A year that witnessed the largest political uprising and change ever in the history

2006 will be marked as a significant year in Nepal’s political history. This year, Nepal witnessed political upheavals and people’s profound unity for change. The year began with a gloom: King Gyanendra had declared Municipal polls for February eighth and almost all the mainstream political parties had already declared to boycott those polls. That created a situation of close confrontation between the Royal regime and political parties. King Gyanendra stuck to his stance on holding municipal polls, regardless of whatsoever participation of parties and people. And the seven parties agitating against King Gyanendra’s autocratic rule, decided to move head on against him; to boycott the polls at any cost and make them unsuccessful.

The decade long conflict ends after Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist Supremo sign the peace accord.

King Gyanendra’s ‘no setback’ stance brought both sides face to face. King Gyanendra deployed the army at every polling station and almost all parts of the cities and ‘held’ municipal polls almost under curfew order, even without permitting the press vehicles from plying the roads. And the popular movement rose from the very day of the municipal polls when Umesh Chandra Thapa, a local political leader was killed while protesting the municipal polls in Dang. To the next hand, contrary to King Gyanendra’s expectation to set up his ‘democratic image’ and legitimize his rule, the international community denied to approve the polls.

Millions of people come on the street to protest against King Gyanendra’s autocratic rule.

Seven political parties had already made an understanding with the rebels to form an alliance against King Gyanendra’s autocratic rule. The Maoists, which were fighting war against the establishment for a Communist system, had agreed to enter the peaceful mainstream, given that the polls for constituent Assembly will be held. With this understanding, the political parties succeeded on assuring people who were fed up with King Gyanendra’s despotic rule and the evils of twelve years of multiparty democracy that something good will come out. Thus the volume of participants in political programs began to multiply every day.

Girija Prasad Koirala addresses the House of Representatives after being appointed as Prime Minister.

Hitting the iron when it is hot, the political parties including Maoists declared a do or a die movement against King Gyanendra’s despotic rule. The movement began from April 6 and millions of people came on the street. Some experts even declared that it was the largest political uprising in the 21st century. Twenty one persons got martyrdom across the country and King Gyanendra was obliged to vow before people’s peaceful movement. He declared reinstatement of parliament as demanded by political parties at the midnight of April 24.

The reinstated House unanimously endorses the proposal to go for Constituent Assembly Polls tabled by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala

After the reinstatement of the parliament, Girija Prasad Koirala, as the leader of agitating seven parties, became country’s Prime Minister and a coalition government of seven parties was formed.

Another significant event in Nepalese history came on May 18 when the reinstated House declared itself as sovereign and cut all the rights and many state privileges of the King. The Monarchy became a lame duck, almost suspended unless its fate is determined by the constituent Assembly. Meanwhile, the peace process with the Maoists also moved ahead. The government and the Maoists sat for formal dialogues on May 26, giving new hopes to the people. Both the sides sign a 25 point code of conduct and agree to further the peace process.

Maoist Supremo Prachanda appears public for the first time in 24 years ever after he went underground in 1984

The other significant event happened on June 18. Summit level talks among the top leaders of seven political parties and the Maoists begin. Maoist Supremo Prachanda appears public first time ever in the 23 years after he went underground in 1984. This incident assured people that the Maoists are really willing to enter the peaceful mainstream. The parties agreed to promulgate interim constitution, form interim government, invite the United Nations to facilitate Maoists’ arms management and hold Constituent Assembly Polls by Mid July 2007.

However, Nepal’s peace process still remained indefinite as the scheduled tasks as mentioned above could not be held in agreed period. The prolonged peace process, though it was for many technical reasons, made people impatient and some uprisings against the government were witnessed during this period. Despite a few events of breach in code of conduct, Nepal’s peace process is meant to have moved smoothly so far.

Both sides are engaged in talks since the last eight months. (Pic: IDK/Everest Uncensored)

Nepal’s ten years long conflict which claimed more than 13,000 lives and left thousands of people homeless, comes to a formal end on November 21. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist Supremo Prachanda sign a peace accord that formally ends the ear. The Maoists agree to send their army to the cantonment. Meanwhile, series of talks; many in summit level were held and the parties succeeded on signing on the interim constitution on December 16.

Fishing in troubled water and Prolonged Transition
Nevertheless, Nepal is facing a hard time. Countries in transition are always in crisis. They are vulnerable to the chaos and disorder. If the leadership fails to rightly address the situation, the crisis may engulf the whole country. Certain reactionary forces are trying to fish in the troubled water. Trying to fish in troubled water, some communal forces have tried to break the communal harmony prevailing here. This week’s incidents in South western city of Nepalgunj and series of lootings in the eastern Terai are intended to break the communal harmony.

To the next hand, the reactionary forces are also trying to find space in the transitional environment. Series of gatherings by one of the pro Royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, in the last two weeks are intended towards garnering support to the King.

The civil Society kept up its role as a wathcdog against any activities of either side that may create impediment in the peace process (Pic: IDK/Everest Uncensored)

Whatsoever, the largest impediment in Nepal’s peace process have become the arms with the Maoists. It has impeded the Maoists entry in the interim government, creating an opposing situation between the seven parties and the Maoists. It has also delayed the promulgation of interim constitution. This will ultimately affect on the Constituent Assembly polls declared for July next year. This will further prolong the transition, making country vulnerable to more crises. Thus, unless the arms with the Maoists are managed, Nepal’s peace process still seems to face crisis at some point. However, there are silver linings in the cloud. People haven’t yet lost the hopes and so do the political parties.

The New Year 2007 will be fruitful in real sense to the Nepalese people in the political parties work closely and succeed on holding the constituent Assembly polls on declared dates.

देशमा विगत दश वर्षेखि आन्तरिक द्वन्द जारी छ । राज्यसत्ता परिवर्तनका लागि भनेर बन्दुक उठाएको बिद्रोही पक्ष र त्यसलाई राजनीतिक रुपमा सम्बोधन गर्न इन्कार गरिरहेको राज्यपक्षका कारण देशमा हिंसात्मक घटनाहरु सामान्य दैनिकीजस्तै बन्दै गैरहेका छन् । विशेषगरी २०५८ मंसिरमा माओवादीहरुले युद्धविराम भंग गरेर पुनः युद्धमा फर्केपछि हिंसाको आयतन बढेको छ र भयानक रुपमा परिणत भएको छ । हिंसाको आयतन यति बढ्यो कि गत भदौ १८ गते माओवादीले एकतर्फी युद्धविराम गर्नु अगाडि यस्ता हिंसात्मक घटनामा मृत्यु हुनेहरुको संख्या औसत रुपमा दैनिक सात पुग्यो । यसरी हिंसाका घटनाहरु प्रत्येक नेपाली -एकअर्काबाट थाहा पाउने र सञ्चारमाध्यमबाट थाहा पाउने) हरुका लागि दैनिक समाचार बन्न थाले ।
       छिट्टै सुरक्षाफौज-माओवादी भीडन्त वा कुनै पक्षबाट विभत्सरुपमा गरिने हत्याका घटनाहरु संचामाध्यमका नियमित स्तम्भ बन्न पुगे । भिडन्तस्थलमा सुताइएका दर्जनौँ लासहरु र युद्धमा क्षतविक्षत बनेका शवका विभत्स दृश्यका ठूल्ठूला तस्वीरहरुले पत्रिकाको प्रथम पृष्ठमा स्थान पाए । टेलिभिजनको पर्दामा नजिकबाट खिचिएका -क्लोज अप) तस्वीरहरु धेरै मिनेटसम्म देखाइन थाले । शुरुमा यस्ता दृश्य र समाचारहरु सामान्य लागे । हिंसात्मक घटनाहरुमा समाचारमा हुनुपर्ने धेरै गुणहरु हुने भएकोले सम्पादकहरुले यस्ता घटनाहरुलाई समाचारको रुपमा प्रयोग गर्दैगैरहे । यही कारण हिंसा स्वतः समाचार बन्दछ भन्ने मान्यताका आधारमा अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचारको सवालमा पनि हिंसालाई बढी प्राथमिकता दिने गरेको पाइन्छ ।
       विशेषतः हिंसात्मक घटनाहरु धेरै हुने इराक पछिल्लो समयमा संचारमाध्यमका अंतर्राष्ट्रिय पृष्ठ वा भागमा अनिवार्य बन्न थाल्यो । साथै अप्रिmका, यूरोप र अमेरिकाका हिंसात्मक समाचारहरु सम्पादकको छनौटमा स्वतः पर्न थाले । समाचार छनौट गर्ने क्रममा सम्पादकहरुले घटनाको समाचारीय महत्व ९ल्भधक खबगिभ० लाईमात्र प्राथमिकता दिने गर्दछन् । त्यसले समाजमा छाड्ने प्रभावका बारेमा ख्याल गर्ने फुर्सद पनि हुँदैन वा यो विषय उनीहरुका लागि सोचनीय नै हुँदैन । नेपालमा आमसंचारका साधनको तीव्र र व्यावसायिक विकासको इतिहास धेरै लामो नभएकोले -२०४९ पर्छि मात्र नेपाली मिडयाको तीव्रतर र व्यावसायिक विकास भएको मान्दा) समाजशास्त्रीहरुको पर्याप्त ध्यान तिनका असरहरुका बारेमा पुग्न नसकेको पाइन्छ ।
       आन्तरिक हिसात्मक घटनाहरुको बारेमा समाचार प्रवाह नगरी सुख छैन । तर त्यसलाई थप हिंसा र द्वन्द निम्त्याउने गरी प्रस्तुत गर्नु पूरै समाज र देशको लागि प्रतिकूल हुनसक्छ । जुन हिसाबले माओवादी हिंसाका घटनाहरुका बारेमा कसले छिटो र धेरै क्षतिको विवरणसहित समाचार दिने भन्ने विद्युतीय संचारमाध्यमहरु -जस्तो कि टिभी र एफएमहरुमा ब्रेकिङ न्यूज र न्यूज फ्ल्यास) बीच प्रतिस्पर्धा थियो, यसलाई व्यावसायिक अभ्यास मान्न सकिएला तर द्वन्द कम गर्नेतर्फो सकारात्मक र संयमित कदम मान्न सकिदैन । विशेषतः काठमाडौंबाट प्रकाशित हुने दिवा र सन्ध्याकालीन पत्रिकाहरुले घटनालाई अतिरंजित गरेर प्रकाशित गर्दा थुप्रै पटक अनावश्यक आतंक सिर्जना भएको उदाहरणहरु हामीसँग छन् । यस्तो अवस्थामा संयमित भएर समाचार प्रवाह गर्नु संचार जगतको दायित्व हो । कान्तिपुर पब्लिकेसन्सले विभत्स तस्वीहरु नछाप्ने भनेर लिएको नीति सकारात्मक मान्न सकिन्छ । पछिल्लो समयमा कालिकोटको पिली भिडन्तका बेला माओवादीले हत्या गरेका सैनिकका लासका दृश्यहरु छाप्नका लागि अति विभत्स भन्दै केही पत्रिकाहरुले छापन अस्वकिार गरेका थिए ।
       म्याक्वेल (२००१, ४३४-६) ले टेलिभिजनमा प्रस्तुत हिंसाले थप हिंसात्मक गतिविधिलाई बढावा दिनुका साथै अन्य थुप्रै नकारात्मक असर पार्ने कुरा प्रमाणित भएको उल्लेख गरेका छन् । थुप्रै अध्ययनका प्रतिवेदनहरुलाई उद्धृत गर्दै यस्ता हिंसात्मक प्रस्तुतीहरुले थप हिंसा उत्पन्न हुने उनले ठोकुवा गरेका छन् । उनका भनाइलाई थुप्रै समाजशास्त्रीय अध्ययनहरुले आधार दिएका छन् । त्यसकारण यस्ता प्रस्तुतीहरु र तिनको मात्रा अब नेपाली मिडियाको सर्न्दर्भमा पनि अध्ययनको विषयवस्तु बन्नैपर्दछ ।
       माथि उल्लेख गरे झैं आन्तरिक हिंसाका समाचारहरु र्टार्न नसकिएपनि संयमित प्रस्तुती र नियन्त्रित मात्रामा प्रवाह गरेर तिनका नकारात्मक प्रभाव घटाउनेतर्फपरिणाममुखी पहल गर्न सकिन्छ । समस्याको प्रमुख पाटो भने अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचारको प्रस्तुतीमा देखिन्छ । जसलाई सामान्य सतर्कता अपनाउँदा त्यसबाट पर्नसक्ने ठूलो असरलाई कम गर्न सकिन्छ ।
       यस परिस्थितिमा हिंसात्मक घटनाहरुको समाचारीय महत्व खोतल्दै विश्वमा हालसम्म भएका केही अध्ययन र विज्ञहरुका धारणाहरुका आधारमा तिनको औचित्य विश्लेषण गर्ने प्रयास गरिएको छ । तिनबाट उत्पन्न हुनसक्ने -वा भइरहेका) सकारात्मक/नकारात्मक परिणामका बारेमा पनि यहाँ चर्चा गर्ने प्रयास गरिएको छ । यहाँ उल्लिखित तथ्य र धारणाहरु नेपाली मिडियाको सवालमा ठ्याक्कै नमिले पनि तिनले यस विश्लेषणका लागि गहन आधार प्रदान गर्ने विश्वास लिइएको छ । लेखको अन्तमा जिम्मेदार पत्रकारिता क्षेत्रले अब आफूले पस्कँदै आएको विषयवस्तुमाथि पनि वहस शुरु गर्नुपर्ने आवश्यकता औंल्याइएको छ ।
१. हिंसात्मक घटना किन सधैं समाचार बन्छन् -
क) समाचारीय तत्व (News Value)
       समाचारका तत्वहरुका बारेमा विद्वानहरुबीच थुप्रै विवादहरु रहेतापनि मेन्चर -२००४) ले सामान्यतः समाचार बन्नको लागि सातवटा तत्वहरु आवश्यक हुने कुरा औंल्याएका छन् । उनका अनुसार कुनै घटना समाचार बन्नको लागि प्रभाव, महत्व, अस्वभाविकता, सामिप्यता, द्वन्द, सामयिकता र तात्कालिकता मध्ये कम्तीमा एक तत्व हुनुपर्दछ ।
       यीमध्ये धेरै तत्वहरु पाइने भएकोले हिंसात्मक घटनाहरु स्वतः समाचार बन्दछन् भन्ने एउटा धारणा पत्रकारिता क्षेत्रमा स्थापित भएको पाइन्छ । हिंसात्मक घटनाहरुमा प्रायः अस्वभाविकता र द्वन्द का साथै थप तत्वहरु पनि हुने गर्दछन् । सोही आधारमा अधिकांश समाचारहरुको पठनीयता (Readership) निर्माण हुने गर्दछ । अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचारको सवालमा समाचार संस्थाहरुको दादागिरी ९ज्भनझयलथ० का कारण पनि त्यस्ता समाचारहरु नेपाली मिडियामा अनिवार्य देखिएका छन् । यी छुट्टाछुट्टै तत्वहरुको नेपाली मिडियाको सर्न्दर्भमा सान्दर्भिकता (Relevence) को बारेमा तल चर्चा गरिएको छ ।
ख) पठनीयता ९च्भबमभचकजष्उ या तजभ ख्ष्यभिलअभ ल्भधक०
       माइकल कुन्जिक (१९९४-१८५) का अनुसार हिंसात्मक समाचारको उपभोगमा दैनिक समाचारपत्रहरुमा सबैभन्दा बढी पढिने अंश भनेको हिंसाका समाचारहरु हुन् ।
       यो अर्को कारण हो कि हिंसात्मक घटनाहरु प्रायः समाचार बन्ने गर्दछन् । पश्चिमी संचारमाध्यममा समाचारको एक प्रमुख मापदण्ड हिंसा पनि हो । तर्सथ हिंसाले अंतर्राष्ट्रिय सञ्चारमाध्यममा स्थान प्राप्त गर्नु वा समाचार संस्थाहरुले हिंसाका समाचारहरु प्रवाहित गर्नु सामान्य कुरा हो । तर आन्तरिक हिंसाले कायल बनेको हाम्रोजस्तो देशमा यस्ता समाचारहरु घटाउँदै लैजानु बुद्धिमत्ता हुन सक्छ ।अहिले पश्चिमा सञ्चारमाध्यमहरुले माथि उल्लेख भएका नाटकीय, मानवीय चाख र द्वन्द बाहेक नकारात्मकतालाई अर्को प्रमुख समाचार मापदण्डको रुपमा लिन थालेका छन् । ग्याल्टुङ र होलम्बो (१९६-२६६) का अनुसार परिणाममा जति नकारात्मक भयो त्यो घटना त्यति नै बढी समाचार बन्न लायक हुन्छ ।   
       यो दैनिक वा बुलेटिनपिच्छे नै हिंसाका समाचारहरु पढ्न-सुन्नु पर्दा यस्तो समाचारबाट दर्शकहरु वक्क भएका हुन सक्छन् । घटना दोहोरिरहँदा (जस्तो कि इराकमा) तीनमा मानवीय चाख, द्वन्द र नाटकीयपन पनि हराउन सक्दछ । यद्यपि यस्ता समाचारहरु सम्पादकको छनौटमा पर्नुको पछाडि नकरात्मकताले थप बल पुर्‍याउँछ । तर्सथ जति धेरै मानिस मर्‍यो वा जति बढी क्षति भयो त्यो घटना त्यति नै प्रमुख समाचारका लागि लायक बन्दछ ।
ग) अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचार प्रवाह (International News Flow)
       सञ्चारमाध्यमहरुले विश्वभरि नै आफ्ना संवाददाताहरु राखेर समाचार संकलन गर्न आर्थिक र व्यावहारिक रुपमा सम्भव छैन । तर्सथ उनीहरुले विभिन्न अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचार संस्थाहरुबाट समाचार प्राप्त गर्ने गर्दछन् । यसरी समाचार उपलब्ध गराउनेमा अमेरिकाको एपी र फ्रांसको एएफपी तथा बेलायतको रिउर्टस अग्र पंक्तिमा पर्दछन् । यी संस्थाहरुले समाचार प्रवाहका लागि आ-आफ्नै मापदण्ड तय गरेका हुन्छन् । यद्यपि हिंसाका घटनाहरु आफैँमा समाचार बन्दछन् भन्ने मान्यता स्थापित भैसकेको छ । हिंसात्मक समाचारहरुले ‘नाटकीय‘ र द्वन्द हुनुपर्ने पश्चिमी संचारमाध्यमहरुको मापदण्ड पूरा गर्दछन् ।  नेपालका सञ्चारमाध्यमहरुले पनि यिनै संस्थाहरुबाट समाचार लिएर नेपालीमा अनुवाद गरी प्रवाह गर्ने गर्दछन् । मोफसल र राजधानीकै संचार माध्यमहरुले समेत बिदेशी समाचार संस्थाहरुबाट सीधै समाचार प्राप्त नगरेर राससकै समाचार प्रयोग गर्नर्ुपर्ने बाध्यता हालै जारी संचार अध्यादेशले गराइदिएको छ । यसकारण देशभरिका संचारमाध्यममा जाने अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचारको गठन (News Pattern) एउटै हुने गर्दछ । मोफसलका पत्रिकाहरुले त अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचारको हकमा राससबाट आएको समाचारलाई शीर्षकमात्र राखेर प्रकाशन गर्दा कहिलेकाहीँ समाचारसमेत एउटै पर्ने उदाहरण समेत प्रशस्त हुने गर्दछन् ।
       विशेषगरी विश्वका प्रमुख सञ्चारमाध्यमहरुमा हाल सम्भवतः सबैभन्दा धेरै स्थान पाइरहेको इराकी हिंसाले थप मापदण्डहरु समेत प्राप्त गर्दछ । किनकि त्यहाँको द्वन्द विशेष प्रकारको छ । अमेरिका र बेलायत लगायत विश्वका अधिकांश देशहरु प्रत्यक्ष वा परोक्षरुपमा त्यहाँको युद्धमा सामेल भएका छन् । अझै अमेरिकी समाचार संस्था एपीले त यस युद्धको बारेमा बढ्तै स्थान दिने गरेको अनुभव छ सम्पादकहरुको । पोखरेल -२०६२ बि. स.) भन्नुहुन्छ -इराकी हिंसामा अमेरिकीहरु सामान्य घाइते भए पनि एपीले तत्कालै समाचार पठाइहाल्ने गर्दछ । यस्तो अवस्थामा ती समाचारहरुले बढ्ता स्थान प्राप्त गर्नु आर्श्चर्यजनक होइन तर आफ्ना पाठक/स्रोता/दर्शकका इच्छा र आवश्यकता अनुसारका समाचार दिन नसक्नु हाम्रो कमजोरी हो ।
(२) प्रभाव र परिणामः
क) हिसात्मक मनोविज्ञानको विकासः
       माइकल कुन्जिक (१९९४-१८७) ले नै पुनः उल्लेख गरेका छन् -हिंसाको कभरेजले हिंसाका अपराधहरुलाई पनि प्रोत्साहित गर्न सक्छ । विशेषगरी राजनीतिक रुपमा प्रेरित हिंसा, जसको उद्देश्य प्रायः मिडियाको उपस्थिति वा आशातित् रिपोर्टिङ हुने गर्दछ ।
       बास्तवमै टेलिभिजन वा फिल्महरुमा धेरै हिंसात्मक चलचित्र वा समाचारमूलक प्रस्तुती हेरेका कारण नै बालबालिकाहरु हिंसाप्रति प्रेरित हुने मनोविज्ञहरुको निश्कर्षछ । अमेरिका लगायतका विकसित देशहरुमा यही कारणले नै बेलाबेलामा बालबालिकाहहरुले आप\mनै सहपाठी साथीहरुको समेत हत्या गर्ने गरेका समाचारहरु आउने गर्दछन् । हाम्रै छिमेकी देश भारतमा पनि गत वर्षएक अपराधी धनञ्जय चर्टर्जीलाई दिइएको मृत्युदण्डको त्यहाँका टेलिभिजन च्यानलहरुले नाटकीय प्रस्तुती गरेका कारण त्यसको सिको गर्दा उत्तरी भारतकी एक वालिकाको ज्यान गएको समाचारलाई यही पर्रि्रेक्ष्यमा हेर्नु उपयुक्त हुन्छ । हाम्रो देश नेपालमा पनि बालबालिकाहरु हिंसात्मक खेलहरुतर्फउन्मुख भएका समाचारहरु बेलाबेलामा आउने गरेका छन् ।
       आन्तरिक हिंसाका समाचारहरुलाई हामी टार्न सक्दैनौँ । तर त्यसलाई (Sensationalize) अतिरञ्जित नगरिकन दिएर त्यसको नकारात्मक प्रभावबाट कसरी बचाउने भन्ने विषय नै अहिलेको बहसको विषय बन्नु जरुरी छ । यस्तो अवस्थामा थप हिंसाका समाचारहरुलाई अझ भयानक रुपमा प्रस्तुत गर्नु नकारात्मक मनोवैज्ञानिक असर निम्त्याउनु बाहेक केही होइन ।
< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> ख) जबर्जस्ती चासो वृद्धि गर्न खोज्नुः
       हिंसात्मक समाचारलाई बढी र नियमित स्थान दिएर नेपाली मिडियाले सोप्रति जबर्जस्ती चासो वृद्धि गराउन खोजिएको छ । पाठक स्रोताहरुमा पनि ती समाचार विना खल्लो महसुस गर्ने मनोविज्ञानको विकास गर्नसमेत नेपाली मिडिया सफल भएको छ । यसकारण अहिले आएर हिंसाका समाचारहरु अपरिहार्य र अनिवार्य बनिसकेका छन् । यो मनोविज्ञानलाई तत्काल अर्कोतर्फमोड्नु नेपाली मिडियाको अबको पहिलो प्राथमिकता बन्नुपर्दछ र यो एउटा बाध्यता पनि बनिसकेको छ । त्यस्ता समाचारहरुलाई फलोअप गरेर जबर्जस्ती चासोमा वृद्धि गर्न खोज्नु प्रत्युत्पादक हुन जान्छ ।
ग) घट्दो संवेदनशीलताः
       स्यार्ण्र्डस (२००३-९९) ले उल्लेख गरेका छन् - टाढाका स्थानको लर्डाईं र द्वन्दहरुको बारेमा के मान्यता देखा पर्दछ भने हामीबाट जति टाढा मानिसहरु पीडित हुन्छन्, त्यति नै बढी उनीहरुको दुःख र पीडाका दृश्यहरु देखाउने चाहना हुन्छ ।
       यही कराणले नै नेपाली मिडियामा पनि अंतर्राश्ट्रिय  समाचारहरुमा बढी विभत्स र भयानक दृश्यहरु प्रकाशित प्रसारित हुने गर्दछन् । हिसाग्रस्त क्षेत्रमा कार्यरत धेरैजसो अंतर्राष्ट्रिय संचारमाध्यम र समाचार संस्थाका पत्रकारहरु विदेशी हुने गर्दछन् । तर्सथ त्यहाँ भैरहेका हिंसाप्रति उनीहरुको मानवीय संवेदनशीलता जाग्दैन र उनीहरु भयानक र विभत्स तस्वीर दृश्यहरुको खोजीमा लागिरहन्छन् । त्यस्तै समाचारहरु नेपाली संचारमध्यमले प्राप्त गरी जस्ताको तस्तै प्रकाशित प्रसारित गर्ने गर्दछन् ।
       यसरी प्रकाशित प्रसारित गर्दा मानवीय संवेदनामा गहिरो आघात पर्न जान्छ । आन्तरिक हिंसाका समाचारहरुको पुनरावृत्तिले गर्दा नेपालीहरुको मानवीय संवेदनशीलता एकदमै घटेको छ । कुनै घटनामा मान्छे मरेन भने त्यो पनि के समाचार भन्ने मानसिकता पाठक र सञ्चारकर्मी सबैमा विकसित भएको छ । यसकारण थप हिंसाका समाचारहरु थप प्रत्युत्पादक बन्न सक्दछन् । यस्तो अवस्थामा इराकमा भएको बम विष्फोटमा तीन जना मरेको खबरलाई तीन कोलम स्थान दिनु पछाडिको तर्क ९यिनष्अ० बुझिनसक्नुको छ ।
       गत बर्षभदौमा इराकमा नेपालीहरुको अपहरणपछि भएको हत्याका विभत्स दृश्यहरु प्रसारित गर्न अरेवियन टेलिभिजन अल जजिराका सञ्चारकर्मीहरुलाई कुनै संवेदनशीलताले रोकेन । तर त्यसप्रति नेपालीहरुको संवेदनशीलतालाई यहाँका मिडियाले नबुझी जस्ताको तस्तै समाचार प्रकाशित प्रसारित गर्दा अकल्पनीय परिणाम भोग्नुपरेको दृष्टान्त हामीसामु र्छलंग छ । यस्ता समाचार प्रसारित गर्दा विशेष ध्यान नपुर्‍याइएमा थप दृश्टान्तहरु नदोहोरिएलान् भन्न सकिन्न ।
 ३. औचित्य
फरक समाचार मापदण्ड (Different News Value)
       विकसित र विकासोन्मुख देशहरुमा समाचारका मापदण्ड नै फरक हुने गर्दछन् । त्यसकारण दर्ुइ विश्वका संचारमाध्यमहरुले एउटै रुपमा समाचार प्रवाह गर्दा त्यसको औचित्य फरक पर्न जान्छ, जुन हिंसाका समाचारहरुको कभरेजमा भैरहेको छ ।
र्सवप्रथम हाम्रोजस्तो विकासोन्मुख मुलुकका समाचार मापदण्डहरुको बारेमा चर्चा गरौँ । यस्ता मुलुकका संचारमाध्यमहरुले उठाउनुपर्ने विषयमा विकास र पर्ूवाधारका सुविधाहरु, ग्रामीण विकास, शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, समानता, सामाजिक न्याय, र्सतर्कता र आन्तरिक राजनीतिक द्वन्दहरु प्रमुख हुन्छन् । जबकी विकसित देशहरुमा यी क्षेत्रहरु विकसित भैसकेका हुन्छन् । अनि उनीहरुले पैसा, हत्या, हिंसा, अपराध यौन स्क्याण्डलहरु, विज्ञान र प्रविधका चमत्कार, व्यक्तित्वहरु, खेल, व्यापार र चलचित्र आदिलाई समाचारकै मापदण्ड मान्ने गर्दछन् । नेपाल टेलिभिजनका दर्शकको चेतनाको स्तरको आधारमा रोएर्टसका समाचारलाई जस्ताको तस्तै दिनुमा के अर्थ राख्न सक्दछ भन्ने कुरा यिनै मापदण्डका आधारमा तय गर्न सकिन्छ ।
४. एउटा वृहत्तर बहसको खाँचो
       यस लेखलाई टुंग्याउनु अघि सन् १९८१ मा यूनेस्कोले पारित गरेको नयाँ विश्व सूचना तथा संचार नीति (New World Information and Communication Order/ NWICO) को परिप्रेक़क्ष्यमा फराकिलो रुपमा ती समाचारहरुको औचित्यलाई केलाउने प्रयास गरौँ । विश्व सञ्चार क्षेत्रमा आफूहरुले पनि न्यायिक र सन्तुलित स्थान पाउनर्ुपर्दछ भनेर तेश्रो विश्वका असंलग्न मुलुकहरुले सन् ७० को दशकमा चलाएको सशक्त बहसको प्रतिफलस्वरुप यूनेस्कोको एक्काइसौँ महासभाले सो प्रस्ताव पारित गरेको थियो ।
       प्रस्तावले सम्बोधन गरेका विषयहरुमा सूचना र समाचारहरुको प्रवाहमा असमानता र असन्तुलन हटाउने, सूचनाको स्वतन्त्र प्रवाह हुन दिने, सूचनाको हकको सुनिश्चितता गर्ने तथा सूचना क्षेत्रमा रहेका र्सार्वजनिक र व्यक्तिगत एकाधिकारहरुको अन्त्य गर्ने लगायतका थिए । यस अघि नै सन् १९७५ मा असंलग्न राष्ट्रहरुले पश्चिमाहरुको एकपक्षीय र एकतर्फी समाचार प्रवाहलाई रोक्न नन-अलाइन्ड न्यूज पूल (Non-Aligned News Pool) नामक समाचार संस्था मार्फत् सामूहिक रुपमा आफ्ना समाचारहरु विश्व समुदायमा पुर्‍याउने प्रयास गरेका थिए । यी प्रयासहरुलाई अमेरिका लगायतका विकसित देशहरुले विरोध गरेपछि ८० को दशकको अन्त्यतिर नै सो नीति असफल बनाइएको छ । तर तेश्रो विश्वको भूराजनीतिक यथार्थलाई गहिरोसँग आत्मसात गरेर ल्याइएका ती प्रस्तावहरुलाई हाम्रोजस्तो देशमा पुनः बहसमा ल्याउनु जरुरी भएको छ ।
       अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचार प्रवाहमा जसरी पश्चिमाहरुको मापदण्डलाई नै हामीले आफ्नै मापदण्ड मानेर समाचार प्रवाह गरिरहेका छौँ, त्यो पद्धतिमा प्रश्न उठाउने प्रयास गर्ने हो भने अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचारको संरचनामै परिवर्तन हुन सक्दछ । एपी र एएफपीले उनीहरुको इच्छा अनुसार तयार गरेका हिंसात्मक र नकारात्मक समाचार छोडेर सिन्ह्वा, पीटीआई र यूएनआईले दिएका विकास र चेतनामूलक समाचारहरुलाई प्राथमिकता दिन थाल्ने हो भने भोलि इराकमा बम नपड्केमा अंतर्राष्ट्रिय समाचार नबन्ने स्थितिबाट पार पाउन सकिन्छ । बंगलादेशमा पुल बनेको वा इराकमै महिलाहरुमा चेतना बढेको वा इजरायलमा मरुभूमिमा अन्न फलेका समाचारहरु बारम्बार आउन थालेमा फेरी पाठक स्रोताहरुमा त्यसप्रति पनि पक्कै चासोमा वृद्धि हुन्छ । त्यस्ता समाचारहरुले पक्कै पनि सकारात्मक परिणाम निम्त्याउन सहयोगी हुन सक्दछन् ।
सन्दर्भ सामाग्रीहरु (References)
;Gbe{ ;fdfu|Lx? (References)
Galtung, Johan and Ruge, M. H. (1965) The Structure of Foreign News, as illustrated in: Kunczik, Michael (1994:183), “Violence and the Mass Media” Bonn, Friedriech Ebert Stiftung (FES).
Kunczik, Michael (1994), Violence and the Mass Media, Bonn, Friedriech Ebert Stiftung(FES).
McQuail, Dennis (2001) McQuail’s Mass Communication Theory, 4^th edn. < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />London, Sage Publications.
Mencher, Melvin (2004), Basic News Writing, 3^rd edn. Reprint,  New Delhi, Universal Book Stall.
 पोखरेल, जगदीश -२०६२ बि. स.), लेखकसंगको कुराकानी, जेठ १० । पोखरेल द राइजिङ नेपाल दैनिकका सहसम्पादक हुनुहुन्छ ।
Sanders, Caren (2003) Ethics and Journalism, London, Sage Publications.
(The article also appears at a Federation of Nepalese Journalists’ Bi-Monthly Journal, Patrakarita, January-February 2006)

“Iraqi violence in Nepali Media: A case of domination of violence on news content“
A Case Study
< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Prepared By,
Indra < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />< ?xml:namespace prefix = st2 ns = "urn:schemas:contacts" />Dhoj Kshetri.
MA MCJ (Third semester)
Exam Roll No-613065
 Submitted to,
Purwanchal University,
Biratnagar.
 MA MCJ Third semester, Case Study
 Prepared in partial fulfillment of the requirements of MAMCJ (604) Project III.
 College of Journalism and Mass Communication,
Kathmandu

Acknowledgement
        Firstly, I’d like to appreciate Purwanchal University for including project work in the syllabus of Master of Arts in mass communication and journalism (MAMCJ) Third semester program. As the Media sector is booming in the wake of twenty first century in the country, it has become crucial to begin discussions about their impact on the people’s life. Its high time Nepali Media sector looked itself at the mirror and judged its performance. Such Case Studies provide an opportunity for the students to analyze the media situation in the country critically. I pursued this Case Study with the hope that it will help to look at the darker side of Nepali media performance.
            I am heartily thankful to Mr. Tank Upreti, the project Director, for his valuable guidance during this study. Special debt is owed to Dr. Manju Mishra, the principal of the college, for providing me worthy suggestions during this study. All the teachers of College of Journalism and Mass Communication are worthy of thanks for their inspiration to pursue this study that has been over looked by the mainstream journalism.
            I am thankful to all the writers who have previously pursued some sort of studies on this sector and provided me with reference materials.
                        Finally, I’d like to thank my brother Keshab Kshetri who helped me typing and designing this report and thanks are due to all the friends and colleagues for their mockeries, comments & suggestions.
Indra Dhoj Kshetri

CONTENTS
1.     Case Title                                                                                           1
2.     Introduction                                                                                      
2.1.     Background of the Study                                                          2
2.2.     Rationale of the Study                                                               3
3.     Problem identification
3.1             Background of the problem                                                       4
3.3             Statement of the problem                                                          4
3.3      Problem identification                                                               4
4.     Causes and consequences of the problem    
4.1     Causes of the problem                                                              5
4.2     Consequences of the problem                                                   8
5.  Efforts made towards solving the problem                                           10
6.  Recommendations                                                                              11
7. References                                                                                          12
    
  
1.           Case Title
The title of this case study is “Iraqi violence in Nepali media:  A case of domination of violence on news content.” It is generally acceptable that violence makes news. However, the case of the coverage of Iraqi violence by Nepali media has been outstanding. Almost every day, newspapers run the news on multiple columns. It has become more dominant on electronic media. Almost every news bulletin, be it headlines or comprehensive bulletins, has the news about the violence on Iraq. In the given scenario, it was crucial to know the causes and effects of such trend. Hence, I have chosen the optimized coverage of Iraqi violence by Nepali media.
Iraq, which has been remotely located and is of no interest to the general people, has been inevitable part of every news production and publication in Nepal. With the outstanding coverage of Iraqi violence by Nepali media, patterns of international news coverage and media’s social responsibility role have been questioned. Do the broad sheet dailies lay the news just to fill up the space and the news bulletins include just filling the news hole? Couldn’t the Nepalese media make any difference to the news of Iraqi violence? Is it inevitable to include the news sent by the wire services or the international news providers as it is? These questions are raised with traditional presumptions towards electronic media that they mainly resorted to violence for news. They are often charged that they give more emphasis to the subjects related to violence. These charges had to be immediately repealed and in return, it was crucial to know the tendency of international news flow and coverage.

2.           Introduction
2.1.    Background of the Study
After the United States of America attacked Iraq on the dawn of 2003 New Year, nearly 60 thousand Iraqis and two thousand coalition forces have been killed. Deposed Iraqi President and most of his accomplices have been arrested by the US led Coalition forces. And after five months of war, the US declared that the war has been over on May. But still, there hasn’t been single day without the casualties on suicide/ bomb blasts or shooting. In the recent days, the conflict in Iraq has turned to be the communal fight between the Shiites and Sunni communities of Muslim. Iraqi violence has dominated other world issues since then and hence, has become major news content at the international news channels and publications. Those events are very regularly covered by the Nepalese media and even are followed up by them. They are widely covered in almost every news bulletins or each day by the broad sheet dailies.
A tentative study regarding coverage of violence in the international news (Kshetri: 2006) showed that, particularly, Iraqi violence dominated major content of the international news in Nepali media. The trend is still prevalent even after four years of the war, regardless that the war has been turned more to a communal violence between the Shiite and the Sunni communities.

2.2.    Rationale of the Study
The study is an attempt to see general tendency on international news coverage by Nepali media. Particularly, it is an effort to spot the domination of violence in the coverage of international news. The findings will be helpful to generalize to other similar cases of international news coverage of violence. Particularly, the study seeks to find out:

1.      How Nepali Media are growing violent culture.

2.      How they use the ready made news given by the international news agencies.

3.      Why Iraqi violence has so much dominated the international news content in Nepali media.

4.      Recommend the measures to minimize coverage of violence, particularly, remotely located.

5.      Recommend the measures to minimize the negative effect of the violence.

3.           Problem identification
3.1        Background of the problem
Every country is engulfed with its own problems. Almost all the countries have some sorts of internal conflicts. After the US attacked Iraq at the dawn of first January, 2003, it became the hot cake for the media all over the world. The international news giants e.g. BBC, CNN, Fox and many others almost brought the event live. The same trend was carried by the international news agencies as well. They eventually began to flow the news, updating the Iraq situation in every hours. Those contents were imitated by the Nepali media. Without any thorough consideration of audience’s expectations and ignoring the negative effects of violent news content, Nepali media blindly followed the trend and news on Iraqi violence became regular phenomenon, every bulletin and every issue.
3.2        Statement of the problem

Why has the Iraqi violence dominated the news content in Nepali media? Is it just because that international super powers e.g. the US and the UK are involved in the war? Does it mean that we have got to follow what the international media opt for? What efforts are made towards minimizing the negative effects of violence on audiences? Can the media stay dumb, ignoring the negative impact on audiences? Following the outstanding coverage of Iraqi violence by Nepali media, such crucial questions have been raised. This has to be immediately addressed to promote the accountability of the media towards its audience and social responsibility.  

3.3        Problem identification
Nepali media has been outstandingly covering the violence. Especially, violence in Iraq has become regular content of Nepalese media. Various communication experts blame Nepali media for promoting violent culture.

 4.           Causes and consequences of the problem
4.1   Causes of the problem
War and violence make news in media throughout the world. There has been assumption that war and violence is itself news. There are certain elements in war or violence e.g. conflict, human interest, drama etc. that are essential to make news. However, uninterrupted coverage of Iraqi violence by Nepali media can’t be simply defined with those causes. We need to apply other parameters to find the causes of such outstanding coverage.
4.1.1 Proximity
A major parameter to judge the news value is proximity. This is applicable to this case as well. However, we can’t find much proximity between Nepal and Iraq. They are remotely located, despite the fact that they lie in the same continent i.e. Asia. However, 34 deaths in Iraqi violence had more coverage than 100 deaths in a boat capsize in Bangladesh (Kshetri: 2006). They don’t have either type of cultural proximity. They are neither approximate from religious point of view. Only four percent people in Nepal follow Islam. News about Islamic festivals and violence during those festivals could be of some interest to the Nepalese.
Another parameter to measure proximity is diplomatic and financial ties. Nepal and Iraq have so far not established diplomatic ties. They don’t have any strong financial relations as well. However, Iraq as a major oil producer in the world can’t be ignored with towering price hike in the petroleum products. After US invasion in Iraq, the number of Nepalese youths going Iraq for employment has dramatically increased. An unidentified country (for foreign employment), has overnight been the centre of attraction to many youths willing to seek employment in gulf countries.  Though, the government hasn’t legally opened Iraq for foreign employment, nearly twenty thousand youths are supposed to have illegally entered Iraq (Kshetri: 2006). And those youths have added new dimension in financial ties between these countries. The family members and relatives of those youths are interested towards what is happening in Iraq.  As a result, the number of Nepalese with qualitative interest towards Iraq has also increased. (Qualitative interest, for the purpose of this case Study, means the number of people interested towards particular incident because it affects their life.)
Nepalese interest towards Iraq reached climax when 12 Nepalese were abducted by a terrorist group Ansar-al-Sunnah in July 18, 2004 and later brutally murdered on July 31^st. During those two weeks, Nepalese media played a crucial role, covering news at every hours and days. Some of them also sent their correspondents to the gulf countries and tried to collect as factual information as possible. (For example, Kantipur Daily sent Bijaya Babu Khatri to Kuwait to report on the incident) Since then, Nepalese interest towards Iraqi violence has been increased to some extent.  
4.1.2 Parallel type of violent conflict in the country
Another cause of outstanding coverage of Iraqi violence in Nepali media is parallel type violent conflict in the country. As the violence in the country made news everyday, why not the Iraqi violence? The editors were much influenced by this psyche. Owing to the growing violent activities in the country in the last five years, people’s mindset was also that any news bulletin or any issue of newspaper without violence news coverage was neither worthy.
Kunczik(1994:185) notes that on the consumption of violent news, it must be noted that crime reports in the daily newspapers are the most frequently read parts. Hence, to meet audience’s demand, some editors are even forced to opt for the violence news.
4.1.3 International news flow
Another more important cause behind outstanding coverage of Iraqi violence by Nepali media is international news flow. It is not financially and practically possible for Nepalese media to collect news from around the world through their own network of correspondents. Hence, they almost entirely rely on the international news agencies for international news. Nepali media mostly buy International news from giant news providers e.g. AFP (France), AP (USA) and Reuters (UK). Nepal’s news agency, the National News Agency, which is also the largest news distributor to the Nepalese media, also purchases the news from those giants and sometimes from foreign national news agencies and distributes to the national media in two languages i.e. Nepali and English. The Agency has a type of monopoly over the distribution of international news. (National News Agency Act 2019, clause 32(2) states that international or national news agencies can distribute their news only via the news agencies established as per the existing laws or His Majesty’s government.) The media also can’t buy the international news at their own interest. Hence, the international news pattern is same in the media throughout the country. The newspapers outside the capital just give headlines and run the news as they obtain from the agency. As the result, there are incidents that exactly same news is run by multiple newspapers.
The international news giants have set their own news values.  However, there seems unanimous assumption that violence makes news everywhere. Those incidents have both the elements of conflict and human interest, which are topmost news values of western media. Besides, violence in Iraq has added elements. The conflict there is of special kind. Almost the whole world is divided regarding US invasion in Iraq. And editors have experience that the US news Agency, AP gives unwanted coverage to the Iraqi violence in which the US is concerned. Pokhrel (2062 BS) has the experience that the AP immediately sends the news with outstanding coverage in the incidents if the Americans are a little affected.
4.1.4 Negativity
Another cause for the case is negativity in the incident.  Galtung and Ruge (1965) state that as much the event is negative on its consequence, so much it is likely to make news.  There have been certain positive changes in the life of Iraqi people after the US invasion. There have been some sorts of positive changes on the state of Citizens’ rights and individual freedom.  The injustices in the name of religion are to some extent, not done and protected by the state. However, nothing creative is the news about Iraq, but violence. Here western assumption that negative only makes news has been working in Nepali media as well.
4.2 Consequences of the problem

          Kunczik (1994) sates that the coverage of violence, especially politically motivated violence which has usually the presence of media or expected reporting may also incite violence. Many scholars agree that the consumption of violence news also makes people violent. Especially, the films that have horror and violence on its context have come to an attack by the social scientists that they may also affect the children; make them violent in their behaviors. Sometimes there are reports of killing of the friend by a school boy, mainly in western countries. Probably, that mentality is also attributed to the violent media presentation. And, surely, as the best consumed, news can’t be an exception. Last year there were reports in India that a girl child was killed while imitating a media action. When the Indian media dramatically showed the execution of a criminal Dhananjaya Chatarjee by hanging, the girl also imitated that cost her life. Even in Nepal, seeing the play of weapons at their courtyard during ten years of violent conflict, children imitated them to their game.

The news of internal violence can’t be ignored. But what media can do is not to sensationalize them. And media have to utmost try to minimize the negative effect of the violence. Media can’t forget their social responsibility role. Given scenario, it is not only illogical to highlight the news of violence in Iraq, but also it is to divert from the responsibility of the journalist. To sum up, the following have become the effects of the violence news coverage by Nepali media.
Forceful creation of interest: The coverage of violence in Iraq is not so justifiable from the standards of proximity and others. However, the Nepalese media are covering it as if routine, very genuine news and update. And they are forcefully feeding their audience with those news. The psychology on the audience has developed to such a level that a dulletin or an issue without news in Iraq is monotonous.
 Hurting the sensitivity: To the next hand, Nepalese media are also hurting the sensitivity of their audiences.  Sanders (2003) writes ‘The assumption behind war and conflict in the remote places is that as farther the people suffer, so more the visuals of their pains and miseries are loved to show.” The same assumption applies for Nepali media as well. Nepali media even don’t feel a least difficulty to show too gory visuals and news about the violence in Iraq.
This trend deeply affects the sensitivity of the people. As more they are confronted towards violence, so more they turn inhuman, a mechanized human being without sensitivity towards others. They can enjoy dinner even when the gory pictures of the Iraqi violence are shown in the television screen. Least, owing to the daily coverage of internal violence, the sensitivity of a Nepali towards the miseries of another Nepali has itself gone down. At this time, media may do better by avoiding such things that hurt others’ sensitivity.  

      4.3   Efforts made towards solving the problem
There have not been any efforts towards minimizing the negative effects of violence news coverage. Least, there haven’t been any study on those effects as well. Nepali media is just growing into professionalism from mission journalism carried till 1990. The journalists are taught what makes news. Surely, as mentioned above, violence makes news. Any violence in the country, especially, in the last five years, made outstanding news. Everyday newspaper ran the stories about the killing and violence either by the rebels or security forces.  Hence, they are so mechanized that any violence, be it domestic or international doubtlessly, makes news. That’s why, none journalists have bothered to think about the effect of the story that s/he carries.
The media houses are also so far not attacked by any interest group for inciting violence or for their negative effects. Neither the media organizations are. The media organizations were busy fighting for the press freedom in the last few years. All the resources were diverted towards promoting press freedom. Hence they have no time and resources to study the negative (or positive) impact of the media on general people. Least, the media in developing countries like Nepal are worst ignored as an agenda to think about. The media are just left in the hands of journalists, nobody else bothering about it.
However, with the increase in the number of media students, especially after the launch of Masters’ level study in Mass Communication in Journalism and by Purwanchal and Trivuwan University simultaneously in 2002, some heed is paid towards those effects as well. Some discussions are focused towards it.   

5. Recommendations
It is rational here to conclude this study with the following recommendations to minimize the coverage of violent news and its negative impact on the audiences:
1.     The media should minimize the coverage of violence.
2.     They should avoid such news, if it is of remote and does not so much of interest to the audiences of Nepalese media.
3.     The Universities should promote their students who want to do researches in the field of impact of media
4.     Media organizations should begin orientations on the negative effects of such coverage
5.     The media organizations should focus their fund towards the researches on the impact of media content
6.     With differing news values with the western media, Nepalese media should promote the developmental news
7.      News about the development and growth, from the third world is prioritized.
8.     The internet has made easy for the cross check as well. There are certain assumptions that the western media are also biased towards developing countries. Hence, Nepalese media should use their check list with the other media, especially on the net.
9.     At last, it is high time for the Nepali media to identify its social responsibility role as the watchdog of civilian interest and acted responsibly.

References
Galtung, Johan and Ruge, M. H. (1965) The Structure of Foreign News, as illustrated in: Kunczik, Michael (1994:183), “Violence and the Mass Media” Bonn, Friedriech Ebert Stiftung(FES).
Kshetri, Indra Dhoj (2005) Patrakarita, Kathmandu, Federation of Nepalese Journalists. Iraqi violence in Nepalese Media
Kunczik, Michael (1994), Violence and the Mass Media, Bonn, Friedriech Ebert Stiftung (FES).
McQuail, Dennis (2001) McQuail’s Mass Communication Theory, 4^th edn. London, Sage Publications.
Mencher, Melvin (2004), Basic News Writing, 3^rd edn. Reprint,  New Delhi, Universal Book Stall.
Pokharel, Jagadish (2062 BS), Interview with the author, Jestha 10. Pokharel is the Associate Editor at The Rising Nepal
Sanders, Caren (2003) Ethics and Journalism, London, Sage Publications.

Acknowledgement
          Firstly, I’d like to appreciate Purwanchal University for including project work in the syllabus of Master of Arts in mass communication and journalism (MAMCJ) Second semester program. As the Media sector, despite the unfavorable political situation, is booming in the country, it has become crucial to begin discussions about their survival and existence. Time has come to begin discussions on their content and their role of social responsibility. These sorts of project works have been providing an opportunity for the students to analyze the media situation in the country critically. I pursued the project work in the first semester over the performance of the same Radio station which drew positive response from all the sectors. This Project work, I hope, will further help the station to formulate policies to improve it to comply with its declared slogan of "Information and Communication as the foundation of Manpower" and provide a reference material to the people willing to know about the Station.
            Had Mr. Tank Upreti, the project Director, not helped me with his valuable situation; the study would never have been possible. I am heartily thankful to Mr. Upreti for his valuable guidance during this study. Special debt is owed to Dr. Manju Mishra, the principal of the college, for providing me worthy suggestions during this study. All the teachers of College of Journalism and Mass Communication are worthy of thanks for their inspiration to pursue this study on a Radio station located beyond and considerably far from the capital.
            Thanks are due to Mr. Harilal Sapkota, the station manager, Bishnu Prabhat, the …….. And Yograj Dhungana, the former News editor of Vijay Community Radio who immensely provided materials needed for data collection during my study. Without their support, the study would never have been possible. My head bows with respect to all the writers who have previously pursued some sort of study on the Radio station or on the Media sector and provided me with reference materials.
                        Finally, I’d like to thank my brother Keshab Kshetri who helped me typing and designing this report and thanks are due to all the friends and colleagues for their mockeries, comments & suggestions.
Indra Dhoj Kshetri

A Media Profile on Vijaya Information and Communication Cooperatives, Vijaya Community Radio 101.6, Gaindakot-5, Nawalparasi
Contents                                                                                Pages
Chapter 1. Introduction                                                         
Chapter 2. Background
Chapter 3. Goals 
      I.      Short term Goals
  II.      Long term Goals
Chapter 4. Organizational Structure
Chapter 5. Work Force analysis
Chapter 6. Principles, Rules and Regulations
Chapter 7. Financial Status
i.                   Source of Income
ii.                Ways of Expenditure
Chapter 8. Opportunities and Threats
Chapter 9. Programs and Performance
Chapter 10. Future Direction/ Conclusion
Chapter 11. Reference
12. Appendix

Chapter One: Introduction
Gaindakot, a small municipal oriented town is located at the eastern belt of Nawalparasi district. Situated at the lap of perennial Narayani River, it is also bordering with the bigger city of Narayangarh in Chitwan District and also some rural parts of Tanahun district.  Nearly, a ten thousand people inhabit the town; most of them hill immigrants and a few locals of Tharu origin. It is nearly 150 km southwest from the Kathmandu and linked by highway with the capital. The Main artery of

Nepal East-west Highway

passes through the town.    
It has the variety of the people of various caste, creed and origin. If we look at the whole district, it has the variety of population comprised of Hill immigrants to indigenous Tharu community people. This population is comprised of the multiple ethnicities of Brahmin, Chhetri, Magar, Tharu, Kami, Damai, Musahar, Newar and Sarki. Among them speak various languages i.e. Nepali, Tharu, Newari, Maithili and Magar. They also follow various religions i.e. Hindu, Buddhism and Muslim. The same variety is also found in its surrounding districts of Chitwan, Rupandehi, and Tanahun.
The town of Gaindakot has one Higher Secondary School, another public High school and four private High Schools and many other private and public schools. The number of those schools shows that the literacy rate is higher. As per the consensus in 2058 BS, it has the Literacy of 78%. Besides, the nearby town of Narayangarh and Bharatpur have multiple opportunities of higher education and other economic activities.  Main occupation of the people here is agriculture and since the Narayangarh city is nearby, most of them grow cash crops. Thus Gaindakot VDC has declared itself as an ideal VDC and is claiming to grow into a municipality.  However, mainstreaming the indigenous Tharu community people remains as the big challenge here.
As mentioned above, the literacy here is high which has positively contributed for the development of the area. The well educated people were committed to uplift the lifestyle of the locality people through social mobilization. Hence, they felt only the access of the community on information can comply with their objective.  As the community Radios and local radios in FM technology were positively contributing for the development of their respective communities, a group of innovative youths felt the need of a Radio station in the town as well. They also felt that only community Radio can contribute best to uplift the lifestyle of their target audience or their milieu. Hence they set up Vijay Information and Communication Cooperatives in the year 2000. The aim of this organization was "to provide easier access of information and communication to the rural community especially excluded people who have less or no any access over it (Concept Paper 2003:1)." It has a hundred share members among which larger part is owned by the local community groups and cooperatives.  (Chhetri, 2005:2)
With the continuous efforts and tireless fight with the sluggish and corrupt bureaucracy of Nepal, finally their dream was materialized when Vijaya Community Radio transmitted its waves over the FM band of 101.6 MHz in 21^st august 2004. 
The Radio can be heard by the people of Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Tanahun, Makwanpur and Rupandehi districts.  It has been serving around 1.5 million populations of those districts. Besides, its signals are heard over the area from Terai to inner Terai and to hills, thus covering the larger caste and tribal variety (Chhetri, 2005:2).
The possible castes to be served by this radio are ‘Kami, Damai, Nepali, Gurung, Tharu, Magar, Musahar, Brahmin and Chhetri etc (Luintel and Acharya, 2061 BS: 146).
Chapter Two: Background
Vijay Development Resources centre (VDRC-Nepal) has become a role model for the social service organizations in the whole district of Nawalparasi as well as in the entire nation.  Vijay Development Resources centre has long been serving the locale as well as other parts of the country since 1989. 
It has been promoting the community based social organizations i.e. Vijay Community Education Cooperatives Limited, Viccu Savings and credit cooperatives Limited etc. Meanwhile, VDRC-Nepal also felt the need of a community radio station to empower the local communities to lead them to the self dependence. Hence, Vijaya Information and Communication cooperative was promoted under its leadership with the participation of local social service organizations, community forests, religious organizations, journalists, littérateurs, social workers, farmers and laborers and other people from various walks of life (Year Planner 2005). It was set up in 2000 in Gaindakot. Vijaya information and communication  co-operative had its one of the objectives of operating  an FM radio  station "to provide easier access of  information and  communication to the rural  community  especially excluded  people  who  have less or no access over it ‘’ (Concept paper 2005:1).
Immediately it applied for the operating license for an FM Radio station. However, to the plight of the Nepalese corrupt bureaucracy and political leadership, the permission was denied with this or that excuse. The main cause was its denial to give the under table money (Sapkota: 2005). Finally, their untiring efforts were recognized and given the operating license in the year 2004 to be transmitted over the FM band of 101.6 MHz. Without any delay, it began the transmission from 21^st August 2004.

 

Chapter Three: Goals
       I.      Short Term Goals
The primary motive of the Community Radios is to give access on information and communication for the community people and thus empowering them by giving access to their voices.  Community Radios are spread around the countries dedicated to give access to their respective community people on information and communication. They intend to present the programs as per the needs of their respective communities (Chhetri, 2005:1).
Certainly, as a community Radio, Vijay Community Radio also has the primary goal to empower the local communities it has been serving. The radio is focused on uplifting the living standard of the community people. Community radios aim at enabling communities by giving access to the community people who are deprived of the access to information and communication or they have the access but they don’t represent their interests. (Chhetri, 2005:3)
However, at the short course, it aims at giving access of information to the people who have less or no access over it. Besides, not only imposing the information, it aims at giving access to the voices of the people. It aims at establishing dual communication system where people can express their plights without any fear. It also aims at disseminating necessary information for the people to improve and empower their professional competence. It transmits only such programs which positively help the community people on cultivating the democratic norms and values and the feeling of equality among all the people. It gives importance to the issues of public concern and mobilizes local resources, materials and aptitudes. It aims at mainstreaming the so called untouchable castes, ethnic castes, women and other minority communities by giving special attention and access to their voices and concerns.
We can enumerate some of those short term objectives as following: 
1.      To provide the true and factual information to the community to make them informed, aware, organized and active for their empowerment. 
2.      To exhibit the voices of and posture up of Dalits, Tribal, women, disabled, poor and deprived communities.
3.      To promote, develop and conserve the local art, culture and good tradition.
4.      To disseminate the information for the promotion and development of agriculture and livestock.
5.      Develop the dual communication system where people can without any fear and hesitation give feedback, hence their voices given access.
6.      To provide a forum for social discourse. 

   II.      Long Term Goals
Nepalese society has various evil customs and practices e.g. superstition, untouchability, dowry and various discriminations e.g. between the sons and the daughters. Since nearly forty per cent people are illiterate and many people with the traditional and conservative beliefs, such customs are being cultivated and promoted by them.  Hence, to alleviate such wrong practices, singular and short term efforts will not suffice. It needs campaigns and long term efforts with the clear visions.
Vijay Community radio also, in its due course, tends to help the society on making a place best to live in.  It has the long term objectives to promote minority languages, culture, language and religion which are proved to be the pride of the Nepalese as Unity in Diversity. It is committed on promoting the diversity and uniting all the diverse caste, creed, language and religious people to the single garland by developing the feeling of tolerance among them.
We can enumerate some of those long term objectives as following: 
1.      To mitigate bad customs, discrimination and superstitions prevailing in the community.
2.      To alleviate the bad habits prevailing in the society or being cultivated owing to various influences.
3.      To increase the habits of savings to form a dedicated and laborious society. 
4.      To develop the feeling of self help in the society.
5.      To create the conducive environment at the community level where democratic values and norms are practiced at their best form.
6.     To initiate youths to be free from the evils i.e. addictions and giving in to the bad habits. And to inspire them to pursue the higher education.

 

Chapter Four: Organizational Structure
The General Assembly is the apex body of the Station.  It exercises all the policy making powers. It has the provision that the General Assembly meets at least once a year.  It chooses a seven member Board of Governors and a three member Account Committee every two years. The Board of governors works on behalf of the General Assembly. It formulates policies and presents them to the assembly. Preparing the budget for the new fiscal years and presenting it to the General Assembly for discussion are its other functions.  It can spend the money only as provided by the general assembly. It guides all the subordinate committees, especially, Station Manager, who is the executive chief of the station, has to work under its direct guidelines.
The Account Committee shall be responsible on managing the monetary resources needed for the operation of the station and to pay for the staffs. It identifies the new sources of income and makes policies so as how to utilize those resources. It holds discussions with the station manager and other sub committees to decide the Resource Management and to guarantee optimum utilization of the available resources.
The Radio Management committee will assist the General Assembly on formulating policies. The General Assembly will form other sub committees as needed from time to time to study about or work under the particular situation. 
Station Manager is the executive chief of the station. He manages all day to day works and, in close sitting with the subordinate workers manages all the transmissions for the day. He decides all the problems encountered during day to day work. He reports the problems to the Board of Governors about the complex matters. He listens to complains from the listeners, advertisers, agencies and administration and manages public relations. Below him, there shall be three types of workers i.e. Management, Account/ Administration and Programming. Marketing manager looks after the marketing affairs. Subordinate Marketing assistants shall assist him. The Account and Administration Assistant will manage all the daily administrative activities.  He, as guided by the station Manager, will be entirely responsible for paying the monthly salaries to the staffs, paying various rents, fees and charges. One Peon and a security guard will assist him on handling daily works. 
The Program Manager will look after the production and presentation of the programs. He will work with his colleagues and report to the station manager. He will be assisted by a senior program producer/ presenter. Below him will be three faculties i.e. technical, program production and program presentation. The technician will be assisted by an Assistant Technician, program producer by assistant program producer and program presenter by assistant program producers. The number of the technicians, program producers, presenters and their assistants shall vary as per the need of the time.

Chapter Five: Programs
Currently, Vijay Community Radio is operating its transmission for 14 hours on six days of a week and 17 hours on Saturday. It has the variety of programs. The various programs can be segmented in to News oriented, informative/ educational and entertaining. However, as a hybrid form, other types of programs, which can rightly be called infotainment, are in considerable number.
5.I News Oriented Programs
Everyday, Vijaya Community Radio has allocated 2 hrs 50 minutes for purely news oriented programs. For more than half of the time, it transmits the self produced news bulletins on the headlines of Ghatanachakra and Vijaya Khabar. Ghatanachakra is the top priority news bulletin. It is broadcast twice a day for half an hour each. Since it includes hard news, features, interviews and voice pieces, it seems like a Radio magazine. However the producers are not sure whether it’s a news bulletin or a Radio magazine. It has purely news bulletins of 10 to 15 minutes under the headline Vijaya Khabar (meaning Vijaya news).
Besides, it uses the signals of the other stations too. Early in the morning at 6.00, using the signals of Radio Sagarmatha in Kathmandu, it broadcasts Patrapatrikako Sangalo (meaning the collection of newspapers) for half an hour. It has also been broadcasting the news bulletin of Radio Nepal at 7.00 in the morning and evening every day. Hence, purely news oriented programs have the share of more than 20% share on the total air time. Besides, Bishwa Darpan (meaning: world mirror), broadcast every Sunday morning for 15 minutes is also a purely news oriented program.

5.II Informative/ Educational programs:
Another category of the programs can be taken as informative or educational programs. Since, it is a community Radio; Vijaya Community Radio owes greater responsibility to the society. Hence, it has to emphasis on the social inclusion and betterment of the society. The programs like Samata and Sangati sandesh are important to loud the voice of minorities in the society. There are the programs so as to decrease the traditional gender, caste, language and religious discriminations. There are the programs on agriculture, art and culture, history, education and other genuine aspects of the society. It has also allocated a considerable time to promote the literature too. Such program share nearly 30% of the total airtime.
 5.III Entertainment/ infotainment
As mentioned above, a hybrid form of programs called infotainment i.e. comprised of information and entertainment, are in considerable number. Those programs are targeted generally to the young listeners. These types of programs share nearly the half of the total airtime. Those programs contain only the information related to the field of information and sometimes the "believe it or not" type informations to catch the listeners throughout the program. These types of programs do not so much support the declared objective of the station. However, they play greater role on catching the listeners and ensuring that the station is tuned in.

Chapter Six: Work Force analysis
The Station currently has 31 staffs working in. As the principle of community radios, Vijay Community Radio also has tried to employ the people from various facets of the society. According to Chhetri (2005) Almost all the community Radios in the country are dedicated towards mitigating untouchability and racial, gender and caste discriminations. Hence, they have to guarantee optimum representation from such minority classes. Here, the workforce of Vijay Community Radio shall be analyzed on the basis of gender, minorities and types of employment (Types of work and working hours).
       I.      Workforce Analysis on gender basis
It’s positive that the number of women employed by the station outscores the number of the men. Among 31 staffs, 17 are female. Mainly, they are employed in program production and presentation. The staffs are portrayed as below in the gender lens.

    II.      Workforce Analysis on minority Lens
As the locality of the station is mainly formed by the Brahmin communities, it is represented in the number of workers employed there. As the community Radios aim at enabling the backward communities, however, it is not represented at least on the structure of workers in Vijaya Community Radio. The number of workers of the privileged high castes is 90%. Whereas, the ethnic minorities and so called Dalits or under privileged people form only 5% of the workers each.

 III.      Workforce Analysis on the basis of types of employment:
Since, the Radio is a community station; the administration says all the staffs are voluntarily working there. However, there are a few who are paid volunteers. Nearly one third of them are paid volunteers. Rests of them are contributing voluntarily. Besides, the workforce can be analyzed on the basis of working hours too. As all the paid volunteers are full time, other non paid volunteers are part time. They stay in office for the hours that is essential for their programming.
Another major constraint of the Station is it has a few number of trained staffs. Most of them are fresh and don’t have prior experience working on the field of electronic (i.e. Radio) media. Only two among all have the prior experience of working in the field.

Since, the Radio is a community station; the administration says all the staffs are voluntarily working there. However, there are a few who are paid volunteers. Nearly one third of them are paid volunteers. Rests of them are contributing voluntarily. Besides, the workforce can be analyzed on the basis of working hours too. As all the paid volunteers are full time, other non paid volunteers are part time. They stay in office for the hours that is essential for their programming. Another major constraint of the Station is it has a few number of trained staffs. Most of them are fresh and don’t have prior experience working on the field of electronic (i.e. Radio) media. Only two among all have the prior experience of working in the field.

Chapter Seven: Principles, Rules and Regulations
Certainly, all the organized institutions have their own rules and regulations that don’t go against the law of the land. Moreover, electronic media is a very sensitive field. A seemingly normal mistake can greatly hamper the credibility of the station. Hence, the laws made by the state for general purpose may not suffice for Radio stations. Hence, abiding by the existing laws of the country, Vijay community Radio has also formed ordinary principles, rules and regulations for the staffs to abide by. They can be said general codes of conduct for all the staffs to abide by during their work.  We can enumerate them as following:
1)     All the staffs have to turn on the office at least an hour prior to the program.
2)     They have to show the script of the program to the shift in charge half an hour prior to the program.
3)     None can be absent without the prior permission of the administration. They have to inform the administration at least two days ago when s/he will be on leave.
4)     All, except those hosting programs on vernacular languages, have to use precisely clear and correct Nepali language.
5)     For news oriented programs, priority shall be given to the local, community based news. Emphasis shall be given for the news of Dalits, other ethnic minorities and women. The station will initiate actions to collect such news.

6)     Chapter Eight: Financial Status
i.                   Source of Income
Even if its structure is a community radio, its major source of income is advertisement. It generates larger sum of money through time sale, sponsorship and loose ads. Besides, co work with other social organizations with similar objectives also contributes a part on the income of the station. As the community Radios focus on community mobilization to give optimum mileage to their objectives, Vijaya Community Radio too has opted for so. As mentioned in chapter 6. III above, it also employs volunteers and mobilizes them. Hence it tries to cut down the expenses that go for paying salary to the staffs.
As for the sponsorship, it has very few sponsored programs. Only a few youth focused programs are sponsored by educational institutions. The loose ads also don’t accumulate the satisfactory sum to run the station. It has greater number of very occasional ads like invitation of 12^th day of death for those who have participated on the burial of somebody, congratulations for marriage, admission open at schools/ colleges and very community type (and sometimes humorous) ads like buffalo is lost/ found etc. It is for sure that such ads can’t suffice to generate money to run the station independently from financial point of view.

ii.                Ways of Expenditure
The salary for the staffs makes the major part of the expenditure. Besides, the office fare, electricity, telephone also make considerable expenses of the station.
As for the procedure of the expense, the general assembly is the apex body. No one can spend single penny without the approval of the general Assembly. The station Manager proposes the budget for the next year on the general assembly. The general assembly can review or pass as proposed by the station manager. Then only he can spend the money. For rest of the year, the station manager shall be accountable for all types of expenses. An accountant will help him on day to day business regarding financial dealings.

Chapter Nine: Opportunities and Threats
i.       Opportunities
Vijaya Community Radio is located in a municipal oriented town of Gaindakot. As a community Radio it can possess better attachment among the people there whereas, the listeners of Chitwan also are no less attached to it than other stations in Chitwan. So, if operated well, it can attract the listeners of both the districts equally.
Though, Gaindakot is municipal oriented town, the setting there is rural. Main occupation of the people there is agriculture. It can help the farming community by making them aware to cultivate crops in modern and scientific way.  The number of under privileged community forms a considerable part of its listener ship. Hence, it can contribute greatly to mainstream them. It can develop mechanism of two way information flow so that their problems are well heard by the station.
The mass media in the present day world have changed the whole world to the single village, which is rightly termed as global village. However, with the availability of modern luxuries, mass media and means of communication, the evils are also spread in the same speed. Owing to those evils, the young generation is mostly affected. Various evils like drug addiction, smoking, drinking, and pre matured sex are prevailing the youth generation. As a community Radio, Vijaya FM can greatly contribute to involve such youths in the creative tasks.
Hence, it can contribute to the community and the whole listeners as bringing awareness on them, educating them and entertaining them. For the educational programs it can broadcast the programs on farming, animal husbandry, bee keeping to assisting the school children and college students on their study by conducting debates on classroom and curriculum related matters.
ii.                                        Threats
The two commercial Radios within the distance of five Kilometers pose major threat to Vijaya Community Radio. The first is the listener ship of the station. As the commercial Radio they possess very little accountability to the community they reach. Hence, they can give only what the listeners want. But, as a community Radio, it owes certain responsibilities to the community. Hence it has to meet the communicative purpose. At least it can’t give into such evils.
The next thing is the financial sustainability. Two stations are at the centre town of Bharatpur whereas; Vijaya community Radio is located at the marginalized location of Gaindakot. Hence from every perspective, Vijaya Community Radio seems distant for any advertiser. The nest thing is that Vijaya Community Radio has followed certain policies which do not permit it to broadcast any type of commercial advertisement.
The third constraint of the station is its transmitter’s capacity. It is granted license to transmit through only a hundred watt capacity transmitter. Whereas, the two Radio stations nearby transmit through 500 and 1000 Watt capacity transmitters. Besides, it has to share its listener ship with that of nearly a dozen other stations of Makwanpur, Butwal, Palpa and Pokhara.
The fourth constraint of the station is its resources. It has above been mentioned that it can accumulate a lot financial resources. Then it has to depend upon the donors for the essential instruments. For not having the alternative transmitter, the Radio station remained shut nearly for more than 48 hours soon after it began its formal transmission.
The fifth constraint is that it has the single studio. It has to use the same studio for recording the programs. This has prevented the station from broadcasting round the clock. It remains closed for three hours from noon for recording programs.
Another constraint, as mentioned above, is of manpower. Community Radios, to attract the community people towards listening to the station, needs very skilled, trained and qualified human resource. However, it does not employ single person having at least Bachelor’s degree in journalism. All others have learnt by doing at the same station. They have acquired short course trainings and seminars; however it does not suffice to meet its cause. 
                  

Chapter Ten: Future Direction/ Conclusion
Vijaya Community Radio, among the tough competitors, is currently just fighting for the existence. However, it can do a great deal for the community it serves, the locality, community, listener ship are favoring the station. It is the only community Radio on the locality. Hence, it has to play greater role in the society. Following points can be suggested for the well being of the station in future,
1.      It has to give optimum priority on producing the skilled manpower.
2.      It has to attract the young generation to listen to the station and has to make them aware not to give in to any type of evils.
3.      It has to establish dual communication system with the community and give optimum access to their interests.
4.      It has to try to see the alternative sources for financing.
5.      It has to enhance the capacity of the station so that its quality signals reach the target audience.
6.      Through various programs, it has to try to bring the backward communities on the national mainstream of development.
7.      It has to immediately manage to buy/get additional transmitter so that the station shall never be shut again for mechanical disturbances,
8.      It has to build another studio where programs can be recorded and the current studio can be used only for transmission.

9.     Chapter Eleven: References
Chhetri, Indra Dhoj (2005) Vijaya Community Radio on minority lens: programs and participation, Project Work, Purwanchal University, MA MCJ first Semester.
Concept Paper (2005), Nawalparasi, Vijaya Information and Communication cooperatives.
Luintel, Ghamraj and Acharya, Madhu (2061 BS), Nepalma Samudayik Radio Itibrittant, Kathmandu, Community Radio Assistance Foundation/Nepal Forum of Environment Journalists.
Sapkota, Harilal (2005), Interview with the author, July 30.
Year Planner (2005), Vijay Bikash Srot Kendra 2062 BS, Nawalparasi, VDRC-Nepal.  

This Media Profile was prepared as a fulfilment of the requirements in MA MCJ Second Semester.