Community Radio Pledge (pdf) - amarc

surrounding patriotism and feeling of nationhood.14. The interests of castes, communities, race, religions and regions mustbe deemed subservient to the interest of the nation.15. The bids coming from any individual or groups aimed at polarizing thenation or disintegrating it must be condemned.16. The bid to incite violence to settle the differences between the peoplemust be condemned without any hesitation.17. News related to national unity and self-respect, development, nationbuilding,education, health and news related to culture and nationalpublic life must be prioritized.18. It is the indivisible duty of the newspaper to evolve the valor of thepeople, boost their morality and their sentiments of cooperation insync with the efforts of the state after accepting the fact that pressfreedom is naturally limited at times of national emergency.19. Since it is incumbent on the newspapers to not only protect the nationalsecurity but also reinforce the same journalists must be alert to theexpediency of not violating the secrecy of national security.20. Journalists must use wisdom, element of balance, sympathy and elementof cooperation as the basis while carrying news related to fundamentalsocial and economic programs of the country.21. One must follow gentle and decent language in the dissemination ofnews while also making it a point to not to use rustic language orrough style while embarking on criticism and counter-criticism.22. Attention must be paid to ensure that sensationalism, emotionalperversion, sadism and disruptive tendencies do not enter Nepalesejournalism, leave alone getting any encouragement.Nearly a decade before the effort which had come from journalists,erstwhile Prime Minister Dr K I Singh had in 1957 constituted the sevenmanPress Commission under the chairmanship of sitting judge KrishnaPrasad Chapagain while journalists Gopal Das Shrestha and Ramraj Paudelwere its two members. It had come up with an 18-point ethics beforepresenting the same to His Majesty's Government (Ramraj 1970).Press Council, which has had already been formed elsewhere in theworld to ensure healthy journalism, was established in Nepal in 1970. PressAdvisory Committee was instituted in the year 1967 much in tune with thespirit of the Press Council. It was later converted into Press Advisory Councilafter due changes. The council which was constituted under thechairmanship of Justice Nayan Bahadur Khatri issued a 21-point ethics.The Print & Publication Act, 1975 empowered the Press Council to issueethics governing press and publication. Under it, the ethics could be issuedonly after seeking permission from His Majesty's Government. The PressCouncil issued a 22-point ethics in the year 1975 after securing permission23