February 20, Kathmandu. In view of the upcoming House of Representatives elections on Falgun 21, the Federation of Nepali Journalists has organized an orientation on election reporting and journalist code of conduct. The federation is organizing such orientations in all seven provinces.

Inaugurating the program that started from Kathmandu, Election Commissioner Dr. Mina Kumari Tuladhar said that the media has an important role to play in making the elections fair, free and dignified.

Addressing the program, she said, "Fair elections and a free press are two sides of the same coin of democracy. A free and responsible press is the backbone of democracy. When the code of conduct is limited to paper only, its impact is minimal, and the power to bring it to life lies in the media.
The press should light the lamp of truth in the darkness of ignorance. Responsible journalism keeps the society well-informed, while false and misleading news can cause serious damage to public trust.
Truth, facts and balanced presentation are even more necessary during the election period. Despite the pressure to deliver news quickly, truth and credibility should be paramount. The dissemination of unverified information, rumors or misleading content can adversely affect the democratic process.’

Nirmala Sharma, President of the Federation, said that the orientation was organized targeting journalists and content creators working in online media in the context of the increasing influence of digital media. She urged them to follow the code of conduct and play a role in encouraging others to do the same to prevent misinformation and conduct elections in a fair and free manner. She also informed that such orientation will be held in all seven provinces from tomorrow.

Trainer Ujjwal Acharya provided training on reporting during elections, the conduct to be followed by journalists and media institutions, related employees and journalists.

The program was attended by the Federation’s Senior Vice President Deepak Acharya, Vice President Umid Bagchand, Treasurer Ramkrishna Adhikari, central members and more than 40 journalists working in various media outlets. The program was facilitated by the Federation’s Secretary Prakash Dhaulakoti.