Media has played very important role in development but the agenda of development hasn’t been understood. There is misunderstanding that development means construction and infrastructure. At very basic level, there is the problem of illiteracy. Development is such agenda that is bringing people together.
Development journalism should focus on the needs of the poor, the deprived, the marginalized and emphasis their effective participation in development planning. Development is about ‘highlighting what people are doing to help transform their lives. It is seen as humanity’s common objective and a means to eradicate poverty and protect the environment.
Development can be seen in two ways; Infrastructural development like constructions of road, health post, electricity, etc and Freedom, which is related with human rights protection, human development, economic development, etc. Development must be talked of in concrete and measurable terms.
There are three reasons of poverty- because of conflict, due to natural disasters and due to recklessness of government. Media has done reporting in these three causes. Besides these, development projects and plans should be reported in critical way. There are many global issues but we are not being able to criticize these issues.
Western media says development journalism is outdated practice. Nepal has signed ‘Millennium development goals’ which was introduced to reduce poverty and impacts of HIV/AIDS, malaria, to empower women, to reduce mortality rate, death rate, etc. But media is not able to do critical analysis. We hardly find the issues related to development. News analyses are there but they are guided by political analysis. There is no specialization in development journalism. There can be reporter who can do entertainment reporting in morning and in evening, reporting related with development.
Media access in Nepali life is very low because of development. Government has promised to provide TV in every household but there is no electricity in houses. Radios in rural areas are used to know time. There are no people to invest their money in development. People seek for profit only.
Government should help journalists to get information throughout the nation. Governments can help to educate their citizens and enlist cooperation on major development projects. However, a government can also use the idea of development to restrict freedom of speech for journalists. Journalists are told not to report on certain issues because it will impact the developmental activities of the nation in question, and therefore citizens are not actually being given access to the whole picture.
Development journalism should have become applied subject. But it has just become an intellectual subject. Journalists committed to development should look at the situation beyond just reporting it. Reporters have not been able to bring glamour in part of development. News brings change through persuasion and pressure. Newstory doesn’t serve the both interest. There is no access. Even if they write, they use jargons which can be understood by many people. There needs to be followup then only development journalism can flourish in Nepal.
Lecture by Laxman Datt Pant in Martin Chautari,28th May 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Trip to Radio Nepal
On May 20th, 2009, Bachelors in Media Studies(1st and 2nd year) students of Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, made a trip to the national Radio Station, Radio Nepal facilitated by Nirmala Mani Adhikari.All students were very excited for the visit. After 1 and half an hour drive from Dhulikhel, students reached to their destination but they were very exhausted to wait for 1 hr outside the Singha Durbar for the permission to enter. However, after entering to the Singha Durbar, everyone's energy boosted up to see the very nice and clean premises of Singha Durbar.
Radio Nepal was established on 1st April 1951. Initially, the transmission covered duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes through a 250 Watt SW transmitter. Over the years, Radio Nepal has strengthened its institutional capacity considerably and diversified itself in terms of programme format, technical efficiency and coverage. Radio Nepal airs programmes on Short Wave, Medium Wave and FM frequencies. Radio Nepal recognizes that its primary obligation is to serve its listeners. It has been providing various programs aimed at creating mass awareness in its attempt to reflect the views of all sections of the society.
Radio Nepal has its own studios for programme production, music recording, drama recording, talk shows and news broadcasts. Everyone tried their hand in the newsroom by having their voice record through mic and headphone. A music library at its premises in Singh Durbar has a collection of about 40,000 songs including lok geet to pop songs. Students got very delighted to meet the famous singer, Meera Rana, who is currently looking after the tape department.
The Broadcasting Headquarters at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu has two broadcasting houses consisting of one drama studio, two music studios, one reporting studio, three continuity studios, one news studio and seven programme production studios. One of the music studios is equipped with a 24 track recording facility. This studio is open for hiring purposes for anyone desirous of recording music digitally whether solo track or for albums after payment of studio charges which are very relatively reasonable compared to other private studios. The complex also has one open air live theatre facility for functions and musical performances. Foreign broadcasting Stations also make use of this Studio facilities and transmitters for live and other broadcasts on a rental basis. Like other transmitting stations, the Head quarters also has a 100 kVA stand by diesel generator to cope with occasional power failure.
Nevertheless, the trip was organized to make the students familiar with the environment of Radio station and its work. It was very fruitful, informative and entertaining.
Radio Nepal was established on 1st April 1951. Initially, the transmission covered duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes through a 250 Watt SW transmitter. Over the years, Radio Nepal has strengthened its institutional capacity considerably and diversified itself in terms of programme format, technical efficiency and coverage. Radio Nepal airs programmes on Short Wave, Medium Wave and FM frequencies. Radio Nepal recognizes that its primary obligation is to serve its listeners. It has been providing various programs aimed at creating mass awareness in its attempt to reflect the views of all sections of the society.
Radio Nepal has its own studios for programme production, music recording, drama recording, talk shows and news broadcasts. Everyone tried their hand in the newsroom by having their voice record through mic and headphone. A music library at its premises in Singh Durbar has a collection of about 40,000 songs including lok geet to pop songs. Students got very delighted to meet the famous singer, Meera Rana, who is currently looking after the tape department.
The Broadcasting Headquarters at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu has two broadcasting houses consisting of one drama studio, two music studios, one reporting studio, three continuity studios, one news studio and seven programme production studios. One of the music studios is equipped with a 24 track recording facility. This studio is open for hiring purposes for anyone desirous of recording music digitally whether solo track or for albums after payment of studio charges which are very relatively reasonable compared to other private studios. The complex also has one open air live theatre facility for functions and musical performances. Foreign broadcasting Stations also make use of this Studio facilities and transmitters for live and other broadcasts on a rental basis. Like other transmitting stations, the Head quarters also has a 100 kVA stand by diesel generator to cope with occasional power failure.
Nevertheless, the trip was organized to make the students familiar with the environment of Radio station and its work. It was very fruitful, informative and entertaining.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Book fair rocked for booklovers
Though many easily accessible and cheap media are available, book hasnt stopped attracting people. All book lovers must have visited the fair which started from 15th May till 23rd May, 2009.
The 13th Nepal Education and Book Fair was held at Bhrikuti Mandap which was organized by Global Exposition and Management Servicing Pvt. Ltd. with the cooperation with National Booksellers and Publishers Association of Nepal and sponsors Padmashree Group of Insitutions, Informatics College, Ekta, Indo-World, Worldlink and Himalayan Infosys. Around 1,50,000 visitors were expected. There were total of 160 stalls. Many famous Book Sellers like Mandala Book Point, Pairavi Prakashan, Ratna Pustak Bhandar had participated in the fair. Students from different schools like Princeton International Boarding School, Bright Future H.S.S., Pacific Academy,Shikhar Boarding School, etc had come to visit the fair.
People argue that books are much more expensive but the money hasnt stopped its lovers from buying it. The fair had novels, course book, programming books, biographies, childrens' book and many more. One of the visitors, Sanjay Bajracharya bought 3 books worth Rs. 5000 while another visitor, Bibek had a list of books to buy.
Beside the Book Fair, Nepal Science and Exhibition and Competition also attracted many visitors. It started from 21st May till 23rd May. Goldengate College, V.S. Niketan had participated in the exhibiition. Keshab Khatri, manager of GEMS, shared, “this type of science exhibition is held for the first time in Nepa. It has given platform to students to expose their talent not only in their college but also outside the college. It has also increased the interest of people to visit the fair.”
However, more and more people are getting into reading books even in this busy schedule. It has become one of the entertainment means for many and for others, a source for learning. This type of exhibition has made all book lovers to buy varieties of books in same floor and in cheaper price.
The 13th Nepal Education and Book Fair was held at Bhrikuti Mandap which was organized by Global Exposition and Management Servicing Pvt. Ltd. with the cooperation with National Booksellers and Publishers Association of Nepal and sponsors Padmashree Group of Insitutions, Informatics College, Ekta, Indo-World, Worldlink and Himalayan Infosys. Around 1,50,000 visitors were expected. There were total of 160 stalls. Many famous Book Sellers like Mandala Book Point, Pairavi Prakashan, Ratna Pustak Bhandar had participated in the fair. Students from different schools like Princeton International Boarding School, Bright Future H.S.S., Pacific Academy,Shikhar Boarding School, etc had come to visit the fair.
People argue that books are much more expensive but the money hasnt stopped its lovers from buying it. The fair had novels, course book, programming books, biographies, childrens' book and many more. One of the visitors, Sanjay Bajracharya bought 3 books worth Rs. 5000 while another visitor, Bibek had a list of books to buy.
Beside the Book Fair, Nepal Science and Exhibition and Competition also attracted many visitors. It started from 21st May till 23rd May. Goldengate College, V.S. Niketan had participated in the exhibiition. Keshab Khatri, manager of GEMS, shared, “this type of science exhibition is held for the first time in Nepa. It has given platform to students to expose their talent not only in their college but also outside the college. It has also increased the interest of people to visit the fair.”
However, more and more people are getting into reading books even in this busy schedule. It has become one of the entertainment means for many and for others, a source for learning. This type of exhibition has made all book lovers to buy varieties of books in same floor and in cheaper price.
Founder of Changu Narayan; not Mandev
Changu Narayan Temple, one of the most beautiful World Heritage Sites, stands on a hilltop at the eastern end of the valley, about 6km north of Bhaktapur and 22km from Kathmandu. It came in existence in 4th century. Whenever we ask anyone about the establishment of this traditional beauty, everyone says it’s Mandev who built Changu Narayan. But people are not aware of the fact that it was not Mandev, it was King Haridutta Burma who actually built the Changu Narayan.
King Haridutta was the ruler 9yrs before Mandev. In the inscription of Mandev, the works for making guthis and land has been mentioned but there is nothing about Mandev's contribution in building the temple. Had it be the Mandev, there would have been the name of the founder as Mandev. There are other works mentioned in the inscription but not about the establishment.
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