By Smita Adhikari
Pokhara, Nov. 22: Minister for Information and Communication Gokul Prasad Baskota on Friday urged the media houses to sustain with quality information by disseminating reliable information for the good results of the policies introduced by the government.
Addressing an interaction organised jointly by Minimum Wage Determination Committee and Federation of Nepali Journalists Kaski, on ‘Implementation Status of Working Journalists Act' here today, Minister Baskota said that the government was preparing to make journalists economically sustainable.
"Journalist themselves should also be proactive to take advantages of the new policies," Minister Baskota said.
He told journalists not to run after chief popularity in the name of collecting more ads.
As informed in the programme, 2,000 online news portals, 1095 FM radios, 1000 newspapers and 200 television channels have received licenses in Nepal.
Minister Baskota said the government had ensured 25 per cent hike in journalists’ pay and 15 per cent in public welfare advertisement.
“It will be meaningful only if the media houses follow the proper rule and ethics,” he said, adding that journalism should not be limited only in chanting slogans of press freedom; it should be extended to grab the opportunities created in its realm.
Minimum Wage Determination Committee chair Gangadhar Parajuli said that had the Minimum Wage Determination Committee been given adequate authorities, journalists would not have to run after only advertisements.
“Appropriate policies for sustaining journalists and media houses are essential," he said.
The programme was attended by the media house owners and active journalists of Pokhara, among others.