TRN May 9, 2008

-Vijaya Chalise
Gorakhapatra Daily, a pioneering newspaper, has entered its 108th years of glorious publication. In a recent past, it has tried to increase its responsibility to maintain transparency and has applied all the journalistic measures to empower citizens to engage in public debate in the process of constitution assembly elections and now in writing a new constitution of the country. Gorkhapatra is trying its best to provide the public with accurate, independent and objective information. However, this publication has ever been survived in a paradox of government control without any financial support. Indeed, government media organizations stand at the crossroads and a new policy orientation and thrust is needed to bail the organization out of the crisis. These organizations, including Gorakhapatra, are in a critical and difficult situation in the face of stiff competition in the media sector. They are facing the challenge of how to give continuity to their historic identity and achievement competing with the private media organizations run by business houses. It is high time all stakeholders do away with their traditional mindset and spelt out the future course to be taken by the government media. Evidently, having the glorious history of hundred and seven years as an inseparable part of history, the Gorakhapatra and its publications now are striving for clear policy from the government. The government either should grant subsides budget and exemption of or give it autonomy to be equipped for a competitive power with the private media. It is necessary because, due to its establishment and structure, it is difficult to get ride of prejudiced attitude from some sections of society and to enhance the confidence, though its news and views do not lag behind any of the private press.
Now, while the nation is in the course of restructuring its political, economic, cultural, and social sectors in order to strengthen the people's democracy, the need of restructuring government-controlled media organizations is as well indispensable. Discussions have begun on the different modalities. Demand of releasing of all government media from its hold and developing them into a democratic framework is being raised by many sectors. Obviously, in the existing model and structure the government media could not take up new role in the changed context. Therefore, they should move towards modernization in the changed context.
The government has now more or less accepted the principle offering autonomy to the government media organizations, including Gorakhapatra corporation. Government, in principle, has committed to ensure an environment for full enjoyment of the right to information by creating necessary institutional and procedural arrangements regarding a policy of providing autonomy to government-controlled Media, however, how much political determination the government could show is yet to be witnessed.
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, senior leader of Nepal Communist Party-Maoist (CPN-MAOIST) has assured that the new government would transfer the ownership of the government owned media to the workers with maximum autonomy enhancing media policy guided by the motive of social service, rather than profits. Indeed, the Gorakhapatra having a history of century long journalism practice, should be granted autonomy rather than sold to some business tycoon, as suggested by some quarters within the influence of private media houses and NGO based journalists.
Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara as well seems positive in restructuring government media into public service media organizations. He seems committed to run the state owned media under public authority as he said Nepali media were waiting liberation from the government's direct ownership and external interferences in the name of professionalism. He, however, emphasizes the freedom be compatible to the social necessity and awareness.
As has been recommended time and again, Gorakhapatra Corporation should be restructured to make it viable and competitive organization to cope with the challenges of the time. Several modalities of redesigning and restructuring are being suggested. However, privatization might be one modality while structuring on the basis of cooperative principles could be recommended to confer stakes and ownership to the employees of the entity itself. There are other models too, to be discussed and examined in this respect so that an informed and well-conceived strategy is finalized to breathe a lease of life in the corporations that is serving the nation and people for over a century. Among the modalities being discussed, restructuring under the jurisdiction of Parliamentary Information Committee after developing into a trust would be more appropriate to develop government into a public service media. The concept of privatization like consumer goods industry would not be in favor of the public service media that have to work according to the principle of social responsibility. In a country like Nepal media should not forget the obligation towards social responsibility.
The fierce competition among the media organizations to win over the major share in the Nepalese media market seems already affecting the obligations of social responsibility. After the restoration of multi party democracy in the country, when freedom of the press was guaranteed, private sector investors belonging to big business houses started to invest in the media sector. Several media houses started publication and broadcasting channels with professional hands and huge budget. This proved good in some extent giving the much needed competition and institutional development of the media sector. However, this competition caused media investors to follow the course of using media to fulfill their personal business interests while disseminating news and views. As a result some big publications are accused of using media to fulfill their personal interests and disseminate news to suit their interests. For the reason it being felt that government media be restructured in a way that it could serve purpose of national interest transforming itself into a Public Media Service. The claim that the government should not run the media directly in a democracy is widely accepted. However, no one should forget that in the country where all the institutions including the private media are still striving to be established professionally, public media organizations could play a vital role in safeguarding national as well as people's interest. Private sector corporations are free to act solely on the basis of profitability without; the market defines relationships, where loyalties to country may be in a least priority. THe facts suggest that we still need public media service that is dedicated to the nation and its common people.
(Vijaya Chalise is Editor-in-Chief of the Gorakhapatra Daily)