Q & A: Ram Krishna Regmee, On Media in Nepal
One of Nepal's foremost media persons, Ram Krishna Regmee, talks about the professional, academic and industry issues in the media sector.
Ram Krishna Regmee, 62, is a familiar name in Nepal’s media circles. He has had a long career in the media sector, beginning his journalistic works in 1970. Since then, he has worked as a reporter, writer, copy editor as well as taught on economic and media topics, served as consultant and carried out research projects in the related areas. He has served as founder Head of Department of Mass communication and Journalism (1999-2005) at the Kantipur City College (KCC), Kathmandu and as the Chair of KCC School of Humanities and Social Sciences (2006-2010). Mr. Regmee has an MA in economics (from Nepal), one post-graduate degree in English (from UK) and another post-graduate degree in Journalism (from Germany). He has participated in special journalism trainings in USA, the Philippines, etc.
In an interview with Nepal Monitor, Mr. Regmee talks about the many sides of Nepali media, focusing mainly on the professional, academic and industry issues:
File Photo.
Would you like to share with us your recent and ongoing journalism or media-related engagements?
Yes, of course. I contribute at least two write-ups– one on stock market and the other on contemporary issues including political and economic- every week to nepalnews.com. Preparing papers, one per week on average, on some or other media issues for a presentation or publication is another activity that keeps me engaged.
Facilitating the Master’s programme of Mass Communication and Journalism at Kantipur City College, Kathmandu, as well as guiding students in their studies and Thesis works has been my regular work for the past decade. I also guided Mass Communication and Journalism students at Plus Two level in St. Mary's College, Lalitpur as a part timer for ten years until as recently as June 10, 2010.
At present, I am developing some resource materials and a modality of preparing media products for Nepali journalists who opt for reporting culture in the media. I think the country needs such media intervention for strengthening national unity through cultural understanding and for making democratic freedom meaningful in the New Nepal.
You started as a reporter, working many years before you transitioned to teaching and research. How has your working experience as a journalist helped or hindered your later or current professional endeavors?
That is a good question; it seeks response to correlation between classroom and newsroom or what media experts often refer to as linkage between journalism as a profession and journalism as part of academia.
Actually, I started media-work through contributing freelance articles to private sector newspapers. The exercise led me to acquaintance with various newspapers and editors such as late Gopal Das Shrestha, late Govinda Biyogi, Mr. Chandra Lall Jha, Mani Raj Upadhyaya, and Manindra Shrestha.
Over four decades ago Nepali media did not have a well-developed provision for reporting, and reporters did not have the opportunities to pursue their specialties.. Doing specifically one job in the press, which would be basically owner-editor-centric, was unimaginable then. Earning a living from journalism was confined only to the owners of newspapers. Others who worked had to depend on the owners' mercy-dole-outs which would be inadequate for the needs of students then.
Those who had individual commitment to the cause of the press and some alternative way of supporting life could remain in journalism. Others had to exit. That sort of circumstantial compulsion pushed me into a chain of various jobs including copy editing, editorial page writing, leader writing, commentary, interviewing, programme coverage, news reporting and the like.
All the experiences helped me to sharpen varied journalistic skills including the art of expression, selectivity, and logical argument on issues. They were handy as I joined RSS, the National News Agency of Nepal, and started reporting for it. They proved helpful when I decided to dedicate some of my time to sharing of media knowledge and skills with the people in the press: fellow journalists, future journalists, trainee-journalists, and student-journalists. Both practice in journalism and media teaching help each other in myriad ways. The research works, I think, would be most effective by blending the two.
Could you elaborate a bit on your reporting beat as a young journalist particularly at Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS)? You wrote mostly on economic and financial issues. How do you assess the quality of economic journalism today in Nepal, especially given that we now have several publications, including a national daily newspaper, focused solely on this topic?
I reported generally on various beats for RSS. The motivating force for me was to disseminate as much information as possible to the people in a climate of the press that was under the control of the then non-party political dispensation. It was not a comfortable job specially for those who took press freedom as the key to the country's development and people's enlightenment.
Reporting at that time would be nothing but a struggle between a known facilitator of information-flow and an unidentified suppressor of information. The tug of war would go on for ever, news by news, sometimes, word by word, and phrase by phrase.
Despite all sorts of obstacles, I feel proud to have contributed to the launching of a special economic bulletin, banking-industry news supplements, development features, village-city news flow, population profile, commoners' issues besides working out RSS digest news on a number of issues and events, including Parliamentary reporting.
It seems, investors are putting in more money for the economic niche publications. How about the profile and skills of individual reporters, and more importantly the resources needed for them to do their job better? What are the prospects for economic journalists in the country, professionally and in terms of their own personal finances?
You have rightly mentioned that the press has been taken, today, as a viable investment sector. It is the direct result of the freedom restored in 1990 and the liberal economic policy pursued after that. Of late, more people are interested in dissemination of information in the economic sphere. That is why a number of publications have emerged over the time.
As for the profile of individual reporters, they are highly motivated, enthusiastic, and eager to develop a career in economic publications. Some of them are mass communication-educated while others are seasoned through practice. But the way economic information is being handled suggests that much remains to be done for quality economic product in media.
Processing data of economic arena particularly those of business, industry, banks, insurance, transport, development works, agriculture etc. for the general people to understand and to be able to take decision demands special skills, knowledge-input and analytical capacity in reporters. Economic reporters have to be voice of all in the economy and interpret all complicated phenomena and thorny policies for commoners. They and their media houses, unfortunately, do not have the resource-base for this.
As the country tackles the current political uncertainty and moves on the path of development, the demand for economic journalists to cover specific areas will be augmented remarkably. The prospects are high, indeed. But you have to bear in mind that journalism is not a money-making field. Personal finances of individual economic journalists will always lag behind what they need to survive professionally.
You continue to write on economic issues as well as research on this topic. What are some of the areas in economy and finance that our media must give the highest priority at this time? How could they improve their coverage on such topics?
The priority front lines are clear: policy analysis, creating a platform for full fledged economic dialogue on myriad issues facing national and international economy, making consumers of goods and users of services participate in the economic discussion and thoughtful coverage of all types of resources available in Nepal.
All sectors of the economy have their special traits. They should, therefore, be covered accordingly. A clear demarcation should be worked out for covering events, personalities, institutions, resources, controversies, plans, products, services, policies, government decisions, successes, failures, conspiracies, rates, genuine market, virtual market, in-country investment, foreign investment, labour, technology, production, consumption, monopoly and competition.
One theme to discuss would be why Nepali economy fails to benefit from the impressive growth in India on the south and China on the north. Another could be the reason why the infra structure already built in Nepal has not been used properly for furthering the cause of development in various parts of Nepal. Equally important is the theme of migration. Is the trend on surviving on remittance healthy for Nepali economy in the long run?
Creativity in reporting is what we need. This is not to suggest that reporting could be imaginative; it should continue to be factual and realistic. Like the creative directors in the show biz, economic reporters should develop innovative ways of covering the economy.
How about the state of our “media economy”? What is its worth in terms of rupees? How do you see it growing in the future?
The media economy looks glamorous on the surface and investors appear interested in pouring money into it. Yet it cannot be termed healthy. Although it is growing in number, its quality is questionable.
The big houses are organized well, technically sound, professionally equipped but they have not been able to go corporate and media-centric. They have not been able to drive media as a collective pursuit of reporters, editors and owners. Small ones are finding it difficult to survive the competition.
The scenario of old media houses being manned by new hands and new houses being manned by experienced people mirrors better the state of media economy in the country.
Expressing Nepali media’s worth in monetary terms would be misleading because the data essential for the purpose are not available. Yet you could have a sense of how Nepali media is developing as a promising industry through investors' psyche: particularly their willingness to spend initially up to 25 crore rupees to open new TV outlet, over 15 lac rupees for a new FM and some 10 crore rupees for launching a new paper. It is this mindset that injects nearly 8 billion rupees per annum into it by way of advertisement.
The burgeoning Nepali media family that reflects in nearly 6,000 registered newspapers, some 150 functional FMs, over dozen TV channels and a few online outlets could also shed some light on the extent of resources devoted to the media.
One concern in recent times is that the issue of ethical lapses in some journalists (covering economic topics) and even their publications, particularly in their endless promotion of particular business personalities and business houses as well as the “unseen” advertisement influences on editorial content. How fair or overstated is such criticism against journalists or publishers? How do you look at this seemingly increasing trend in advertisers and business influences in our profession?
The media covering economy, business and industry should be very clear about their role: they are the disseminators of information for the public, not the public relations wing of the businesses and the industry. If journalists forget this basic point and pursue economic journalism as promoters, they will do injustice not only to the cause of economic journalism but also to the whole mission of press freedom.
The criticism of media being the mouthpiece of business industry houses reflects the public concern. It is voiced from time to time in Nepal. But no sweeping comment– positive or negative- could be made on this. The allegation should be taken case by case. The ethical error detected in the process should be remedied. The problem is getting serious day by day in Nepali media. Since it is an ethical question it should be tackled by individual journalists and media houses with a sense of the journalistic code of conduct.
All in media should remember: a sale-out to pressure from advertisers, businesses and the industry would ultimately turn the media profession into nothing but a propaganda vocation. Media persons oppose highhandedness of rulers. How can they surrender to the dictates of businesses and the industry?
Now, since you also managed the journalism program at Kantipur City College in Kathmandu since its inception as well as taught courses there to Master’s students, what has been the role of our academia in nurturing journalism, particularly in the area of economy and finance? Have our academia entered this specialty field yet, and if so in what ways?
The Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism (MA MCJ) course is actually an answer to the gap that existed ten years ago in Nepali media sector – professional and academic. It could be taken as an educational intervention to avoid the gap. It is an attempt to bring in graduates (Bachelor-level) of various disciplines for a study of mass communication and journalism and make them able to practice journalism in various forms and at the same time join academic rhetoric and research works in myriad sectors of both fields.
My impression is: it has been found to be very effective. But the question could be better answered by those who have pursued the course in Nepal and passed the MAMCJ. I always tell aspirants: join it only if you like it and if a person experienced in this area counsels you to pursue the study.
The MAMCJ curriculum does not have special provision to make students concentrate on economy and finance. A separate intervention should be worked out for the specialized approach.
It is often heard amongst professionals in the media that there is a gaping gulf of trust between our academia and the industry. Media houses’ maintain a low estimate of teaching institutions since they feel colleges and universities do not produce the manpower that is capable or skilled enough to be recruited by them. On the other hand, the academic institutions blame the industry for their profit-driven works, opting for low-wage entrants. How do you look at this situation, what is the reality, and what may be some remedial measures both sectors could take?
The gulf you mentioned is a legendary chasm. It exists everywhere in the world. Nepal cannot be an exception. The switch over from classroom (mass communication and journalism study) to newsroom (action in media world) should be taken as a process and not as a chemical phenomenon that produces instant results. The media industry, however, lacks patience to allow the process to begin, develop and climax. This constitutes the root of the misunderstanding between the industry and academia.
Another factor contributing to the difference is the academia's static structure and non-dynamic approach that results in failure to transmit information and skills to students for responding to the reality obtaining in the industry.
A dialogue between the academia and industry for effective communication and a meaningful system of programmed-internship are the only ways out of the problem. The same would promote mutual understanding among them.
We now have several colleges that offer journalism as an academic program. How do you assess their curricula, content or pedagogy as well as the general learning environment and assets? What other challenges do you see before them?
It is really encouraging to see the growth of mass media education. As for the curriculum, it should be amended from time to time. The educational institutions offering the course and teachers facilitating the classes should pursue appropriate pedagogy for more effectiveness. Since the subject demands transmission of skills and updated information, the institutions should provide appropriate facilities for this, besides they should also provide appropriate training to teachers.
Do you still teach? How do you compare our journalism students with their counterparts in the neighboring countries or in foreign universities? Could you share with us some insights into their academic or professional orientation, study habits, motivation and aspirations?
Yes, I do teach, on request.
Comparing Nepali journalism students to those in other countries would be very difficult. Each country varies in the resources, education system, background, social context and schooling pattern.
As far as Nepali journalism students' willingness to learn is concerned, it is very impressive and could be compared to that of any other country's students. If they are given proper education, opportunities to practice skills and essential resources, their performance would be no less than those of other countries' students.
Their aspiration is high, too. If their professional orientation and study habits could be upgraded with supply of resources essential for the same, Nepali media would be immensely enriched.
You are often described as one of our senior most “media experts”. How do you look at yourself in terms of your long work in the field of journalism? What does being a “media expert” in a country like Nepal involve? Do we have enough media expertise now in the country?
I ask people to take me just as a media worker or a practitioner, and not to regard me as a senior media expert. The phrase is too high for my height. Yet they usually tag that phrase to me. It does not involve anything because it is confined to addressing, identification and formality. Nepal, you might know, has miles to cover for creating a culture of appreciation in media in the real sense of the term.
Nepal, today, has a pool of media expertise. The need is to explore it with a sense of appreciation.
You have written papers on media topics too. What has been your experience in media research? We often hear that there is not enough emphasis on media research in our official, academic or professional circles. Also the fact that there is little funding available to undertake research projects. How do you assess the current situation?
Media research is a neglected arena in Nepal. Its state is poor in both qualitative and quantitative research. Officials take it to be a formality. The academia and professional bodies do not have resources to support research. They get confined to research as demanded by the curriculum and the programme concerned. We have to do a lot for popularizing media research as a must for decisions and policies.
How about proprietorial research or those undertaken by NGOs or INGOs? You have helped in quite a few such research projects? How do such research processes and their outcome compare with academic or NGO-led research projects?
Proprietorial research by itself is not bad if it follows proper rules of research. What is important in research is honesty and discipline in collecting, handling, analyzing, data and drawing lessons from them. Care should be taken for insulating research from a motivated attempt to make it an excuse for a pre-designed or desired conclusion.
It would be very difficult to compare those researches. They may be serving their own need. The researches might gain value if they are undertaken with no manipulation and with a sense of justice to both methodology and objective.
Would you suggest some areas in the media sector that warrant urgent research undertakings?
There are many. Six of them could be listed thus:
Research on working journalists' career (Federation of Nepali Journalists FNJ says there are 8000 journalists in Nepal)
Research on eliminating digital divide in Nepal
Broadcast media viewing behaviour of Nepalis as against their reading habit
Research on popularizing online media as a way to instantaneously inform Nepalis cut off by mountain terrains, rivers and lack of roads
Research on women's participation in media
Research on journalism in various languages of Nepal
Do you see that our current government policies are conducive to the development of our media? What reforms would you suggest to improve our media economy as well as professional media practices?
The policies should be updated. A special review should be undertaken to find out why certain media-friendly decisions taken in the past have not been implemented. The government should stop running media. Policies to help the media– big and small –grow professionally should be worked out. The media outside Kathmandu should be given proper attention for development and growth.
For improving media economy, a campaign to promote reading public, listening public and viewing public should be launched in a systematic manner throughout the country. An atmosphere for providing advertisement to the media as a social duty and as a means to reach consumers of goods and services should be created. The current mindset of regarding advertisement as no more than a dole out to media should be changed. The unhealthy competition among media for advertisement should give way to competitive market approach.
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Posted by Editor on August 3, 2010 2:05 PM