The debate regarding foreign investment was triggered by an editorial on the subject in the country’s most-widely circulated daily, Kantipur. Instead of mud-slinging, this is a chance to foster healthy debate on the issue.
Some have also raised questions regarding investment in Setopati. The journalists involved with Setopati are the investors in this portal. There is no other foreign or local investor. However, we feel foreign investment in media is important and valid. For example, the main owner of APCA which publishes the English daily The Himalayan Times is Indian. Similarly, Himal South Asian magazine is published by the South Asian Trust and is backed by a grant from the Norwegian government. The government-run Nepal Television has received assistance from China since its establishment, and so has Radio Nepal. The BBC Nepali Service is run fully by a foreign entity and there are many private radio networks that have received funds from abroad. For instance, Ujyaalo Radio network is supported by the Media Development Investment Fund and many of its programs are run through foreign assistance.
Nepal’s community radio network, considered a pioneer in the region, is partly or directly run through such foreign aid. Sajha Sawal, one of the most popular program that airs on Kantipur Television is produced by an international organisation that pays for its broadcast. Another program Samkon that airs on the same TV channel is produced with the support of the Norwegian Embassy.
Our readers are intelligent enough to understand the agenda of the mouthpieces of political parties. It is an insult to our readers when we say that media with foreign support threaten national integrity. We need to consider how rapidly the media landscape in Nepal and the world is changing. The internet has changed the way Nepali audiences access the international media.
The International New York Times and China Daily are both published and distributed in Nepal. In this era of digital and social media and the democratisation of communication the readers now have access to the medium of disseminating news and views with alternative voices in the media landscape.
Few years ago the Ministry of Information had shown initiative to create a policy to ensure financial transparency in media houses. But the opposition of few media heavyweights didn’t let it move forward.
Politics and media are the two pillars of any democratic society. When these two entities aren’t transparent about their workings, it will only weaken democracy. Some people consider transparency in politics and media too idealistic, but we feel that these are the foundations of democracy. We hope this new discussion will pave the way to make our politics and media more transparent and accountable.