Presenting a concept paper on the media for diversity in a media seminar organized on 15 March by the KCC Centre: Media for Diversity in Kathmandu, Nepal’s senior journalist and media expert Prof. Rama Krishna Regmee referred to the vision of media for diversity as ‘being conscious of, accepting and respecting differences’. He added, “honoring all the individual differences is a way of empowering citizens.”
Prof. Regmee’s concept paper pointed out to the partial coverage of Nepal by the Nepali mass media. He warned that tilted media coverage would further complicate conflicts; hence the need for diversification of the mass media. The exaggeration of differences by most of the current mass media aggravate conflicts, said Prof. Regmee. He was trying to make his audience aware of how the media can do two things simultaneously: (i) exaggerate diversity and aggravate conflicts and (ii) create tolerance and understanding for diversity. He stressed on the need for de-monopolizing the mass media for the sake of diversity.
Prof. Regmee’s paper focused on the principles of plurality, dissent and minorities. No less stressed were the need for media attention to the deprived, the marginalized and the exploited. For this, he highlighted the ‘need to diversify the media vision’.
Participating in the discussion, Dinesh Regmi, a journalist associated with the Kantipur daily, characterized diversity as a great asset of human life. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the existing situation of little diversity in the Nepali mass media. He pointed out to the media policy lacking a vision on diversity. As some measures to improve the condition of diversity in the mass media, he suggested that even several private media institutions, including those providing mass communication and journalism education, should sponsor at least one candidate for advanced media education or training. This, he expected, would result in the production of many educated and trained journalists from diverse communities, especially those belonging to the deprived ones.
Similarly, another journalist affiliated to the same daily newspaper warned that the mass media themselves have to face danger should they disrespect diversity. He pointed out to the incident of attacks on the vehicles of the Kantipur Publications (P) Ltd. as the indication of the hostility and aggressiveness developed in the minds of the suppressed and voiceless people.
On the issue of media for diversity, Binaya Guragain working for the Equal Access Nepal stressed on the need to seek diversity in media contents, ownership and opportunities. Likewise, Milan Timilsina, a journalist associated with the Ujayalo Network 90.00 MHz, emphasized on the necessity of opportunities because diversity would go up with more opportunities.
KCC= Kantipur City College
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