Government prepares to come up with social sites regulation directive

Kathmandu, Oct 9: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has shared about the government plan to introduce the ‘Social Sites Management Directive’ soon. Inaugurating a three-day training titled ‘advanced journalism training’ organised by the Press Council Nepal for female journalists here today, the Minister said the Directive aiming to regulate and manage the use of social sites would be unveiled soon.

The minister urged journalists not to write and promote any stuff capable of jeopardising social harmony in offline and online space. Expressing her hope that the training would contribute to enhancing the capacity and efficiency of women journalists, she said, “It is essential to promote women journalists who represent 51 percent population in the nation.”

She also highlighted the need to increase women’s participation in news beats considered important, urging the Council to reach other provinces as well with this type of training. Chair of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Bipul Pokhrel said the training was capable of increasing digital efficiency of women journalists.

He expected the training would help make Nepali journalism inclusive through the capacity enhancement of women journalists. Council’s Chair Balkrishna Basnet said the training aimed to empower women journalists and thus retaining them in profession. “In Nepali journalism, women make up 21 percent of the workforce, and training will help add this number.” It is being attended by 20 female journalists from Bagmati Province and it will conclude on October 11.