Community Radio Pledge (pdf) - amarc

episode involving Shrisha Karki. Demonstrations hit the Kathmandu roadbearing the placard demanding action against the culprit. There were demandsto curb press freedom. The demonstrations that hit the road hurled wholesalecharges at journalism. Nepal Press Council and Federation of NepaleseJournalists issued directives to editor Kishor Shrestha saying that he hadviolated the ethic of journalism. Editor Shrestha went into hiding. Policeraided the office of the paper. His Majesty King Gyanendra issued directivesto Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand to initiate legal action againstthe culprit.AnalysisThe emergency meeting convened by the Press Council came to theconclusion that Janastha had gone for illegitimate economic benefit bycarrying such news even as the same paper had violated the right to privacyby carrying an explicit picture. The decision of the Nepal Press Council isitself a controversial one. While what one can understand after the paperhas hit the stand is explicit picture has been carried and right to privacy hasbeen violated. But what has become a mere charge is the paper tookillegitimate economic benefit by carrying the news. It was an act of grossirresponsibility on the part of the Nepal Press Council to accuse any editorof such a big crime without any proof. It is unfortunate for the nation whenan agency which ought to enforce ethic ended up by becoming biased.Apologists of unbridled professional ethics deny going by any kind ofrule. According to them there are no predetermined rules and moralobligations for journalists. They do not care an iota about motive,compulsion and consequences. This ethics allowed printing the pictureof Shrisha Karki. Looked at in this light the conclusion reached by theNepal Press Council that printing of the picture in question is merely anoutcome of the differences in ethics. The context of violation of privacy ishowever an aspect which cannot be overcome going by any variety ofethics. The right to privacy is the right protected under the constitutionalclause. Violation of the same is violation of the law.Now let us take up the content and presentation of the news story inquestion. Looked at in this light there are too many lapses in the news. Thelanguage is extremely attacking. The writer does not seem honest whilecompiling and writing the news. No source has been quoted in the newswhile the investigation has hit merely the surface; facts are missing whileeffort has been made to substantiate speculation and possibilities inhighhanded manner. There is no reaction from those alleged of wrongdoing.The impression is the news is neither balanced nor factual and neither freefrom prejudice. There are no details about the picture. But editor KishorShrestha had after the incident said that one can write and publish things31