Media Society releases ‘Kathmandu Declaration’, urges press freedom and policy changes

Kathmandu, August 2

The Nepal Media Society (NMS) held its 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kathmandu on Thursday, where it elected a new leadership team for the 2082–2085 BS term and released a seven-point "Kathmandu Declaration" highlighting major issues facing the Nepali media industry.


Madan Lamsal, from Aarthik Abhiyan Daily, was unanimously elected as the new President. Former Presidents Kailash Sirohiya (Kantipur Media Group) and Captain Rameshwor Thapa (Annapurna Media Network) were appointed as members of the advisory committee.


Other elected members include:


Vice Presidents: Dharmaraj Bhusal (Himalaya TV) and Mahesh Swar (Kantipur Daily)


General Secretary: Bodhraj Tripathi (Sourya Daily)


Secretary: Nawaraj Kunwar (Butwal Today Daily)


Treasurer: Janak Panta (TV Today)


Members: Dr. Balkrishna Chapagain (Dainik Patra Daily), Nikita Poudel (Gopikrishna TV Filmy), Binod Poudel (Mission Today), Surendra Bahadur Singh (Gauri Shankar TV), and Rajan Pokhrel (The Himalayan Times)


Outgoing president Subhashankar Kandel (ABC TV) also participated in the AGM. Founding president Kailash Sirohiya congratulated the new team and praised the Society’s work for strengthening Nepal's media sector.


7-Point Kathmandu Declaration

The declaration outlines the key concerns of the Nepali media and calls for urgent action:


Protecting Press Freedom:

The NMS condemned the misuse of cyber laws and criminal charges against journalists. It demanded an immediate stop to actions that suppress freedom of expression.


Fair Advertising Policy:

The Society criticized the government for unfairly prioritizing state-owned media in advertisement distribution and called for equal treatment of all media outlets.


Opposing the Media Council Bill:

The proposed bill was described as an attempt to control rather than support the media. The NMS wants an umbrella media law that promotes self-regulation, not government control.


Promoting Domestic Advertising:

The Society called for a rule that imported goods and services sold in Nepal should be advertised through Nepali media, helping protect consumer rights and support the local media industry.


Lifting Ad Bans on Schools and Insurers:

The NMS opposed restrictions on ads from private schools and insurance companies, saying these bans harm students, parents, and public access to essential information.


Controlling Disinformation and Illegal Online Ads:

Expressing concern over the spread of fake news and unregulated online advertisements, the NMS urged the government to create clear laws to address these problems.


Ending Unhealthy Media Competition:

The declaration urged media outlets to follow ethical advertising practices, stick to fair pricing, and stop undercutting each other in ways that damage the entire industry.


The newly elected team of the Nepal Media Society has pledged to work for a free, fair, and responsible media environment in Nepal.

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