Media Action Nepal selects Pant as its new chairperson
KATHMANDU: The second national convention of Media Action Nepal, a research based media rights advocacy group, concluded in Kathmandu on February 27 has selected Laxman Datt Pant, an internationally acclaimed media expert, researcher and media rights advocate as its new chairperson. Pant was selected as the chairperson for the second term for next four years.
The convention has selected Media Rights Monitor Priyanka Jha as vice-chairperson, Media Educator Arati Shilpakar as secretary and Dipa KC as its treasurer. The newly elected executive committee members include Media Educator and Journalist Yam Bahadur Dura, Human Rights Expert and advocate Ganesh Prasad Ghimire, and journalist Aashish Mishra.
To receive advisory insights for the implementation of media related programs, Media Action Nepal has also formed an advisory committee comprising senior journalists and advocates. The advisory committee has Bharat Dutta Koirala, Magsaysay Awardee, Dhurba Hari Adhikary, former BBC and Reuter Journalist, Madhav Sharma, Former Advisory to the President of Nepal and Borna Bahadur Karki, senior advocate and former chairperson of Press Council Nepal as its members.
As part of its organizational extension, the convention has designated province coordinators across all seven provinces. The newly designated province coordinators are Narendra Dhakal, province 1, Hadish Khuddar, province 2, Madhu Sudan Dawadi, Bagmati province, Sunita Acharya, Gandaki province, Sanju Paudel, Lumbini province, Lalit Budha, Karnali province and Uma Kant Joshi Sudurpashchim province.
The newly elected chairperson Pant said that Media Action Nepal has been conducting various discussions, studies and research programs with the mandate of making Nepali media independent, fair and accountable. He also informed that the organization is expanding collaboration at international level.
In the discussion program organized on the occasion, senior journalist Dhruba Hari Adhikari stressed on the need to impartial and factual news. He said that the shortcomings of the media should be rectified. Similarly, Borna Bahadur Karki, former chairman of the Press Council Nepal and senior advocate, said that the recent media research conducted by Media Action Nepal would help in improving the sector.
International experts on the areas of media, journalism and communications are included as honorary members of Media Action Nepal. They include Dr. Sadia Jamil of International Association of Media and Communication Research, Dr. Gifty Appiah-Adjei, expert in safety of journalists from Ghana, Professor Baris Coban from Turkey, Dr. Mariateresa Garrido, media and gender expert from from Venezuela, Dr. Turdubaeva Elira from Kyrgyzstan, Professor Jude William Genilo from Bangladesh and Therese Patricia San Diago Toress, Director at Asian Institute of Journalism and Communications, Philippines.