KATHMANDU, May 3: President Ramchandra Paudel has expressed the confidence that the media sector will continue to work courageously in the pursuit of full exercise and defence of the rights guaranteed by the constitution.
In a message of best wishes on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day (May 3) today, the President expressed his confidence that all three organs of the state would be able to carry out their functions with caution and alertness to disseminate the truth to the general public.
"We all know that the Nepali press has played a crucial role in ending autocratic rule and establishing a federal democratic republic. Democracy is a necessary condition for free and fair journalism. Freedom of the press and expression is the cornerstone of democracy. That is why the Nepali press has made a huge contribution to the movements for democracy,” the head of the state said in his message.
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Stating that press freedom is equally essential not only for the press but also for the implementation of the constitutional right of the citizens. It will help make the governance system transparent and accountable. President Paudel said that press freedom is an important aspect of the campaign for democratization of society as a whole.
"The more free, impartial, and strong the press is, the stronger the democratic system will be, and it is the responsibility of all of us to create the necessary environment for it. Our Constitution guarantees full freedom of the press and expression. Freedom of the press in the true sense is being able to engage without duress and hindrance from the collection of information to the process of disseminating it," the President said, adding that the practice of journalism based on plurality establishes the easy access for all the citizens to all types of news and enables the media to carry the voices of all sections and communities.
Noting that many types of rumors can be spread in different periods in the society, the President stressed the need for independent journalism to strive harder to establish the right and truth in the society by exploring the truth and disseminating the facts so that the misleading rumors are dispelled, helping the citizens to form the right ideas.
President Paudel cautioned that the increasing use of social media and some false and misleading information that is circulated through it can deceive and misinform the citizens and weaken the entire system and wished that may the World Press Freedom Day would give more energy, motivation, and encouragement to the Nepali press fraternity to disseminate truth, facts, and credible information to the people in the face of such challenges.
