News on High Level Media(Communications) Committee formed in Feb 2016 in Nepal-1

Being a student of media studies, I am always interested in debates on media policy process. I have conducting research on media policy making in Nepal.
 The new government has once again shown interested to formulate media policy by establishing a High Level Communications Committee under Kashi Raj Dahal on 4 February 2016. Here are news about the formation  of the committee and its reaction. Hope it will be useful to others as well:

Cabinet forms panel to draft media policy

Published: February 03, 2016 2:15 pm On: Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: The Cabinet on Wednesday formed a three-member panel to draft the Media Policy.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers formed the committee under the leadership of legal expert Kashiraj Dahal.

President of Federation of Nepali Journalists Mahendra Bista and Chairman of Press Council Nepal Borna Bahadur Karki are members of the panel. The Ministry of Information and Communications, however, can add members to it whenever necessary.

The panel is assigned to draft the Policy in correspondence to the new Constitution.

It is mandated to submit its report to the government within three months.

The meeting also made decisions regarding promotion and transfer of some Nepal Army officials.

It also promoted 21 under-secretaries to the posts of joint-secretary.

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/cabinet-forms-panel-to-draft-media-policy/

Govt forms panel to draft media policy

- Rastriya Samachar Samiti, Kathmandu

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2016-02-04/govt-forms-panel-to-draft-media-policy.html

Feb 4, 2016- The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday formed a High-Level Communications Committee under the chairmanship of law and communications expert, Kashiraj Dahal, to prepare a draft of new mass communications policy. 

Similarly, the meeting also appointed Chairman of the Press Council Nepal, Borna Bahadur Karki, and President of the Federation of the Nepali Journalists, Dr Mahendra Bista, as members of the Committee. The Ministry of Information and Communications would appoint other members of the Committee on the basis of inclusion and necessity. Chairpersons and representatives of the other organisations related to communications would also be in the Committee. 
The government had formed such type of committee under the chairmanship of Radhe Shyam Adhikari in 2063 BS, after the establishment of republicanism. The term of the Committee is three months. After the meeting, Minister for Information and Communications, Sherdhan Rai, said that a mandate has been given to the Committee to formulate new mass communication policy, review on existing Communications Act as well as to give suggestions regarding solution of different problems surfaced in the sector of working journalists, journalists code of conduct, democracy and communication as per the aspiration and sentiment of the new constitution. 
The meeting also agreed to allow making formal request with Chinese government for its approval to establish Consulate General of Nepal at Sichuan province in China. The government also promoted different 21 persons to the post of Joint-Secretary. They are Rabi Shanker Sainju, Dandhoj Basnet, Gyanendra Poudel, Sanjay Kumar Khanal, Keshav Prasad Acharya, Purushottam Nepal, Janakiballav Adhikari, Janakraj Dahal, Pradeep Kumar Koirala, Shiva Prasad Adhikari, Sher Bahadur Dhunhana, Bhagirath Pandey, Ram Bahadur Ghimire, Uttam Prasad Dhital, Uttam Prasad Nagila, Dilip Lumar Chapagain, Narahari Baral, Tara Bahadur Karki, Bishnu Prasad Pokharel, Prem Prakash Upreti and Krishna Bahadur Thapa. 
Similarly, Purushottam Acharya has been promoted to the post of Joint-Secretary towards technical sector and posted at the Ministry of Energy. The meeting also promoted some army personnel to the post of Colonel as well as has transferred some Brigadier Generals. 
Responding to a query regarding the Prime Minister’s India visit, also the Spokesperson of the Government, Minister Rai said that no decision has been made in this regard and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel would go for India visit on February 7. 

Published: 04-02-2016 08:45

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2016-02-04/govt-forms-panel-to-draft-media-policy.html


FF's concern on Government's efforts for new media policy

Sunday, 14 February 2016 10:16

The government of Nepal has formed a committee to study the overall media and formulate a new media policy. It is a good initiative as it is formed at a time broader media policy is needed in the country.

The committee is formed under the coordination of Chairman of the Administrative Court, Dr Kashiraj Dahal. However, it is yet to get full shape. Neither the government and the line ministry nor the committee has sought suggestions and held consultations with the civil society working in this sector.
In this connection, Freedom Forum, shows keen interest, for it has extensive work experience relating to the study, debate and formation of laws and policies relating to Nepali media.

Freedom Forum had played a very active role to bring the Right to Information Act 2007 and has continued national campaigns for its effective implementation to build the informed citizenry, which is one of the fundamentals of the functioning democracy. Similarly, the Forum has provided expertise to the government on the study to transform State-owned broadcaster (Radio Nepal and Nepal Television) into public service broadcasting.

As a CSO devoted to press freedom and for better media environment across the country since its establishment, Freedom Forum is always ready to share its experiences on study on Nepali media and the necessary policies to make media abreast with time. Also, we are ready to work in this subject with any agency sharing the similar goal.

For More Information
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np
Email: monitoring@freedomforum.org.np;  info@freedomforum.org.np;

http://www.nepalpressfreedom.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=775:ffs-concnern-on-governments-efforts-for-new-media-policy&catid=41:top-headlines&Itemid=120

Media policy recommendation committee gets full shape 

News Updated By- Photographer Priya Rijal    |   Posted From- Washington DC     |     February 15, 2016   - See more at: 

Kathmandu, Feb 15: A high-level recommendation committee formed to revise the prevailing Information and Communications (media) Policy as demanded by the federal constitution has got a full shape.   The Committee was formed by the Cabinet meeting on February 3. It is headed by an expert of communications law Kashiraj Dahal. Former President of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Dharmendra Jha, Media Society Chair Puskarlal Shrestha, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) Vice Chair Min Bahadur Shahi, journalist Dr Kundan Aryal, journalists Tirtha Koirala, Nirmala Sharma, Danda Gurung and Rem Bishwakarma have been nominated in the Committee, the Ministry of Information and Communications said.   Ministry’s Joint Secretary Ramchandra Dhakal is the member-secretary in the Committee. The nomination was made by Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai.   Nepal Press Council Chair Borna Bahadur Karki and FNJ sitting President Dr Mahendra Bista are the members in the Committee appointed by the Council of ministers.   The committee is expected to present feedbacks regarding the needed policy level, structural and legal improvements to the government within the next three months of the starting of work. - 

http://www.dcnepal.com/news/news.php?nid=193581

Nine media organisations object to formation of HLCC

Published: February 19, 2016 1:15 am On: Kathmandu

Kathmandu, February 18

Nine organisations of media professionals have objected to the formation of High Level Communications Committee saying the newly formed committee was not inclusive.

The government recently formed the committee to suggest changes in communication policies in the federal setup.

A meeting of the organisations held here today decided to resort to agitation if the government did not correct its mistake.

They said the new communication policy should be prepared on the basis of suggestions of all stakeholders.

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A version of this article appears in print on February 19, 2016 of The Himalayan Times.

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/nine-media-organisations-object-to-formation-of-hlcc/

Pakistan Press Foundation expresses concern over Nepal government’s efforts for new media policy

• February 19, 2016
 
• Protest Letters by PPF
• Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli expressed concern over Nepal government’s efforts for the new media policy.
  PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter urged government of Nepal to ensure press freedom, a broader media policy and transform state-owned media (Radio Nepal & Nepal Television) into public service broadcasting.
  He said the Nepalese government formed committee to study overall media and formulate a new media policy. However, it is yet to take full shape. Neither the government nor the Ministry or the committee have sought suggestions and held consultations in this regard with the civil society.

http://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/category/protest-letters-by-ppf/