nepal by Media Action Nepal revealed that 1,783 media persons were victimised by the media houses in various ways, such as lack of contract papers, payment gaps and payment on time, among others in a year.
The report has also disclosed that 29 women journalists were compelled to leave the profession due to lack of enabling environment, harrassment and lack of job security. The report was published on Friday on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day. The report has discovered 34 cases of press violation incidents between May 4, 2023 and April, 2024. It also examined the current status of constitutionally guaranteed rights such as press freedom and freedom of expression.
The cases documented and data categorised based on seven indicators, including threats, killings, illegal arrest, Misuse of Law, Seizure of Equipment, Newsroom Harassment and Information blockage, clearly show that the year was unsatisfactory in terms of press freedom, with nearly three dozen cases of press freedom violations reported. Over 79 per cent journalists were threatened while reporting, writing or gathering information.
Furthermore, journalists were forced to change careers owing to the poor implementation of the Working Journalists Act. Moreover, they were subjected to censorship or content compromise. Nepal’s WJA stipulates a minimum salary that media houses must pay their editorial staff. “However, in reality, this salary table is rarely followed when paying journalists. This puts pressure on journalists’ independence and ethical standards, according to the report. Several women journalists left the profession, although we got data on only 29 women journalists leaving journalism,” reads the report.
In Nepal, the salary table is rarely followed when paying journalists. This puts pressure on journalists’ independence and ethical standards. So far, only five journalists out of 39 from conflict era times have gotten justice.
It also underscored that journalists reporting on the environment often face threats. A photojournalist, R.K. Adipta Giri, was illegally arrested in Parbat district on charge of cybercrime, while the reason for the arrest was something else related to the Save Kaligandaki movement and his posts over social media.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme is Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis. It is crucial that the significance of journalists working in the environmental sector be enhanced and secured.
The report also examines impunity. It found that so far, only five journalists out of 39 from conflict era times have gotten justice.
Additionally, the ban was imposed on TikTok in November, saying it was disrupting “social harmony” and goodwill and blaming it for a “flow of indecent materials.” Authorities ordered the telecom company to block access to the app. Similarly, the Social Media Bill of the Government of Nepal tabled in the Upper House threatens the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and online civic space guaranteed under the Constitution of Nepal. The bill, if implemented in its current form, could jeopardise these constitutional guarantees and is deemed incompatible with international human rights instruments that Nepal has ratified.
The report has claimed that, although it seems that there were fewer incidents of press violations compared to last year, the violations kept occurring, especially from authorities curbing press freedom.