May 04: President of the Bhutan Chapter of Third World Media Network (TWMN), also editor of APFAnews.com and Bhutan News Service T. P. Mishra has strongly called on the international communities including the rights and media groups to mount pressure on concerned authorities for the establishment of media freedom in Bhutan.
Presenting a 20-minute paper on the theme “The status of press freedom, the media and citizens in Bhutan after democratization”, today on last day of the two-day regional conference for South Asia in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2009 in Kathmandu, Mishra also highlighted the plight of exiled Bhutanese journalists.
“Not much has been changed in media sector even though Bhutan says it has already stepped into democratization process”, reads the paper, adding that the existing Bhutanese media houses have not been able to give space for the suppressed voices of rural areas, and in particular of Nepali-ethnic group in Southern region of the country.
Mishra also raised the ‘identity issue’ of exiled Bhutanese journalists. Terming the existence of media inside Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal as one of the best instances, Mishra also said there is a need for the similar existence of media bodies inside refugee camps around the world to highlight their plight.
The conference, organized jointly by the Federation of Nepali Journalists and UNESCO, also made a declaration on media freedom in South Asia, which demanded that state authorities in the countries of the participants of the conference explicitly denounce the acts of lawlessness against the media and institute appropriate sanctions against those responsible.
“We call upon the enforcement authorities in our countries to bring to justice those responsible for acts of violence against journalists and media organizations”, reads the declaration, adding- “We pledge our commitment to working together as a cohesive network to support each other in our common aspiration to improve and assert press freedom and the rights of journalists in the South Asia region.”
Senior journalists and media freedom activists from South Asian countries including Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan attended the seminar.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Govt hope for refugees
Source: The Kathmandu Post
KATHMANDU, March 31 - Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara said on Tuesday that the Nepal government will take fresh initiatives to return Bhutanese refugees to their homeland.
“The government has not taken strong enough initiatives for the return of refugees to their homeland,” said Mahara at a book-launch in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Exiled Bhutanese leader Tek Nath Rijal expressed concern over Nepal government's apathy toward the plight of Bhutanese refugees. “Refugees are being settled in third countries, but Nepal government has not taken any recent initiative for refugees seeking to go back to Bhutan,” said Rijal. According to him, third country resettlement and repatriation should go side by side.
Minister Mahara and Rijal jointly launched ‘Becoming a Journalist in Exile’, a book edited by T.P. Mishra, a Bhutanese journalist in Nepal. Commenting on the book, journalist Dhrubahari Adhikary lauded Mishra’s effort. The book talks about the situation of journalism under the autocratic Bhutanese regime, and the struggle of exiled Bhutanese journalists in Nepal.
There are more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in seven UNHCHR-run refugee camps in Morang and Jhapa districts. Some western countries including the USA, Canada and Australia are resettling Bhutanese refugees.
Posted on: 2009-03-31 20:04:44 (Server Time)
KATHMANDU, March 31 - Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara said on Tuesday that the Nepal government will take fresh initiatives to return Bhutanese refugees to their homeland.
“The government has not taken strong enough initiatives for the return of refugees to their homeland,” said Mahara at a book-launch in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Exiled Bhutanese leader Tek Nath Rijal expressed concern over Nepal government's apathy toward the plight of Bhutanese refugees. “Refugees are being settled in third countries, but Nepal government has not taken any recent initiative for refugees seeking to go back to Bhutan,” said Rijal. According to him, third country resettlement and repatriation should go side by side.
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Minister Mahara and Rijal jointly launched ‘Becoming a Journalist in Exile’, a book edited by T.P. Mishra, a Bhutanese journalist in Nepal. Commenting on the book, journalist Dhrubahari Adhikary lauded Mishra’s effort. The book talks about the situation of journalism under the autocratic Bhutanese regime, and the struggle of exiled Bhutanese journalists in Nepal.
There are more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in seven UNHCHR-run refugee camps in Morang and Jhapa districts. Some western countries including the USA, Canada and Australia are resettling Bhutanese refugees.
Posted on: 2009-03-31 20:04:44 (Server Time)
Mahara assures recognition of Bhutanese refugee journalists
Source: Nepal News
Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara has given commitments to work in his capacity to provide ‘journalist identification’ to Bhutanese refugee journalists who have been publishing newspapers and running radio programme from within the Bhutanese refugee camps in eastern Nepal.
Speaking at a function in the capital Tuesday to release the first book on Bhutanese media ‘Becoming a Journalist in Exile’ written by T. P. Mishra, a Bhutanese refugee journalist, Mahara said government is ready to extend all possible support to refugee journalists despite legal hurdles.
Admitting that the coalition government has not been able to function as per the commitments made, Mahara reiterated government’s stand for rightful repatriation of Bhutanese refugees languishing in Nepal since last 19 years.
Speaking at the same programme, Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal urged the Nepalese government to facilitate solution of the Bhutanese refugee crisis by initiating three steps – repatriation, assimilation and resettlement – together.
Commenting on the book, senior journalists Dhruva Hari Adhikari, Hem Bahadur Bista, Yuvaraj Ghimire, Kishor Pradhan and human rights activist Subodh Pyakurel said the book contains insightful details about the current situation of media in Bhutan, in the Bhutanese refugee community and general thesis on theory and practice on journalism.
March 31, 2009
First book on Bhutanese media released
Source: Bhutan News Service
Kathmandu: Nepalese Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara has assured to provide recognition to Bhutanese journalists in exile who have been publishing newspapers, running radio programme and online.
Addressing a function to release the first book on Bhutanese media ‘Becoming a journalist in exile’ written by T. P. Mishra, editor of Bhutan News Service and APFAnews.com, in Kathmandu Today, Nepalese minister Mahara said government is ready to extend all possible support to refugee journalists despite legal hurdles.
He reiterated Nepalese government’s stand for rightful repatriation of exile Bhutanese though the option for resettlement has been opened without ensuring their repatriation.
Senior journalist of Nepal Dhruva Hari Adhikari in his book review said it has all those components needed for a cob and a senior journalist, besides explaining the current media situation in Bhutan and hurdles the Bhutanese journalists in exile have been facing.
Human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal, congratulating Mishra for such weighty publication, urged the Nepalese government to take initiation for ensuring that three options – repatriation, assimilation and resettlement – go together. He also criticised Nepal government for approving the credentials of Bhutanese envoys such as Nado Rinchen, Dago Tshering and V Namgyal who were directly involved in evicting ethnic Nepalis from southern Bhutan.
Another senior journalist Yubaraj Ghimire appreciated the initiation taken by Mishra to inform the world about continuing worse situation of media freedom in Bhutan.
Chairman of Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) Subodh Pyakurel drew attention of the Nepalese government to look into problems being faced by Bhutanese journalists.
Hem Bahadur Bista, executive director of Nepal FM radio, where Mishra had worked in the past, and country representative of the PANOS South Asia Kishor Pradhan expressed their readiness to help promote media among Bhutanese refugee community.
The book was release simultaneously in Nepal and worldwide through internet today. The readers from across the globe can order the book through payment of US$25 through Pay Pal from the link at APFAnews.com. The revenue generated from the book will go for support of the Bhutanese media in exile. Bhutan News Service
Kathmandu: Nepalese Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara has assured to provide recognition to Bhutanese journalists in exile who have been publishing newspapers, running radio programme and online.
Addressing a function to release the first book on Bhutanese media ‘Becoming a journalist in exile’ written by T. P. Mishra, editor of Bhutan News Service and APFAnews.com, in Kathmandu Today, Nepalese minister Mahara said government is ready to extend all possible support to refugee journalists despite legal hurdles.
He reiterated Nepalese government’s stand for rightful repatriation of exile Bhutanese though the option for resettlement has been opened without ensuring their repatriation.
Senior journalist of Nepal Dhruva Hari Adhikari in his book review said it has all those components needed for a cob and a senior journalist, besides explaining the current media situation in Bhutan and hurdles the Bhutanese journalists in exile have been facing.
Human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal, congratulating Mishra for such weighty publication, urged the Nepalese government to take initiation for ensuring that three options – repatriation, assimilation and resettlement – go together. He also criticised Nepal government for approving the credentials of Bhutanese envoys such as Nado Rinchen, Dago Tshering and V Namgyal who were directly involved in evicting ethnic Nepalis from southern Bhutan.
Another senior journalist Yubaraj Ghimire appreciated the initiation taken by Mishra to inform the world about continuing worse situation of media freedom in Bhutan.
Chairman of Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) Subodh Pyakurel drew attention of the Nepalese government to look into problems being faced by Bhutanese journalists.
Hem Bahadur Bista, executive director of Nepal FM radio, where Mishra had worked in the past, and country representative of the PANOS South Asia Kishor Pradhan expressed their readiness to help promote media among Bhutanese refugee community.
The book was release simultaneously in Nepal and worldwide through internet today. The readers from across the globe can order the book through payment of US$25 through Pay Pal from the link at APFAnews.com. The revenue generated from the book will go for support of the Bhutanese media in exile. Bhutan News Service
Spotlight on: Media Helping Media
Source: http://www.ejc.net/resources/featured/pulitzer_center_on_crisis_re-por-ting/
When lack of time and money began preventing senior British editor David Brewer from accomplishing everything he wanted with his media development projects around the world, he turned to a place where time and space don’t exist.
“It’s about cost, capacity and accessibility,” he said via e-mail. “It was clear that there was a need for training resources to be made available, free-of-charge, written to address the client’s training need. It was also a matter of helping them train their own staff.”
Media Helping Media, a 7-year-old website full of resources for developing media outlets, began as a basic forum. Today it is a rich hub of resources geared to aid media in post-conflict areas.
Four deep sections of static modules are available: media management, editorial ethics, journalism training and investigative reporting. The site also hosts issues-themed articles from around the world. It also boasts a new forum section.
Everything is published is under a Creative Commons 3.0 license, so content on the site may be redistributed with attribution for noncommercial use.
Brewer pays for it all out of his own pocket.
There are 22 modules in the section on journalism training, making it the biggest category. These chapters include information about creating journalistic content with words, sounds or images.
Many of the modules were created upon request. Brewer said he writes most of the modules while travelling, often in airports or on planes.
“Recently, a journalist from the border tribal region in Pakistan wrote asking whether there were any training modules about interviewing politicians … so I decided to write a module entitled ‘Interviewing Politicians for TV and Radio’,” he said. “A few weeks ago another journalist from Africa asked for a module about how an online news story should develop, so I wrote ‘Updating an Online News Item’. Others are contributed by colleagues, such as the piece about the public interest, entitled ‘The highest purpose in journalism’.”
Brewer got his start in newspapers before moving over to radio. He worked seven years with Radio Merseyside in Liverpool before continuing on to the BBC for another radio gig. He served nine years as political editor for BBC Regional Political Unit. In 1997, he was selected to launch BBC News Online. He launched CNN.com Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2000.
It’s possible to follow him on Twitter.
In 2002 Brewer started Media Ideas International, a business under which he does consulting work and runs Media Helping Media. He operates the site by himself on the free, open-source software Joomla.
One of his proudest Media Helping Media moments came when he was solicited to help write a chapter for a handbook for journalists in exile. TP Mishra, a local journalist who had been using Brewer’s training resources for three years in his work in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal, approached the Briton for help. Brewer helped Mishra with the training necessary to write the book.
“TP is the editor of The Bhutan Reporter and says that MHM was the inspiration for him to achieve what he has achieved,” Brewer said over e-mail. “I also enjoy writing training modules that are well received and which I then find out are being used as the foundation modules for in-country training courses run by local journalists for local journalists. That is extremely satisfying.”
There are several challenges Media Helping Media seeks to help news outlets meet:
Reaching financial sustainability en route to editorial independence
Setting out a compelling content proposition (digging where others don’t) to informs the public debate via issue-led journalism
Introducing editorial values of balance, impartiality and objectivity
Creating converged, multiplatform news offerings that deliver content to whatever devices the audience may wish to turn to in order to access information
Identifying the audience, both the current audience, the target audience and the potential audience
Building a sales and marketing strategy that matches the content proposition, the target audience and the market.
Building capacity, to train their own staff and take on to train others in the region.
Published: March 26, 2009
When lack of time and money began preventing senior British editor David Brewer from accomplishing everything he wanted with his media development projects around the world, he turned to a place where time and space don’t exist.
“It’s about cost, capacity and accessibility,” he said via e-mail. “It was clear that there was a need for training resources to be made available, free-of-charge, written to address the client’s training need. It was also a matter of helping them train their own staff.”
Media Helping Media, a 7-year-old website full of resources for developing media outlets, began as a basic forum. Today it is a rich hub of resources geared to aid media in post-conflict areas.
Four deep sections of static modules are available: media management, editorial ethics, journalism training and investigative reporting. The site also hosts issues-themed articles from around the world. It also boasts a new forum section.
Everything is published is under a Creative Commons 3.0 license, so content on the site may be redistributed with attribution for noncommercial use.
Brewer pays for it all out of his own pocket.
There are 22 modules in the section on journalism training, making it the biggest category. These chapters include information about creating journalistic content with words, sounds or images.
Many of the modules were created upon request. Brewer said he writes most of the modules while travelling, often in airports or on planes.
“Recently, a journalist from the border tribal region in Pakistan wrote asking whether there were any training modules about interviewing politicians … so I decided to write a module entitled ‘Interviewing Politicians for TV and Radio’,” he said. “A few weeks ago another journalist from Africa asked for a module about how an online news story should develop, so I wrote ‘Updating an Online News Item’. Others are contributed by colleagues, such as the piece about the public interest, entitled ‘The highest purpose in journalism’.”
Brewer got his start in newspapers before moving over to radio. He worked seven years with Radio Merseyside in Liverpool before continuing on to the BBC for another radio gig. He served nine years as political editor for BBC Regional Political Unit. In 1997, he was selected to launch BBC News Online. He launched CNN.com Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2000.
It’s possible to follow him on Twitter.
In 2002 Brewer started Media Ideas International, a business under which he does consulting work and runs Media Helping Media. He operates the site by himself on the free, open-source software Joomla.
One of his proudest Media Helping Media moments came when he was solicited to help write a chapter for a handbook for journalists in exile. TP Mishra, a local journalist who had been using Brewer’s training resources for three years in his work in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal, approached the Briton for help. Brewer helped Mishra with the training necessary to write the book.
“TP is the editor of The Bhutan Reporter and says that MHM was the inspiration for him to achieve what he has achieved,” Brewer said over e-mail. “I also enjoy writing training modules that are well received and which I then find out are being used as the foundation modules for in-country training courses run by local journalists for local journalists. That is extremely satisfying.”
There are several challenges Media Helping Media seeks to help news outlets meet:
Reaching financial sustainability en route to editorial independence
Setting out a compelling content proposition (digging where others don’t) to informs the public debate via issue-led journalism
Introducing editorial values of balance, impartiality and objectivity
Creating converged, multiplatform news offerings that deliver content to whatever devices the audience may wish to turn to in order to access information
Identifying the audience, both the current audience, the target audience and the potential audience
Building a sales and marketing strategy that matches the content proposition, the target audience and the market.
Building capacity, to train their own staff and take on to train others in the region.
Published: March 26, 2009
Handbook for exiled journalists now available
SOURCE: Media Helping Media A handbook, written to help train journalists working in exile, has been produced in Nepal.
The author is a Bhutanese refugee who has been working as a journalist in the refugee camps for several years.
T.P. Mishra, the editor of the Bhutan News Service , said the book was part of an effort to equip those who previously had no voice with the essential tools needed in order to ensure that their situation was made known to the wider world.
T.P Mishra presented the book entitled ‘Becoming A Journalist In Exile’ to Nepalese Minister for Information and Communication, Krishna Bahadur Mahara at a ceremony in Kathmandu.
Mahara congratulated Mishra on the publication and said the Nepalese government was now ready to extend all possible support to refugee journalists, despite a number of legal hurdles yet to be surmounted.
Nepalese journalist, Dhruva Hari Adhikari reviewed the book saying that it has all those components needed to help all journalists, from those starting off in the profession to senior journalists.
He said it also set out the current media situation in Bhutan and listed the problems that Bhutanese journalists in exile have been facing.
Human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal congratulated Mishra for producing the book and highlighting the situation faced by Bhutanese refugees.
This site provided support for the production of the book and submitted content for one of the chapters.
The book was release simultaneously in Nepal and worldwide through internet today.
The book can be ordered through Pay Pal from a link at the APFA website . It costs US$25 and, according to T.P. Mishra, the revenue generated will go towards continued support for the Bhutanese media in exile.
The author is a Bhutanese refugee who has been working as a journalist in the refugee camps for several years.
T.P. Mishra, the editor of the Bhutan News Service , said the book was part of an effort to equip those who previously had no voice with the essential tools needed in order to ensure that their situation was made known to the wider world.
T.P Mishra presented the book entitled ‘Becoming A Journalist In Exile’ to Nepalese Minister for Information and Communication, Krishna Bahadur Mahara at a ceremony in Kathmandu.
Mahara congratulated Mishra on the publication and said the Nepalese government was now ready to extend all possible support to refugee journalists, despite a number of legal hurdles yet to be surmounted.
Nepalese journalist, Dhruva Hari Adhikari reviewed the book saying that it has all those components needed to help all journalists, from those starting off in the profession to senior journalists.
He said it also set out the current media situation in Bhutan and listed the problems that Bhutanese journalists in exile have been facing.
Human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal congratulated Mishra for producing the book and highlighting the situation faced by Bhutanese refugees.
This site provided support for the production of the book and submitted content for one of the chapters.
The book was release simultaneously in Nepal and worldwide through internet today.
The book can be ordered through Pay Pal from a link at the APFA website . It costs US$25 and, according to T.P. Mishra, the revenue generated will go towards continued support for the Bhutanese media in exile.
Handbook for exiled journalists produced
Source: EXILED JOURNALISTS
A handbook, written to help train journalists working in exile, has been produced in Nepal. The author is a Bhutanese refugee who has been working as a journalist in the refugee camps for several years.
T.P. Mishra, the editor of the Bhutan News Service , said the Becoming A Journalist In Exile was part of an effort to equip those who previously had no voice with the essential tools needed in order to ensure that their situation was made known to the wider world.
To read the full press release written by David Brewer, one of the book's co-authors, click here.
9 April 2009
A handbook, written to help train journalists working in exile, has been produced in Nepal. The author is a Bhutanese refugee who has been working as a journalist in the refugee camps for several years.
T.P. Mishra, the editor of the Bhutan News Service , said the Becoming A Journalist In Exile was part of an effort to equip those who previously had no voice with the essential tools needed in order to ensure that their situation was made known to the wider world.
To read the full press release written by David Brewer, one of the book's co-authors, click here.
9 April 2009
Handbook aims to help journalists in exile
SOURCE: IJNET, http://www.ijnet.org/ijnet/training_materials/handbook_aims_to_help_journalists_in_exile
Journalists who have been forced out of their countries or are in voluntary exile may find useful tips in a handbook written by a Bhutanese refugee who has been working as a journalist in refugee camps.
According to author T.P. Mishra, former editor of the Bhutan News Service who is now working in Nepal, the book is part of an effort to equip those who previously had no voice with the essential tools needed in order to ensure that their situations are made known to the wider world.
The book, entitled Becoming A Journalist In Exile, was released simultaneously in Nepal and worldwide through the Internet on March 31.
The book can be ordered through the APFA Web site. Learn more here.
Journalists who have been forced out of their countries or are in voluntary exile may find useful tips in a handbook written by a Bhutanese refugee who has been working as a journalist in refugee camps.
According to author T.P. Mishra, former editor of the Bhutan News Service who is now working in Nepal, the book is part of an effort to equip those who previously had no voice with the essential tools needed in order to ensure that their situations are made known to the wider world.
The book, entitled Becoming A Journalist In Exile, was released simultaneously in Nepal and worldwide through the Internet on March 31.
The book can be ordered through the APFA Web site. Learn more here.
‘Too early to say Bhutan has press freedom’
Kathmandu, May 03, 2009: A Bhutanese journalist working with a weekly newspaper published from Thimphu said it would be too early to say that Bhutan has press freedom even after the country adopted constitution and changed its politics from absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy last year.
In his presentation made at the regional conference in Kathmandu organized jointly by Panos South Asia, UNESCO and Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) marking the international press freedom day, reporter or Bhutan Observer Nedrup Zangpo also outlined the difficulties Bhutanese media have been facing for sustenance.
Lack of advertisement, low rate of circulation and lack of adequate media professionals are some of the hurdles he pointed out of the Bhutanese media. He said, the government promoted its mouthpiece Kuensel as daily paper recently and most advertisement from the government are given only to Kuensel. The private companies rarely come up for advertisement, leading to collateral hindrances for sustainability to budding media industry of this youngest democracy.
In his presentation entitled ‘A scenario of media law in Bhutan’, he further said all journalists working with Bhutanese media inside the country have very little or no information about professional journalism and its ethics.
Zangpo also said the politicians and bureaucracy have not changed their behavior with media though political system has changed which he cited as lack of knowledge on them regarding the importance of media for national development. He said they have been questioned ‘why’, whenever journalists write opinion pieces in newspapers. “Bureaucrats are not used to in accepting critical stories,” he said.
He criticized the code conduct prepared by the government, saying it has been imposed without consent of the journalists. The code was prepared by the previous non-democratic government and has not been reviewed since then.
However, Zongpo mention that with the change in politics and emergence of Bhutan Observer and Bhutan Times, two dailies, Bhutanese media have been doing good on their part despite hurdles and challenges.
Zangpo quoted politicians during the recent discussion between media and parliamentarians in the initiative of Center for Media and Democracy, saying “We need happy stories as we say Gross National Happiness”.
Two papers of Bhutanese media are scheduled to be presented at the conference from Bhutan by T. P. Mishra (editor) and Vidhyapati Mishra (manager) of Bhutan News Service and APFAnews.com.
In his presentation made at the regional conference in Kathmandu organized jointly by Panos South Asia, UNESCO and Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) marking the international press freedom day, reporter or Bhutan Observer Nedrup Zangpo also outlined the difficulties Bhutanese media have been facing for sustenance.
Lack of advertisement, low rate of circulation and lack of adequate media professionals are some of the hurdles he pointed out of the Bhutanese media. He said, the government promoted its mouthpiece Kuensel as daily paper recently and most advertisement from the government are given only to Kuensel. The private companies rarely come up for advertisement, leading to collateral hindrances for sustainability to budding media industry of this youngest democracy.
In his presentation entitled ‘A scenario of media law in Bhutan’, he further said all journalists working with Bhutanese media inside the country have very little or no information about professional journalism and its ethics.
Zangpo also said the politicians and bureaucracy have not changed their behavior with media though political system has changed which he cited as lack of knowledge on them regarding the importance of media for national development. He said they have been questioned ‘why’, whenever journalists write opinion pieces in newspapers. “Bureaucrats are not used to in accepting critical stories,” he said.
He criticized the code conduct prepared by the government, saying it has been imposed without consent of the journalists. The code was prepared by the previous non-democratic government and has not been reviewed since then.
However, Zongpo mention that with the change in politics and emergence of Bhutan Observer and Bhutan Times, two dailies, Bhutanese media have been doing good on their part despite hurdles and challenges.
Zangpo quoted politicians during the recent discussion between media and parliamentarians in the initiative of Center for Media and Democracy, saying “We need happy stories as we say Gross National Happiness”.
Two papers of Bhutanese media are scheduled to be presented at the conference from Bhutan by T. P. Mishra (editor) and Vidhyapati Mishra (manager) of Bhutan News Service and APFAnews.com.
Journalists decorated with awards
Source: APFAnews.com
Thimphu, May 05, 2009: Despite indirect censorship on media, the elected government for the first time arranged for media awards to various journalists as gesture to inspire for better journalism on Sunday.
Kuensel’s reporter Phuntsho Choden won award for best investigative reporting award. Though the budding media industry and journalism beginners are yet to get better at reporting beat and soft news, it is unclear on what basis the government categorized reports as investigative reporting.
Choden’s reporting on the short supply and poor quality of school textbooks was termed the best investigative reporting.
Kuensel won three more awards: The Dark Side of Night Hunting, a feature by Tashi Dema, recognized as the most prominent social issue and Tenzin Dorji was given the best photographer.
For opinion pieces, all three papers (since Bhutan today daily was not included in the contest) were awarded. Kuensel’s deputy editor Kencho Wangdi’s Making Our Religion Relevant, Bhutan Times’ sub-editor Mitra Raj’s First Breach, and Bhutan Observer’s reporter Needrup Zangpo’s Demolish the Wall.
Observer’s Dzongkha editorial team won the best Dzongkha edition of the year beside its cartoonist Chimmi R Namgyel receiving best newspaper cartoon award for Zero Tolerance.
Bhutan Times got three more awards, including the Best Newspaper design. Its editor Gopilal Acharya was awarded for best business report for his article, Heartbreak House. Karma Singye Dorji from the same paper, who happened to be one of the three judges, received best political report for his article One Year of Democracy.
Radio Valley (RV)’s Suja Show, by Ugyen Wangmo, was declared the most entertaining program while Mang Ghi Damkha or Music on Demand’s Pema Wangchuk was the best radio host of the year.
Two other radio stations, Centennial Radio and Kuzoo FM knocked out of the scene.
Government owned Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) took three: Dawa as the best TV anchor and Damcho Wangchuk as most informative radio program for his coverage of the police-youth partnership program. And Neten Dorjee’s documentary on King Jigme Wangchuck was awarded the best television program of the year.
Temzing Lamsang, who was more critical of the government policies and corruptions in public offices, was given not a single award despite his few well written articles.
Two other judges were secretary of the ministry of information and communications and former Kuensel editor Kinley Dorji Kay Kirby Dorji, a former journalist with Los Angeles Times.
Thimphu, May 05, 2009: Despite indirect censorship on media, the elected government for the first time arranged for media awards to various journalists as gesture to inspire for better journalism on Sunday.
Kuensel’s reporter Phuntsho Choden won award for best investigative reporting award. Though the budding media industry and journalism beginners are yet to get better at reporting beat and soft news, it is unclear on what basis the government categorized reports as investigative reporting.
Choden’s reporting on the short supply and poor quality of school textbooks was termed the best investigative reporting.
Kuensel won three more awards: The Dark Side of Night Hunting, a feature by Tashi Dema, recognized as the most prominent social issue and Tenzin Dorji was given the best photographer.
For opinion pieces, all three papers (since Bhutan today daily was not included in the contest) were awarded. Kuensel’s deputy editor Kencho Wangdi’s Making Our Religion Relevant, Bhutan Times’ sub-editor Mitra Raj’s First Breach, and Bhutan Observer’s reporter Needrup Zangpo’s Demolish the Wall.
Observer’s Dzongkha editorial team won the best Dzongkha edition of the year beside its cartoonist Chimmi R Namgyel receiving best newspaper cartoon award for Zero Tolerance.
Bhutan Times got three more awards, including the Best Newspaper design. Its editor Gopilal Acharya was awarded for best business report for his article, Heartbreak House. Karma Singye Dorji from the same paper, who happened to be one of the three judges, received best political report for his article One Year of Democracy.
Radio Valley (RV)’s Suja Show, by Ugyen Wangmo, was declared the most entertaining program while Mang Ghi Damkha or Music on Demand’s Pema Wangchuk was the best radio host of the year.
Two other radio stations, Centennial Radio and Kuzoo FM knocked out of the scene.
Government owned Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) took three: Dawa as the best TV anchor and Damcho Wangchuk as most informative radio program for his coverage of the police-youth partnership program. And Neten Dorjee’s documentary on King Jigme Wangchuck was awarded the best television program of the year.
Temzing Lamsang, who was more critical of the government policies and corruptions in public offices, was given not a single award despite his few well written articles.
Two other judges were secretary of the ministry of information and communications and former Kuensel editor Kinley Dorji Kay Kirby Dorji, a former journalist with Los Angeles Times.
ABU holds its congress in Paro
Source: APFAnews.com
Paro, May 06, 2009: The eleventh congress of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) concluded here in Paro on Tuesday. The congress is held every two years.
The congress discussed the technical, economical and other kinds of constraints and challenges faced by the broadcasting companies across the world and measures to be taken to ease the situation.
Future strategies and union’s finance management, including sponsors for its activities, were also primary agenda of the congress.
Established 1964, the union has 194 members from 57 countries including Iran, Korea, Malaysia, Macau, Mongolia, Japan and Indonesia. Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation is one of the union members.
Paro, May 06, 2009: The eleventh congress of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) concluded here in Paro on Tuesday. The congress is held every two years.
The congress discussed the technical, economical and other kinds of constraints and challenges faced by the broadcasting companies across the world and measures to be taken to ease the situation.
Future strategies and union’s finance management, including sponsors for its activities, were also primary agenda of the congress.
Established 1964, the union has 194 members from 57 countries including Iran, Korea, Malaysia, Macau, Mongolia, Japan and Indonesia. Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation is one of the union members.
Official media liaison for Bhutan's royal family launched
Thimphu (PTI): Bhutan has come up with a Royal Office for Media which will authenticate, evaluate, manage and monitor all media coverage of the king and the royal family, both at the national and international levels.
The Royal Office for Media (ROM) -- near the Chorten memorial here -- will research, collect and archive media materials and publications on monarchy and the royal family.
"It will facilitate works of media persons by providing quick and accurate information for mass dissemination," Dorji Wangchuk. ROM's newly appointed director, said.
Photographs for private events will be taken by the royal photographers and a few photographers will be nominated by media houses for certain functions. They will be called the royal press group. The ROM will decide on the final publication of the photographs.
Media agencies and accredited journalists are required to register with the agency concerned to cover the event. And all media personnel are required to maintain a formal dress code.
The Royal Office for Media (ROM) -- near the Chorten memorial here -- will research, collect and archive media materials and publications on monarchy and the royal family.
"It will facilitate works of media persons by providing quick and accurate information for mass dissemination," Dorji Wangchuk. ROM's newly appointed director, said.
Photographs for private events will be taken by the royal photographers and a few photographers will be nominated by media houses for certain functions. They will be called the royal press group. The ROM will decide on the final publication of the photographs.
Media agencies and accredited journalists are required to register with the agency concerned to cover the event. And all media personnel are required to maintain a formal dress code.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
First internet radio starts operation
Thimphu, May 19, 2009: One of the private radio stations in Thimphu join hands with a Swiss to start a 24 hour live streaming online.
The country’s first streaming internet radio station, www.cafebhutan.com, is webcasting from the capital and is available for broadband internet users only.
The station, opened by a visiting Swiss consultant, Hans J Keller, and run in conjunction with private FM Radio Valley, webcasts Buddhist teachings and Bhutanese music to anyone connected to broadband internet, government mouth piece Kuensel said.
According to its press release, the internet radio station “will be the first to promote Bhutan’s culture and many of the causes associated with its spiritual roots and sense of human justice and dignity.” The station aims to achieve this by webcasting programs, ranging from Buddhist teachings by prominent rinpoches and scholars, to featuring visiting tourists on talk shows.
Source: APFAnews.com
Keller, who founded the station, said that, since there was no such stations in Bhutan, the time was right to establish one. “It’s a public service to Bhutan,” he said. Its target audience will mostly be Bhutanese and people interested in Bhutan who reside abroad.
The country’s first streaming internet radio station, www.cafebhutan.com, is webcasting from the capital and is available for broadband internet users only.
The station, opened by a visiting Swiss consultant, Hans J Keller, and run in conjunction with private FM Radio Valley, webcasts Buddhist teachings and Bhutanese music to anyone connected to broadband internet, government mouth piece Kuensel said.
According to its press release, the internet radio station “will be the first to promote Bhutan’s culture and many of the causes associated with its spiritual roots and sense of human justice and dignity.” The station aims to achieve this by webcasting programs, ranging from Buddhist teachings by prominent rinpoches and scholars, to featuring visiting tourists on talk shows.
Source: APFAnews.com
Keller, who founded the station, said that, since there was no such stations in Bhutan, the time was right to establish one. “It’s a public service to Bhutan,” he said. Its target audience will mostly be Bhutanese and people interested in Bhutan who reside abroad.
पुस्तक समिछा: निर्वासन पत्रकारिताका भोगाइ
राजाराम गौतम
केही दिनअघि विश्व प्रेस स्वतन्त्रता दिवस -मे ३) को अवसरमा नेपाल पत्रकार महासंघद्वारा आयोजित कार्यक्रममा भुटानको निजी अखबार भुटान अब्जर्भरका सम्पादक नेड्रुप जाङ्पोले आफ्नो देशमा प्रेस स्वतन्त्रता नभएको स्वीकारे ।
उनले भने भुटानी प्रशासक र नेताले आलोचनालाई अझै पनि सहज रूपमा लिन नसकेको बताएका थिए । सरकारी तथ्यांकमा करिब साढे सात लाख जनसंख्या भएको उक्त देशमा तीनवटा अखबार छन् -सरकारी मुखपत्र क्युन्सेल र दुई निजी क्षेत्रका भुटान अब्जर्भर र भुटान टाइम्स) । क्युन्सेल लाई सरकारी विज्ञापन उपलब्ध छ, तर निजी अखबार स्थापनाको केही वर्षभित्रै संकटमा परेका छन् । तर योभन्दा पनि मुख्य कुरो ती युवा सम्पादकले भनेझैं सत्ता र शक्तिमा भएका व्यक्ति तथा जनप्रतिनिधिको आलोचना गर्न नपाउने अवस्थामा छन्, भुटानी अखबार ।
भुटानभित्र स्वतन्त्र पत्रकारिताको अवस्था दयनीय भए पनि प्रवासको पत्रकारिता केही हदसम्म राम्रो देखिन्छ । पटक-पटकको संकटका बाबजुद मासिक अखबार द भुटान रिपोर्टर निस्किरहेकै छ । नेपालका शिविरदेखि पश्चिमा राष्ट्रसम्म फैलिएका शरणार्थी बारेका खबर अनलाइनमार्फत प्रकाशित भइरहेका छन् । एफएमबाट समेत शरणार्थी सरोकार प्रसारण भइरहेको छ । यसको श्रेय जान्छ, केही जुझारु भुटानी शरणार्थी युवालाई जसले आफ्नो गाँस काटेर भए पनि सूचनाको दीयोलाई निभ्न दिएका छैनन् । यिनै मध्येका एक ठाकुरप्रसाद मिश्रले आफ्नै बलबुतामा हालै एक पुस्तक प्रकाशित गरेका छन्, बिकमिङ अ जर्नालिस्ट इन एक्जाइल । शरणार्थीको संघर्षको कथा आफंैमा मर्मस्पर्शी हुन्छ । त्यसमाथि निर्वासनको पत्रकारिता साधनस्रोतको कमी, कानुनी उल्झनजस्ता विषयले थिचिएको हुन्छ । तर जस्तै अवस्थामा भए पनि मान्छेलाई सूचनाको दरकार हुन्छ । मिश्रले आफ्नो पुस्तकमार्फत यिनै कुरा उजिल्याएका छन् ।
एक सय अठ्ठाइस पृष्ठको पुस्तकको आवरणमा लेखकको हिँडिरेको अवस्थाको तस्वीर छ, जसमा उनी सम्पादक रहेको भुटान रिपोर्टरको चाङ वितरणका लागि प्रेसबाट बोकेर डेरातिर लैजाँदैछन् । अमेरिकी पत्रकार लौरा एलिजावेथ पौलले खिचेको तस्वीरले शरणार्थी पत्रकारिताको यथार्थ झल्काउँछ । पन्ना पल्टाउँदै जाँदा थाहा हुन्छ, पुस्तकका लेखक र सम्पादक मिश्रले अरूको पनि सहयोग लिएका रहेछन् । अन्य सातजना पत्रकारिता र लेखनसम्बद्ध व्यक्तिको नाम उनले सहलेखकका रूपमा राखेका छन् । तिनमा भुटानी शरणार्थी -आरपी सुब्बा, नन्द गौतम, आईपी अधिकारी) देखि बेलायती -डेभिड ब्यु्रअर) र भारतीय पत्रकार -सुवीर भौमिक) सम्म छन् ।
पुस्तक चार भागमा विभाजित छ । पहिलो अध्यायमा पत्रकारिता के हो, यसका सिद्धान्त के छन्, पत्रकार बन्न के कस्ता गुण हुनुपर्छ जस्ता आधारभूत जानकारी छन् । पहिलो अध्यायकै दोस्रो लेख 'क्यानन्स अफ जर्नालिजम'मा आचारसंहिताका कुरा छन् । डेभिडले लेखेको 'बिकमिङ अ जर्नालिस्ट' शीर्षक लेखमा ती पाका पत्रकारले सञ्चारका विभिन्न विधा -रेडियो, टीभी, छापा) मा काम गर्दाका आफ्ना अनुभवसँगै पत्रकारिताका पक्षबारे सविस्तार लेखेका छन् । दोस्रो र तेस्रो अध्याय क्रमशः भुटानभित्र पत्रकारिता र आमसञ्चारको अवस्था र शरणार्थी शिविरको पत्रकारितामाथि केन्दि्रत छ । भुटानभित्र र शरणार्थी शिविरबारे माथि नै उल्लेख गरिसकियो । कुरा तिनै हुन् । पुस्तकमा हाल भुटानमा जेलजीवन बिताइरहेका शरणार्थी पत्रकार शान्तिराम आचार्यको मुद्दासमेत उठाइएको छ ।
पुस्तकको अर्को उल्लेख्य पक्ष हो, तीन पत्रकारहरूले लेखेको आफ्नो करिअर भोगाइ सम्बन्धी लेख । जस्तो- 'जर्नालिजम ः राइजिङ अबोभ द आइडेन्टिटी ब्यारिअर' शीर्षक लेखमा बीबीसीका पूर्वोत्तर भारत संवाददाता सुवीर भौमिकले त्रिपुरा राज्यमा सुरुवाती दिनमा रिपोर्टर हुँदाको अनुभव बाँडेका छन् । उनी त्रिपुरामा सन् १९८० को दसकमा भएको दंगामा आदिवासी र बंगाली आप्रवासी बीचको भीडन्तको प्रसंग कोटयाउँछन् । आदिवासी समुदायका न कुनै अखबार थिए न पत्रकार नै । बंगाली बहुल मिडियाले आफ्नै जातिको पीडामात्र वर्णन गर्दा आदिवासीको मुद्दा ओझेलमा परेको भौमिकको भनाइ छ । त्यसो हँुदा पत्रकारिताको एक महत्त्वपूर्ण कडी सन्तुलन गुम्न पुग्छ । पत्रकारले परिचयको तगारोबाट माथि उठ्नुपर्ने उनको निष्कर्ष छ । नेपालमा पनि 'आइडेन्टिटी पोलिटिक्स'ले पछिल्लो समय ठाउँ पाइरहेका बेला भौमिकको निक्र्योल हाम्रालागि पनि सान्दर्भिक हुनसक्छ ।
Posted on: 2009-05-08 21:18:35
केही दिनअघि विश्व प्रेस स्वतन्त्रता दिवस -मे ३) को अवसरमा नेपाल पत्रकार महासंघद्वारा आयोजित कार्यक्रममा भुटानको निजी अखबार भुटान अब्जर्भरका सम्पादक नेड्रुप जाङ्पोले आफ्नो देशमा प्रेस स्वतन्त्रता नभएको स्वीकारे ।
उनले भने भुटानी प्रशासक र नेताले आलोचनालाई अझै पनि सहज रूपमा लिन नसकेको बताएका थिए । सरकारी तथ्यांकमा करिब साढे सात लाख जनसंख्या भएको उक्त देशमा तीनवटा अखबार छन् -सरकारी मुखपत्र क्युन्सेल र दुई निजी क्षेत्रका भुटान अब्जर्भर र भुटान टाइम्स) । क्युन्सेल लाई सरकारी विज्ञापन उपलब्ध छ, तर निजी अखबार स्थापनाको केही वर्षभित्रै संकटमा परेका छन् । तर योभन्दा पनि मुख्य कुरो ती युवा सम्पादकले भनेझैं सत्ता र शक्तिमा भएका व्यक्ति तथा जनप्रतिनिधिको आलोचना गर्न नपाउने अवस्थामा छन्, भुटानी अखबार ।
भुटानभित्र स्वतन्त्र पत्रकारिताको अवस्था दयनीय भए पनि प्रवासको पत्रकारिता केही हदसम्म राम्रो देखिन्छ । पटक-पटकको संकटका बाबजुद मासिक अखबार द भुटान रिपोर्टर निस्किरहेकै छ । नेपालका शिविरदेखि पश्चिमा राष्ट्रसम्म फैलिएका शरणार्थी बारेका खबर अनलाइनमार्फत प्रकाशित भइरहेका छन् । एफएमबाट समेत शरणार्थी सरोकार प्रसारण भइरहेको छ । यसको श्रेय जान्छ, केही जुझारु भुटानी शरणार्थी युवालाई जसले आफ्नो गाँस काटेर भए पनि सूचनाको दीयोलाई निभ्न दिएका छैनन् । यिनै मध्येका एक ठाकुरप्रसाद मिश्रले आफ्नै बलबुतामा हालै एक पुस्तक प्रकाशित गरेका छन्, बिकमिङ अ जर्नालिस्ट इन एक्जाइल । शरणार्थीको संघर्षको कथा आफंैमा मर्मस्पर्शी हुन्छ । त्यसमाथि निर्वासनको पत्रकारिता साधनस्रोतको कमी, कानुनी उल्झनजस्ता विषयले थिचिएको हुन्छ । तर जस्तै अवस्थामा भए पनि मान्छेलाई सूचनाको दरकार हुन्छ । मिश्रले आफ्नो पुस्तकमार्फत यिनै कुरा उजिल्याएका छन् ।
एक सय अठ्ठाइस पृष्ठको पुस्तकको आवरणमा लेखकको हिँडिरेको अवस्थाको तस्वीर छ, जसमा उनी सम्पादक रहेको भुटान रिपोर्टरको चाङ वितरणका लागि प्रेसबाट बोकेर डेरातिर लैजाँदैछन् । अमेरिकी पत्रकार लौरा एलिजावेथ पौलले खिचेको तस्वीरले शरणार्थी पत्रकारिताको यथार्थ झल्काउँछ । पन्ना पल्टाउँदै जाँदा थाहा हुन्छ, पुस्तकका लेखक र सम्पादक मिश्रले अरूको पनि सहयोग लिएका रहेछन् । अन्य सातजना पत्रकारिता र लेखनसम्बद्ध व्यक्तिको नाम उनले सहलेखकका रूपमा राखेका छन् । तिनमा भुटानी शरणार्थी -आरपी सुब्बा, नन्द गौतम, आईपी अधिकारी) देखि बेलायती -डेभिड ब्यु्रअर) र भारतीय पत्रकार -सुवीर भौमिक) सम्म छन् ।
पुस्तक चार भागमा विभाजित छ । पहिलो अध्यायमा पत्रकारिता के हो, यसका सिद्धान्त के छन्, पत्रकार बन्न के कस्ता गुण हुनुपर्छ जस्ता आधारभूत जानकारी छन् । पहिलो अध्यायकै दोस्रो लेख 'क्यानन्स अफ जर्नालिजम'मा आचारसंहिताका कुरा छन् । डेभिडले लेखेको 'बिकमिङ अ जर्नालिस्ट' शीर्षक लेखमा ती पाका पत्रकारले सञ्चारका विभिन्न विधा -रेडियो, टीभी, छापा) मा काम गर्दाका आफ्ना अनुभवसँगै पत्रकारिताका पक्षबारे सविस्तार लेखेका छन् । दोस्रो र तेस्रो अध्याय क्रमशः भुटानभित्र पत्रकारिता र आमसञ्चारको अवस्था र शरणार्थी शिविरको पत्रकारितामाथि केन्दि्रत छ । भुटानभित्र र शरणार्थी शिविरबारे माथि नै उल्लेख गरिसकियो । कुरा तिनै हुन् । पुस्तकमा हाल भुटानमा जेलजीवन बिताइरहेका शरणार्थी पत्रकार शान्तिराम आचार्यको मुद्दासमेत उठाइएको छ ।
पुस्तकको अर्को उल्लेख्य पक्ष हो, तीन पत्रकारहरूले लेखेको आफ्नो करिअर भोगाइ सम्बन्धी लेख । जस्तो- 'जर्नालिजम ः राइजिङ अबोभ द आइडेन्टिटी ब्यारिअर' शीर्षक लेखमा बीबीसीका पूर्वोत्तर भारत संवाददाता सुवीर भौमिकले त्रिपुरा राज्यमा सुरुवाती दिनमा रिपोर्टर हुँदाको अनुभव बाँडेका छन् । उनी त्रिपुरामा सन् १९८० को दसकमा भएको दंगामा आदिवासी र बंगाली आप्रवासी बीचको भीडन्तको प्रसंग कोटयाउँछन् । आदिवासी समुदायका न कुनै अखबार थिए न पत्रकार नै । बंगाली बहुल मिडियाले आफ्नै जातिको पीडामात्र वर्णन गर्दा आदिवासीको मुद्दा ओझेलमा परेको भौमिकको भनाइ छ । त्यसो हँुदा पत्रकारिताको एक महत्त्वपूर्ण कडी सन्तुलन गुम्न पुग्छ । पत्रकारले परिचयको तगारोबाट माथि उठ्नुपर्ने उनको निष्कर्ष छ । नेपालमा पनि 'आइडेन्टिटी पोलिटिक्स'ले पछिल्लो समय ठाउँ पाइरहेका बेला भौमिकको निक्र्योल हाम्रालागि पनि सान्दर्भिक हुनसक्छ ।
Posted on: 2009-05-08 21:18:35
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