Promoting harmony through media: CSJ takes center stage in Koshi province of Nepal
KATHMANDU, November 18: Media Action Nepal has successfully organized a knowledge-sharing webinar on Conflict-Sensitive Journalism (CSJ) on November 18, 2024, engaging 10 journalists from all 10 districts of Koshi Province. The webinar organized as part of the GiZ-Civil Peace Service supported project, “Strengthening the Role of Media, Youth, and CSOs in Peacebuilding”, provided participants with practical knowledge and reinforced their commitment to promoting harmony through ethical reporting.
Led by Laxman Datt Pant, Chairperson of Media Action Nepal, the webinar emphasized the fundamentals of CSJ, highlighting its importance in preserving societal harmony. Pant underscored the ethical responsibilities of journalists, urging them to avoid biases related to gender, religion, or community in their reporting. Using examples of Nepali media, he illustrated the challenges faced by journalists and provided actionable guidelines for integrating conflict-sensitive practices into newsrooms. Key topics included indicators of conflict-sensitive reporting, issues requiring careful handling, and the role of newsrooms in fostering sensitivity in media content.
Adding depth to the discussion, Krishna Maya Upadhayaya, BBC Nepali Service correspondent in Jumla district of Karnali Province co-facilitated the webinar. Drawing on her learning experience with Media Action Nepal’s recent CSJ training, she shared how adopting CSJ principles transformed her reporting. Presenting her stories as examples, Upadhayaya illustrated the impact of responsible journalism in inspiring communities and reducing conflict. She highlighted the importance of verifying information and exercising caution to avoid exacerbating tensions.
Participants from Koshi Province enriched the session with local perspectives. Shrijana Shrestha from Ilam shared examples of reporting elections, emphasizing the role of accurate reporting in maintaining public trust. Saraswoti Baniya from Okhaldhunga described how the webinar reshaped her approach to journalism, motivating her to adopt CSJ principles in her journalistic work.
Ten journalists from Koshi Province have been selected through a competitive process to attend the webinar, highlighting their active participation and the valuable insights they bring from their reporting experiences. The group included Santosh Subedi from Dhankuta, currently working at Sangalokhabar.com; Narendra Dhakal from Jhapa, a journalist at Purbanchal Daily; Khabin Luitel from Panchthar, associated with Radio Miteri Khabar; Sambhujit Dahal from Jhapa, contributing to Jhapa Ekhabar.com; and Smarika Thulung Rai from Sunsari, a journalist at NTV Itahari. Also among them were Ananda Gautam from Taplejung, representing Kantipur TV; Sanchita Shrestha from Morang, working with Nepaltimes Online TV; Saraswoti Baniya from Okhaldhunga, reporting for Vision FM; Shrijana Shrestha from Ilam, affiliated with Nepalbani FM; and Bijaya Karki from Sankhuwasabha, working at Arunsandesh.com.
This webinar is the first in a series of ten, with the next session for selected journalists from Madhesh Province scheduled for November 19, while the final webinar will take place on November 27 for journalists from Kathmandu Valley.
The webinar was streamed live on Media Action Nepal’s Facebook page.