Nepal Monitor: The National Online Journal

A media foundation has been set up in Nepal which aims to assess the impact and quality of journalism in the country.

Those behind it say the country is currently going through a difficult political transition with journalism continuing to play its 'watchdog' role, however they say it's now time to assess the part the media is playing on that change and to examine how it should develop in terms of Nepal's emerging democracy.

Independent non-profit organisation
The Media Foundation, which has been set up by a group of communications professionals and academics, says it is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organisation "devoted to education and policy research."

According to those behind the initiative, the foundation will examine the media's impact on Nepal's public policy and its formulation.

The secretary of the new foundation, Dr Dharma Nanda Adhikari, says that in recent years, Nepal has seen massive growth in the media, especially in the broadcast and the electronic sector.

Dr Adhikari says this growth and the expansion of media markets, both local and foreign (mainly Indian, Anglo-American), are redefining Nepali society, culture and politics in a fundamental way.

Assessing the impact of media
"The country is now in a difficult political transition and journalists are playing their 'watchdog' role as actively as possible," he said.

"Yet, there is much to be done in assessing the impact and quality of journalism and communication in the country.

"As an independent center for media studies, the Foundation hopes to fill that void by focusing on the public role and functions of media in the emerging democracy."

The foundation plans to provide regular media analysis for Nepal and create a media archive for the country. It also plans to run training courses for media professionals.

Funding and founders
The foundation will be funded by membership fees, donations and grants both from within Nepal and from abroad.

The founding members include Bharat Dutta Koirala (chair), Jan Sharma (vice-chair), Dharma Nanda Adhikari (secretary), Punita Rimal (treasurer), with Gopal Chitrakar, Jagadish Pokhrel and Dr Arun Gupto as executive members.

Here is the link to the original story.

And the following is the text of the full-lenght press release from the Foundation:

Media Foundation established
KATHMANDU, Aug 17, 2009- Some prominent communications professionals and academicians announced today the establishment of Media Foundation, an independent and non-partisan organization devoted to education and policy research crosscutting journalism and communications disciplines.

The Foundation will work towards bridging the gaps in the institutional, professional, academic and public understanding of media and their functions in a changing world. It plans to launch regular, systematic media analysis and indexing, print and digital archiving of primary data, cutting-edge short-term courses and seminars for working and aspiring media professionals, trade journal, policy papers, an annual media event, and long-term fundraising, among others.

Founding members are Bharat Dutta Koirala (chair), Jan Sharma (vice-chair), Dharma Nanda Adhikari (secretary), Punita Rimal (treasurer), and Gopal Chitrakar, Jagadish Pokhrel and Dr Arun Gupto as executive members.

“Our goal is not to duplicate works already done in the sector, but to complement them, collaborate with others, and to explore and introduce new dimensions in media research and education in areas of public needs,” said Koirala.

The Foundation will analyze media impact on public policy and its formulation, nurture leadership, promote innovations and honor excellence in the media that serve the public interest.

“As the media landscapes expand the conventional focus on legal and structural issues must now also shift to a scientific study of media processes and products,” said Dr. Adhikari. “A project is already underway to devise a national media index for Nepal. Other areas of immediate focus are regular media analyses and monitoring and a quarterly trade journal on journalism and communication arts.”

The explosion of media and especially the immediacy and impact of broadcast and online media in the country and the region require constant analysis and monitoring for their services to become verifiably useful, according to Dr. Adhikari.

The non-partisan, independent organization will take an integrative approach to the study of media practices and performance across the disciplines, including journalism, strategic communication, and new media. It will link organizational programs and projects with public policy alternatives.

The non-partisan, independent organization will take an integrative approach to the study of media practices and performance across the disciplines, including journalism, strategic communication, and new media. It will link organizational programs and projects with public policy alternatives.

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