KTM – Arguing that decent journalism contributes to a civilized society, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Parbat Gurung has called for initiating a campaign for decent and credible journalism.

Minister Gurung, who is also the Government Spokesperson, said so today while addressing the closing programme of webinar on Preventing Disinformation and Promoting Credible Journalism for the journalists from Nawalparasi West and Nawalparasi East.

On the occasion, Minister Gurung promised to extend support on behalf of the ministry for this campaign. “We will make changes in media laws and the laws will have decent journalism added,” he said.

Minister Gurung was of the view that trust towards journalism is weakened in the recent time for giving more priority to sensational and negative news. On the occasion, US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry said that journalism in which the society has put its faith on should be oriented to promoting credibility, not to the illusion and misinformation.

Also speaking at the programme, Chairman of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Govinda Acharya said that the media sector should mend its weaknesses to steadily maintain its credibility. “Maintaining code of conduct is more important. For this, we are continuing the monitoring. Initiative should be taken from the government side too,” Chairman Acharya argued.

Member of Press Council Nepal Sangeeta Khadka, Chairman of Media Action Nepal Laxman Dutta Panta and others also expressed their opinions on practice of responsible and truthful journalism.