Blogging in Nepal

Introduction:

Blogging roots its origin to weblog. With the rapid advancement in information and Communication Technology (ICT), every individual felt like Communicating through it. To meet those demands, some companies began providing mailboxes to individuals, in most cases, free of cost. Earlier, this phenomenon was used for exchanging mails, which came to be known as e-mail, i.e. electronic mail. However, this couldn't quench people's thirst for more effective and faster communication with large number of people at once, not only with those in the mailing list. As the old saying lays- necessity gives birth to invention, a phenomenon was born i.e. weblog. It is purely a 21st century phenomenon of journalism.


Initially, weblogs were used as personal web diary and designed for the same: to permit a user to upload and save his documents and information into the web. Some companies e.g. blogsome, blogspot etc. provided separate weblogs to the individuals. It was simply like writing in the web, instead of copy. When individuals began sharing their weblog addresses and exchanged information as comments, the potential of weblogs was felt as a vibrant means of sharing information. The shorter form of weblog became blogs. Later, those blogs were used by amateur writers/journalists to express their views, some news around them and opinions. Eventually, lacking government control, legal censorship and regulation, the blogs set new standards in freedom of speech and expression. They opened new avenues for every individual to express freely on any subject. They stood as an alternative means of expression against the mainstream media that has been generally guided by market economy and political influence in recent decades.

Press Law in Nepal

Definitions : Press law defined the rules regulating the press, the publishing industry and electronic media, such laws frequently determine the rights and responsibilities of journalists.

The expression press laws, commonly referes to a special law, which is solely directed against a printing establishment or those who are concerned with the printing and publication of printed matter, such laws would not affect other persons, who are not engaged in printing or publishing printed matter.

Traditional law of Nepal

-           Oral directions made by chief of the state.

-          Lalmohor

-          Religions, traditions, cultures

-          Dibyopadesh made by Prithvi Narayan Shah

-          Inscriptions

Muluki Ain

No documented and codified law before 1910 BS. Muluki Ain was the first codified laws of Nepal; Contribution of Janga Bahadur Rana, inspired by Nepolian code. In Muluki Ain there waw some provision related to publication, but silence about the press though Giddhe Press was already entered two years before. Two main Provisions of Muluki Ain :

1- Approved authority to Gorkha Bhasa Prakasini samiti

2- Copyright registration

Nepal Constitution 2015 and Press freedom

17. Right to Freedom: (1) Except as provided for by law no person shall be deprived of her/his personal liberty.

(2) Every citizen shall have the following freedoms:

(a) freedom of opinion and expression,

 (f) freedom to engage in any occupation or be engaged in employment, establish and operate industry, trade and business in any part of Nepal.

19. Rights to communication: (1) There shall be no prior censorship of publications and broadcasting, or information dissemination, or printing of any news item, editorial, article, feature, or other reading material, or the use of audio-visual material by any medium, including electronic publication, broadcasting and printing.

(2) If there is any broadcasting, publishing or printing, or dissemination of news, article, editorial, feature, or other material through the medium of electronic equipment or the use of visuals or audio-visuals, no radio, television, online publication or any kind of digital or electronic equipment, or press, or other kind of media outlet, shall be closed, seized, or their registration cancelled for publishing, or transmitting, or broadcasting such material. Provided that nothing in this sub-clause shall be deemed to prevent the making of Acts to regulate radio, television, online or the use of any other kind of digital or electronic equipment, printing press or other medium of communication.

(3) No means of communication including the press, electronic broadcasting and telephone shall be obstructed except in accordance with law.

27. Right to information: Every citizen shall have the right to seek information on any matters of concern to her/him or the public. Provided that nothing shall be deemed to compel any person to provide information about which confidentiality is to be maintained according to law.

28. Right to privacy: Except in circumstances provided by law, privacy in relation to the person, and their residence, property, documents, records, statistics and correspondence, and their reputation are inviolable.

World Development of mass media

Before 19^th century

Early forms of transmitting news began with word of mouth; news was limited to what someone saw and retold. There have also always been informal networks of travelers and traders. The medium of communication developed from the clay tablets of Mesopotamia in Egypt and Greece.

In 59 BC roman emperor Julius Caesar published the Acta Diurna. He wants to inform the public about important social and political happening. So, he ordered to upcoming events posted in major cities that were Acta Diurna. Written on a large board and displayed in popular places, Acta Diurna kept citizens informed about government activities, military campaigns or trials and executions.

Before Acta diurnal appeared in Rome, paper invented in china in 105 BC. Then in fourth century first wooden printing press invented in china, symbols carved on wooden block.

In 1455 Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing press with metal movable type. At first he secretly kept his technology for some years. Later he published holy bible. One hundred copies of bible were already published till his death in 1460's decade.

After the development of printing press newsletters and pamphlets were published and being circulated in German cities, by the late 15^th century. Even in the ancient and early medieval times bulletins, news bulletins and pamphlets and other propaganda materials were used to be posted on the walls. Royal order and proclamations were also posted on the walls or inscribed on the stone. Kings had used spies or agents to get the news from the other king of state.

History of Mass media in Nepal

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

- History of media goes parallel with the political history of any country. We can also witness similar situation in Nepalese context. The history of Nepali media has been immensely influenced by the Nepalese political history.
- The political history of Nepali journalism can be divided into seven phases.

· Traditional communication system
· Rana period
· Period after the establishment of democracy
· Panchayat period
· Period after the restoration of democracy
· Period during king’s regime ­
· Period following the success of People's Movement-2063 BS onwards

Traditional Communication System
During the period, there were no any aids of print and audio-visual media. This period of traditional communication system is non-recorded history of Nepali Media.
Bengal Gazette, as the first newspaper of the South Asia, was published from Calcutta, India in 1837 BS (1780AD). However, it did not have any effect to the development of Nepali journalism. Nepal was passing through the unification era at the moment during which no educational or extra activities took momentum. Owing to the political, educational, transportation among many other causes, no influential move took place regarding the publishing of newspapers in Nepal. 'Katuwal Karaune', 'Jhyali Pitne', 'Sankha Phukne', 'Damaha Thataune', 'Karnal Phukne' etc. were in practice for public information and mass communication during this period .
Those practices were in use for a long time and are still in existence in some rural parts of Nepal. Katuwal played an important role in the history of mass communication of Nepal; village panchayat used to appoint them as peons. Due to the geographical difficulties, illiteracy, backward communities and other difficulties in the country, Katuwals were more effective than other modern media including newspapers to disseminate information.
Rana period − 19o3 to 2007
This period is considered as the initial phase or beginning of the development of journalism of Nepal.
In 1908 BS, then Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana (JBR) imported a hand press instruments in Nepal from Europe in course of his visit there.
Although it was used for publication purpose only after 58 years of its entry into Nepal, It was said to be the first press machine here..
It was kept at JBR's then Palace at Thapathali, Kathmandu. Due to the trademark of an eagle pasted in the machine, it was often called 'Giddhe Press'. But its official name was Type Printing Press '.
GORKHA BHARAT JEEVAN
This was the Nepali magazine brought out from Banaras, India. This is first media outlet in Nepali language. Ram Krishna Barma served as the founder editor of this magazine brought out on the prime initiative of great scholar Moti Ram Bhatta. Gorkha Bharat Jeevan was a monthly magazine based on literature. It was Printed at Bharat Jeevan Press, Banaras which was owned by Editor himself. There was no uniformity regarding the date of its publication, however, different dates are found in the history of journalism.

Online Media in Nepal: Short History

Online Media in Nepal: Short History

Internet

Internet is relatively new media. It was only in the late 80s and early 90s that the World Wide Web (WWW) emerged and started influencing the way people live. Journalism was not left behind. The early use of internet was for acquiring information and using computer to improve reporting, but by the half of the 90s, the newspapers were already on the internet serving the people worldwide.

Early precursors of the online journalism are believed to be teletext and videotext, introduced and used during 70s and 80s but never took off. In 1978, Bulletin Board System (BBS), information and emails sharing method by direct connection between computers, began. In 1982, StarText, the first newspaper intended to deliver only to computers via videotext was established. In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee created the internet. His invention changed the scenario as the WWW offered greater capacity, flexibility, immediacy, permanence and interactivity.

Chicago Tribune of USA began its online venture, the Chicago Online, in 1992. This is the considered the first online media. The first proper news site was put on the internet as early as in 1993 when the The News & Observer in North Carolina was put on the internet through bulletin board system (BBS). After the first internet browser, Mosaic was launched in 1994, it went online as Nando Times. The pioneering site, the Nando Times pages were discontinued May 27, 2003. On January 19, 1995, the first newspaper to regularly publish on the Web, the Palo Alto Weekly in California, begins twice-weekly postings of its full content.

Mercantile Office Systems began the commercial email system in June 1994 and established a separate entity Mercantile Communications for similar services. Before that Nepal Academy for Science and Technology (NAST) and Nepal Forum for Environmental Journalists had used email services as trials. Early services were used by dialing ISD numbers in India for the connection.

ASNE's canons of journalism

Responsibility. The primary purpose of gathering and distributing news and opinion is to serve the general welfare by informing the people and enabling them to make judgments on the issues of the time. Newspapermen and women who abuse the power of their professional role for selfish motives or unworthy purposes are faithless to that public trust. The American press was made free not just to inform or just to serve as a forum for debate but also to bring an independent scrutiny to bear on the forces of power in the society, including the conduct of official power at all levels of government.

Freedom of the Press. Freedom of the press belongs to the people. It must be defended against encroachment or assault from any quarter, public or private. Journalists must be constantly alert to see that the public's business is conducted in public. They must be vigilant against all who would exploit the press for selfish purposes.

Independence. Journalists must avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety as well as any conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict. They should neither accept anything nor pursue any activity that might compromise or seem to compromise their integrity.

Truth and Accuracy. Good faith with the reader is the foundation of good journalism. Every effort must be made to assure that the news content is accurate, free from bias and in context, and that all sides are presented fairly. Editorials, analytical articles and commentary should be held to the same standards of accuracy with respect to facts as news reports. Significant errors of fact, as well as errors of omission, should be corrected promptly and prominently.

Impartiality. To be impartial does not require the press to be unquestioning or to refrain from editorial expression. Sound practice, however, demands a clear distinction for the reader between news reports and opinion. Articles that contain opinion or personal interpretation should be clearly identified.

Fair Play. Journalists should respect the rights of people involved in the news, observe the common standards of decency and stand accountable to the public for the fairness and accuracy of their news reports. Persons publicly accused should be given the earliest opportunity to respond. Pledges of confidentiality to news sources must be honored at all costs, and therefore should not be given lightly. Unless there is clear and pressing need to maintain confidences, sources of information should be identified

Likewise Unesco Issued  International Principles of Professional Ethics by the fourth consultative meeting of international and regional journalists, Paris, 1983, under the auspices of UNESCO.

Media Ethics

Ethics

Ethics is a major branch of philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life. It is significantly broader than the common conception of analyzing right and wrong. A central aspect of ethics is "the good life", the life worth living or life that is satisfying, which is held by many philosophers to be more important than moral conduct.

Definition of Media Ethics

Media ethics means Code of conduct prescribed by the press to guard and protect professionals and of course the profession entirely. Media practitioners had to establish their own code of conduct in order to safeguard themselves from committing any offence against the society and in situations where such offence is committed what are the defenses available to them under the law? Media ethics helps the media professionals to set standards of moral context, what is unacceptable in the performance of their duties of gathering, processing, and dissemination of a wide varieties of message designed for enlightenment and entertainments.

Distinction between law and ethics.
Law can be regarded as a social control unlike ethics which deals with ideas which are considered to be good by a particular society and ought to be followed. Breach of law results to sanction, sentence and conviction, imprisonment, fine, etc, while ethics is a moral contact which results to warning, suspension, etc.

Law is imposed by the outer society while ethics is self imposed and self-enforced (e.g. by a professional body for its members). Law can expire or be repealed, but ethics is continuous. Law has more foray institutions, such as the legislature, police, judiciary (the courts tribunals, Court –martial, prison, reformatory, etc), but ethics has less formal institutions for its formulation and enforcement. Indeed the chief enforcer of ethics is the conscience

विकास पत्रकारिता, पत्रकारिताको विकास

मोहन मैनाली

विज्ञानका कक्षामा मिडिया (सञ्चारको माध्यम) बारे पढाउने एउटा रोचक तरिका छ । शिक्षकले घन्टीलाई टेबलमा राखेर सिसाको भाँडोले छोपिदिन्छन् । सिसाको भाँडो र टेबल जोडिएको ठाउँबाट हावा आउनजान नसकोस भनेर त्यहाँ मैन लगाइदिन्छन् । त्यसपछि घन्टीको स्वीच थिच्छन् र विद्यार्थीलाई सोध्छन्ः यो घण्टी बजेको छ कि छैन ?
यसले विद्यार्थीलाई अलमल्याउँछ । घन्टी बजेको छैन भनौँ भने थर्किएको प्रष्ट देखिन्छ सिसा बाहिरबाटै । नबजिकन थर्किने कुरा भएन । बजेको छ भनौँ भने आवाज सुनिएको हुँदैन ।
त्यसपछि शिक्षकले यस्तै कुरा भन्छन्— घन्टी बजेको छ तर त्यस वरिपरि बस्ने मानिसले घन्टी बजेको सुन्दैनन् । घन्टी र मानिसका बीच हावाले मिडिया (सञ्चार माध्यम) को काम गर्छ तर यहाँ त्यो हावा आउन जान नसक्ने बनाएकाले घन्टी बजे पनि बजेजस्तो नसुनिएको हो ।
त्यसपछि उनले सिसा र टेबलको जोड्नीबाट मैन हटाएर हावा आउनजान सक्ने बनाउँछन् र स्वीच थिच्छन् । यसपटक घन्टी बजेको सुनिन्छ ।
यस उदाहरणलाई पत्रकारिता अर्थात् मिडियाका प्रसंगमा पनि उपयोग गर्न सकिन्छ । जहाँ मिडिया हुँदैन् त्यहाँ पनि काम त भइरहेको हुन्छ तर त्यसबारे मानिसलाई थाहा हुँदैन । त्यसैले, हामीले गर्वसँग भन्न सक्छौँ— हामीले महत्वपूर्ण काम गरेका छौँ ।
प्रश्न उठ्न सक्छ— समाजका सबै मानिसले, सधैँभरि गरेका सबै कामलाई मिडियाले सबै मानिससम्म पुर्‍याउँछ ? यो त नसकिने काम हो । नेपालबाट निस्कने कुनै दैनिक पत्रिकाले नेपाल सीमाभित्र बसेका सबै नेपाली र सबै विदेशीले बितेका २४ घण्टामा गरेका सबै काम छाप्ने हो भने त्यो पत्रिका कति पेजको हुँदो हो !