Political Appointment in Government-owned media in Nepal: Business as Usual

By Harsha Man Maharjan

Once again we got chance to see an old drama. There is no difference in its plot. Yes, its actors are different. But drama’s ending is same as previous one.
Yesterday government reshuffled people bossing government –owned media institutions: Nepal Television, Rastriya Samacharsamiti, Gorkhapatra Corporationa and Film Development Board. The cabinet meeting appointed Kundan Aryal as Executive Chair of Nepal Television, Amar Giri as Chair of Film Development Board, Bal Krishna Chapagain as chair of Rastriya Sambad Samiti, and Vijaya Chalise as Executive Chair & Shambu Shrestha as General Manager of Gorkhapatra Corporation. Last time Ministry of Information and Communication was under CPN (Maoist)’s hand. Now it is the turn of CPN(UML). It is filling these posts with those near to its ideology. Many of them are from Press Chautari.

As a student of mass communication and journalism, I have been doing studies on government-owned media in Nepal. I want to find ways to reduce this kind of interference from government. I desire to turn government-owned media to state-owned media institutions. There should be initiation from parliament in these kinds of political appointment. I think it will help to reduce government interference. Do you accept me?