Kathmandu : Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has said that the government media houses should serve the people’s right to information.

In his inaugural speech at the special ceremony organised to mark the 59th Anniversary of The Rising Nepal, Minister Gurung, also the government spokesperson, highlighted that that all laws relating to communication and information sector including the ones related to government media houses will be updated this year so as to reflect the new situation.

“I have found many laws governing the government media houses are very old which are insufficient to meet the challenges in the new situation. The ministry has initiated processes to upgrade, reform or bring forth new laws relating to the media sector including the government media such as the Gorkhapatra Corporation (GC),” said Minister Gurung.

Observing that private and government media are different in their motif as the government ones seek to serve the people while the private are found to be focused on profit, Minister Subba said, “Government media should serve the people’s right to information while disseminating the government’s policies and activities to the people.”

Referring to the voices raised with regard to the stalled career growth in the GC, the Minister pledged to initiate the process this year itself.

While expressing best wishes to The Rising Nepal team and the GC family, Minister Gurung instructed the management to work for making the media house competitive and robust. “The Rising Nepal should feel that it the media for all 761 governments that including federal, 7 provincial and 753 local level governments.”

On the occasion, he said the present government is focused on good governance for increasing capital expenditure which results in prosperity in the nation.

TRN should partner with other global media: Secretary Radhika Aryal

Speaking on the occasion, secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology Radhika Aryal pointed at the need for The Rising Nepal to partner with other global media so as to broaden its outreach and news sharing and learning.

“I think publication of The Rising Nepal was started with a view to make the people around the world know about Nepal. It has served this objective by providing news and views about Nepal’s socio-economic situation, culture, political scenario, diplomatic engagements,” she said highlighting that TRN has made a great contribution in enhancing Nepal’s standing in the international arena.

Referring to the digital age, she said that digitisation of the old publication of the GC has already been started and that this will make it easy for many to know about Nepal’s past experiences.

The communication secretary viewed that print media has come under immense pressure due to the revolution in information technology and that TRN should maximize its presence in Nepal’s digital landscape.

She assured of initiating process for constructing a new building of the GC and resume the career growth which has been stalled for about eight years.

TRN needs to redefine role in digital age: Executive Chairman Subedi

Speaking on the occasion, executive chairman of the Gorkhapatra Corporation, Bishnu Prasad Subedi, highlighted that TRN should redefine its role in the digital age as IT revolution has changed people’s habit to get information and news.

“No doubt, TRN is the school of English journalism in Nepal. It is our pride. It has been instrumental in promoting English language and literature while also enhancing people’s English language skill. But now that It revolution has changed people’s habit to seek news, TRN needs to adapt to the new age, the digital age, and we have initiated the process keeping in mind the same objective,” said executive chairman Subedi.

Once TRN was the only source of authentic information. But now, every government agencies have their own website, that also in English. So people can refer to those websites for information. Moreover, translation service is available in different apps and even the content in Nepali can be translated into English. It calls for ways to enhance TRN in the way of news dissemination and use of technology, he said.

He made it a point that TRN’s present design and layout is of international standard and that there has been positive feedback on it.

He said the GC is the largest media house in the country from the perspectives of the resources, technology and the legacy.

The executive chairman also assured of starting the process for promotion and other career growth issues of employees within this year.

TRN a channel to inform world about Nepal’s potential: General Manager Airi

Addressing the anniversary ceremony, general manager of the Gorkhapatra Coporation Lal Bahadur Airi remarked that TRN has played a great role in disseminating news of Nepal about its potential while enhancing national image in the global community.

“It can be understood that publication of TRN was started to make the world know about Nepal, its culture, politics and economy, natural beauty and diplomatic voices. TRN has done a great job in this regard,” said GM Airi.