‘Action will be taken against those spreading anarchy in the name of media’

Published On: September 6, 2024 07:55 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Sept 5: The chairman of Press Council Nepal (PCN), Balkrishna Basnet, has called on all concerned to avoid misusing the media as a tool to push the country toward instability and anarchy.

He said that the Council is monitoring and taking action against YouTube channels and online media that disseminate irresponsible and baseless information.

“Some media outlets have been using the media as a cover to spread baseless information to fulfill various interests. The media that become a tool for and contribute to pushing society toward instability and anarchy are facing action,” Basnet said during a program organized at the PCN on Thursday.

He stated that deliberately spreading false and misleading information is an abuse of press freedom, and the PCN is committed to taking strict action against such journalists, including revoking their press cards. He also mentioned that media outlets that abuse their freedom lose public trust and eventually shrink on their own.

“YouTube and other social media platforms must always be mindful of whether they are being influenced or manipulated by any malicious elements or groups. Being so influenced is a serious violation of press freedom. In such cases, the Council will intervene," Chairman Basnet emphasized during an orientation program with operators and editors of new online and YouTube media platforms.

The PCN has developed and classified guidelines for YouTube channels to organize them. Unregistered, objectionable, and irresponsible networks are being prosecuted as criminal offenses. In the last three months, 49 different YouTube channels have been penalized by the PCN.

During the orientation program, Ram Prasad Dahal, a board member of the Council, gave a presentation on the journalist code of conduct, and Mahendra Singh, the monitoring officer, discussed the current state of communication guidelines.

For the past two years, the PCN has made orientation classes mandatory for online media to focus on the code of conduct. Additionally, a procedure has been established and implemented requiring YouTube channels operating as media to register and attend a class on the journalist code of conduct.