The Rising Nepal: Journalists'Job Not As Easy As People Think: Arun Ranjit
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Journalists'Job Not As Easy As People Think: Arun
Ra njit
Journalists are the members of that profession which never enjoy power. They report the scenes from the spot. The high-speed revolution in science and technology has made easierto bring each and every incident whether big or small taking place in any nook and corner of the world right into the living rooms of the general people through the global telecommunications' So, journalists are the participants, interpreters of the incidents. They inform the masses about the
day-to-day events enabling the readers, listeners and viewers to know the truths' Today the contestfor hearts and minds iswaged notonlyin the battlefields butalso in the airwaves.
No one forget that the contributions made by the newspersons in the democratic changes sweeping the world particularly, the Watergate case of the President of the United States of America, the reforms and revolutions in Eastern Europe, updated information provided on US-
lraq war, destructlon of the Twin Tower of New York, direct telecast of the various internationally important events and happenings around the world to inform the people immediately.
The press is the eye and ear ofthe public because how the media people present an issue is how the public will see and understand it. After decades of a controlled press in many parts of the world, many people are understandably skeptical of what they read and hear in the media. So, the society in large depends on journalists' professional performance.
press freedom and power, however, also confer great responsibility. As democracy grows and strengthens in a country, the press will have an ever greater effect on the lives of the people and the political, social, economic developments of the country'
Thus, we can say that whether democracy succeeds or not will mostly depend on journalists
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The Rising Nepal: Journalists' Job Not As Easy As People Think: Arun Ranjit
2el 6ElolIl
because a democracy cannot flourish without an informed citizenry.
Dedicated journalists provide the people with the information that they need and regain their confidence. Naturally, when people trust this profession the media persons will be rewarded with respect and their patronage. Good journalism makes good business (in private life affairs too). Of course, journalists are one of the pillars of the society. They make people aware of their responsibility.
ln Nepal, history of journalism began in 1901 with the publication of Gorkhapatra, the sister publication of The Rising Nepal during the time of Rana prime minister Dev Shumsher. Only in 1956 NepalJournalists Association (NJA) now the Federation of Nepalijournalists (FNJ) was formed. ln 1961, Nepal's national news agency Rastriya Samachar Samitee was established and from 1 963 The Rising Nepalcame into being as the first and foremost English national daily.
There was no broadsheet daily paper except the Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal till 1990s' However, many vernacular weeklies were sustaining with much difficulty as the readership in Nepal was not so broaden.
Only after the restoration of democracy in 1990, publication of some broadsheet newspapers in English and Nepali languages began. But however, they face problems as the readership market
is still small.
The status, rights and responsibilities of journalists vary across different countries and regions due to political, social, legal, moral, economic, educational and technological factors' However, each editor and reporter is responsible for being familiar with the standard of ethics of the press and is obliged to follow this as the basis for all activities.
Sometimes, journalists and media personnel are discouraged to move freely between from country to another for reporting. This single fact has proved to be the main obstacle to the media in playing a helpful role in the mutual understanding and cooperation.
Journalists should cherish the prestige of their profession, respect the integrity and dignity of their colleagues, and refrain from actions that may damage the prestige of journalism. They should engage in creative competition, should not abuse in any conceivable waytheir colleagues' confidence and prevent them from the exercise of their professional duties. Professional
solidarity cannot be cited as justification for attacks on truth or justice.
Journalists should be responsible to their readers, viewers, listeners and society as a whole for the contents of the reports presented with truthful and prompt coverage of topical and socially relevant issues.
Obviously, journalism is not as easy as what the people think. However, with an aim of creating one strong voice from the journalists working around the world, the Journalists Association of Korea (AK) hosted the World Journalist Conference 2015 in Seoul of Korea from April 13 to 18,
2015.
The Journalist Association of Korea, established on August 17, 1964, has the longest history among Korean journalist organizations. lt is the biggest iournalist organisation having membership of 10,000 frontline journalists.
The conference has brought more than 100 journalists from over 70 countries of the world.
Journalists from Asia, Africa, and Europe and even from South America attended the conference'
.Journalists are, by nature, the professionals who speak the truth, keep a watching eye against corruptive power, extend a warm hand to the socially underprivileged, and dare to take the challenge and strive for a better globe full of freedom and peace.
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The Rising Nepal: Journalists'Job Not As Easy As People Think: Arun Ranjit
3el 6Elolrl
The journalists gathered in Korea, which is the only divided country in the present world, discussed number of issues ranging from freedom of press and safety in journalism, the future role of journalism in maintaining peace in the Korean Peninsula under the designed theme:
,,peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula and GlobalJournalism" and wished for the unification of the peninsula and building a global network of journalists for better communication.
The week-long programme included touring to World Water Forum being organised in another city called Daegu and economically dazzling city Busan and, of course,
to
the Demilitarized Zone or DMZ that just one hour away from seoul. The DMZ, which crosses the 38th parallel on an angle and cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in hall is a strip land running across the Korean peninsula and has served as a buffer zone between the two Koreas since the conclusion of the armistice treaty in 1953. Still it is a place of confrontation where soldiers of North and South Korea point their guns against each other'During our stay in Korea, allthe journalists had experienced not only the tradition and culture of Korea which is proud of its history of 5,000 years, but also witnessed the state-of-the-art
technology of Korea which is rapidly developing as an economic power of the world' which the Koreans believe that it is a "Miracle in Han River"
Wherever they are, journalists are the messengers. They dispatch correct and true news and help protect the universal values of human beings such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. Although the journalists attending the conference were different in many aspects such as nationality, sex, complexion, religion, and ideology, they all have one common identity as'We are alljournalists." Apart from the discussions, they also renewed friendship, and have valuable opportunities to ruminate on the meaning of journalism as well.
ln terms of historical milestones, the year 2015 is a very significant year for Korea as it marks the 70th anniversary of both national liberation and division. At this historicaljuncture, an event like this one in which the global opinion leaders had gathered at the heart of a divided land to engage in discussions on the prospect of its reunification indeed held a special meaning.
The world knows that Germany, a divided nation until 25 years ago, has not only achieved reunification, but is also now taking the lead in the European integration process' Unfortunately, however, despite 70 years of the painful history of national division, distrust, conflict and tension still run high between the two Koreas. Moreover, the political and security environment
surrounding the Korean Peninsula has never been very challenging since the end of the Cold War as it is now. Today, not a single security or foreign policy issue in Korea can be addressed
through a simple equation. As such, the foreign policy of the Republic of Korea faces multi- layered and multi-dimensional challenges'
The reason why Korea's diplomacy is encountering such challenges today is because major countries in Northeast Asia are acting in mutual distrust and playing the games with new strategies and calculations aligning to their respective national power and stature amidst the changing dynamics in the region'
Northeast Asia is currently witnessing tectonic shifts in its geopolitics. Notwithstanding the international community's united stance and sanctions against its nuclear weapons programme, since Kim Jong-un assumed power, North Korea has been simultaneously pursuing economic development and nuclear armament, threatening not only the South, but the entire world as well. NorthKoreahasalsobecomeasubjectofseriousconcernintheinternationalcommunity for its human rights situation.
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The Rising Nepal: Journalists' Job Not As Easy As People Think: Arun Ranjit
4el 6ElolIl
Even in such circumstance, in the hope of uslng the 70th anniversary of the division of the Korean Peninsula as an opportunity to substantially improve the relations between the two Koreas, South Korea has proposed to hold an inter-Korean dialogue without any preconditions and discuss issues of mutual interest in a comprehensive manner'
No doubt, a free society needs a free press. Unfortunately, most of the "news" programmes these days are formatted to be more like entertainment--and everything under the sun is
"breaking news". But the serious journalists are still out there trying to keep the public
informed. All the people need to hear the "truth" from all sides and all angles. Thus, only a free press can point out the errors and the "lies", inform the public of safety concerns and help the society by giving the "facts."
"Freedom of speech and exchange of information are not just luxuries, they are the currency on which global commerce, politics and culture increasingly depend," observed David Hoffman, the founder of lnternews, an international nongovernmental agency that helps train and develop independent media in 50 countries"
lf a nation isto enjoythe politicaland economicadvantages enabled bythe rule of law, powerful institutions must be open to scrutiny by the people. lf technology and science are to advance, ideas must be openly shared. And if government is to be valued because it is accountable to the people, free and independent news media are essential to that process.,. it is impossible to maximise political stability, economic growth, and democracy without the free flow of information.
Journalists are messengers who write and deliver accurate stories while protecting common values like liberty, democracy and human rights. The Seoul meet has, no doubt, once again reminded the true meaning of journalism among the people working hard to serve the people and enjoying status as "Fourth State."
The conference also believed that because of the unified forces of the journalists from around the world has somehow promoted the freedom of speech of the journalists and become able to spread new vibrant message to the world to create free and peaceful community by fulfilling the responsibility as journalists to bring out the truth,
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