Centre for Media FreedomWith the aim of enhancing journalists’ capacity of doing journalism with self-regulation, Centre for Media Freedom (CMF) in coordination with Federation of Nepalese Journalists, district branches and with support from the Direct Aid Program of the Australian Embassy in Nepal organised eight training programmes in eight districts from December 18, 2015 to January 2, 2016: Baglung, Myagdi, Parbat, Kaski, Tanahun, Lamjung, Makwanpur and Dhading.
Each two-day programme was divided into inauguration and working sessions. On the first day of the programme, distinguished guests delivered speeches during the inauguration session. CMF Chairman Mr. Dhruba Hari Adhikary chaired the session while Chief District Officers were the chief guests. Local Development Officers, District Police Chiefs, senior journalists were special guests. These guests wished success of the programme and urged participants to make full use of the time spent on the training to enhance their journalistic skills. The chief guest formally inaugurated the programme by lighting a lamp on the dais. CMF General Secretary Mr. Bimal Gautam clarified objectives of the programme. Chairman Mr. Adhikary closed the inauguration session with his speech.
During the working session, CMF Chairman and trainer Mr. Adhikary gave his power-point presentation on Understanding Media Ethics, Code of Conduct and Self-regulation. With his immense experience in the media sector, Mr. Adhikary explained the concept in vast detail that the participants appreciated wholeheartedly. Similarly, CMF General Secretary and trainer Mr. Bimal Gautam gave his power-point presentation on Journalists’ Code of Conduct in Nepal: Dos and DONTs and Complaint procedures/complaint mechanism. Making his presentation interesting with personal anecdotes and experiences, Mr. Gautam was able to engage the attention of the participants.
After the presentations, the floor was open for group discussion. Participants actively took part in the discussion and asked various questions to the trainers on the contents of the presentation and also shared their own experiences of doing journalism in the district.
On the second day, the programme started with the recap of the first day activities. After the recap and small discussion, local coordinators of respective districts gave their power-point presentations on the local practice of self-regulation in journalism. Almost all presenters said that journalism at the local level needed self-regulation as there were plenty of malpractices going on. The floor was then open for the discussion on the presentation in which the participants actively contributed to the debate.
After this, the programme again took a formal turn as the closing and certification session started. CMF Secretary Mr. Gautam thanked participants for making the programme a success. Two participants, one male and one female, then, shared their experiences of the training programme. Afterwards, CMF Chairman Mr. Adhikary awarded certificates on the completion of the training to participants and closed the session with a vote of thanks to all. Then a group photo of participants and trainers was taken.
The participants’ positive reaction to the training programme provides evidence of the success of the programme. Most of them said that they had never taken part in training with such an extensive subject and committed to implement the learning in their professional life.