KATHMANDU: Minister for Information and Communications Madhav Prasad Poudel has pledged to implement the working journalist act to make the media sector more democratic and professional.

Receiving a report submitted by the Minimum Salary Fixation Committee today, Poudel also said that suggestions of the report would be implemented for making the media houses inclusive and the media sector systematic by collaborating with the Federation of Nepali Journalists.

He said a taskforce would be formed to co-work with stakeholders to make the online media systematic.

Minister Poudel said that positive environment of election has been created in the country and urged media persons to fulfil their responsibility by disseminating message of election to the doorsteps of people.

Submitting the report, Outgoing Chairman of Committee Govinda Acharya said only 2.38 per cent media houses have implemented all the services and facilities as provided in the Act and

KATHMANDU: The World Press Freedom Day is being marked today by organising different programmes across the country.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day is being marked under the slogan of ”Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media’.

On the very occasion, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) organized a morning assembly in the Capital.

A large number of scribes and media activists participated in the morning rally. FNJ Vice-chair Yashoda Timsina, General Secretary Om Sharma, former chairs of the FNJ and others addressed the program.

On the occasion, General Secretary Sharma said that implementation of the working journalists act was still a big deal in Nepal.

A total of 228 anti-press incidents occurred in Nepal during this year (May 3, 2012 to May 2, 2013), stated a press release issued by FNJ Vice-chairperson Yashoda Timsina.

Addressing the corner meeting, former president of FNJ, Homnath Dahal, said that journalists have made unparalleled contribution in support of press freedom, human rights and democracy.

Chairperson of the Sancharika Samuha Nirmala Sharma, FNJ vice president Yasoda Timilsina and general secretary Om Sharma, Kumar Shah of the Revolutionary Journalists´ Association, Madhav Nepal of the Press Chautari Nepal, Shiva Lamsal of the Press Union and Khil Bahadur Bhandari of the Revolutionary Journalists Association, among others, lamented that the State has not paid adequate attention for the protection of journalists and for their professional advancement even long after the establishment of democracy.

POKHARA: Acting Chief Justice Damodar Prasad Sharma has said that independent journalism is the foundation of democracy.

Inaugurating the Central General Assembly of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) here on Friday, Sharma said although known as the Fourth Estate, journalism should be kept in the first place in view of its significance and impact.

The Acting Chief Justice stated that the Chief Justice has not interfered in the Supreme Court as he has totally dissociated himself from the judiciary’s functions after becoming the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

One thousand journalists are attending the general assembly that will last for two days.

POKHARA: The ninth general assembly of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) is going to kickstart in tourist city of Pokhara. Over 1,000 journalists including central councillors of the FNJ are meeting in the general assembly.

Acting Chief Justice Damodar Prasad Sharma is scheduled to inaugurate the assembly at 3:00 in Pokhara City Hall. Chairman of FNJ Shiva Gaunle said the meeting would discuss status of freedom of press and expression, condition of working journalists and others.

The conclave of the umbrella organization of the Nepali journalists would conclude on Saturday.

Rajendra Aryal and Bishnu Rijal have filed their candidacy for the chieftain in election. Rijal is a trusted lieutenant and blue-eyed boy of former prime minister and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Similarly, Sharad Adhikari, Durga Prasad Sharma and Prakash Khatiwada have filed their candidacies for the post of senior vice-chairman.

Likewise, Madhav Nepal, Lukky Chaudhary and Badri Khanal are the three candidates for the post of general secretary.  The general convention would elect a 59-member new committee of the Chautari. The voting would begin from 1 pm this afternoon and would last at 4:00 pm.