Print Media Prepare for Protest Over Reduced Advertisement Funds

Kathmandu. Print media are preparing for a strong protest demanding that the amount of Lok Kalyan Kari advertisements reduced by government decision be reinstated to the previous level.

The suggestion task force formed by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Kathmandu Branch to save print media has proposed to include print media across the country in a physical protest if the demands are not met within a week. The meeting held on Saturday morning selected Damodar Prasad Dawadi as the coordinator and submitted a seven-point suggestion to the Federation. The meeting decided to call upon print media across the country not to submit bills for Lok Kalyan Kari advertisements at the reduced rate as per the new revised working procedure to the Advertising Board or the concerned postal office. The task force has concluded that discrimination in government advertisement distribution, reduction in the amount of Lok Kalyan Kari advertisements, and heavy reduction in the bulletin fee of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) must be corrected immediately. To solve these problems, meetings will be held with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, concerned government bodies, and political leaders to exert immediate pressure. A strategy has been devised to seek a solution through dialogue and consultation for a week and, if the demands are not met, to advance a phased physical protest. The government's decision has further impacted print media, which are already facing financial crises. The task force has determined that the existence of small and self-employment-oriented media outlets is in crisis. The task force has emphasized that the protection of print media should not be limited only to commercial interests but should be viewed in conjunction with press freedom and citizens' right to information. The opinion has been put forward that the government's advertising policy should be equal and transparent, and no discriminatory behavior should be meted out to any media outlet. The FNJ Kathmandu Branch organized a suggestion collection and discussion with editors and publishers of print media on Bhadra 19. Following that discussion, an 11-member task force was formed under the coordination of Dawadi. The task force includes Dr. Keshav Devkota, Tank Karki, Hemraj Silwal, Mukti Bastola, Bishworaj Kirat, Sita Pokharel, Nripendra Lal Shrestha, Dilliram Bhattarai, Padamraj Joshi, and Kalpana Khadka. The task force has suggested that if the government does not reconsider its decision and create an environment to save print media, pressure programs involving print media from across the country will be organized under the leadership of the Kathmandu Branch.