Kathmandu: May 3, 2014
Participating in a seminar today organized jointly by the Center for Media Diversity (CMD) and the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Kantipur City College, participants shed light on the importance of human-centric Buddhist prescriptions, which, they argued contain practical relevancy for utilizing press freedom for greater democracy and human rights.
Professor Lal Deusa Rai, affiliated to the Department of Journalism (Tribhuwan University) pointed out that there were rich Eastern resources for conducting media research from Buddhist and Hindu perspectives. While the Western institutions have been issuing press freedom indexes from their own perspectives, Prof. Rai argued that press freedom empirical research could be conducted by using Eastern values and parameters to acquaint the world with the original Eastern status as regards media functions and press freedom.
Supporting Prof. Rai, Nepal’s Veteran Journalist and former Nepal Press Institute Chairperson Gokul Pokhrel stressed on the need to soul-searchingly link religious studies with media and democracy through oriental perspectives. He also suggested the CMD to prepare a software and a training manual to promote education on the Noble Eightfold Path, useful in every sector.
Mr. Nirmal Rijal, a RMT PhD research final examinee and Technical Advisor of Equal Access, shed light on the global parameters of press freedom. He stated that democracy does not become fruitful in absence of a free press and equitable development. For this, he stressed on ‘diversity, access and pluralism’ of media, with the reduction of media concentration. “Media should respect the rights of individuals and organizations while exercising press freedom,” he added.
Mr. Pratibedan Baidya, Board Member of Center for Media Diversity, informed the participants about mass communication and journalism research as the major focus of Center for Media Diversity. He pointed out the scarcity of media-related research in Nepal while much of the donated fund is being wasted on superficial advocacy not supported by empirical research.
Welcoming the participants at the beginning of the program, CMD Board Member Sonu K.C. said that the CMD initiated a dialogue on how press freedom can be enriched better through Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path perspectives, relevant for media professionals to understand scientific mind-behavior relationship, causes and effects of issues and events, and the need to ethically and mindfully operate one’s own mind towards the wellbeing of humanity.