Press Council Nepal Urges Media to Remain Fully Impartial and Accountable During Election Period

Kathmandu. The Press Council Nepal has urged the media to remain fully impartial and accountable during the election period. The Council, which is regularly monitoring mass media operating within the country, reminded stakeholders that it is closely monitoring compliance with the Code of Conduct for Journalists and the Election Code of Conduct, as it did in previous House of Representatives elections in 2082.

The Council expressed serious concern over recent instances where some media outlets have broadcast materials styled as 'election analysis,' 'special reports,' or 'surveys' that aim to influence the election and voters by naming political parties and candidates, thereby affecting public opinion.

The Council noted that news content such as, 'This candidate will win,' 'This candidate is far ahead of that one,' 'Attracted to the new wave,' 'This one has momentum, this one does not,' and 'In the danger zone,' has been published, affecting public sentiment and potentially misleading general voters. The Council clarified that such materials adversely affect a clean and impartial election and are being noted as violations of the code of conduct.

While cautioning that materials disseminated in the name of press freedom could benefit or harm someone, Council's Deputy Spokesperson Ramsharan Bohara informed that media outlets and journalists involved in the important profession of maintaining a neutral and impartial role must be more dignified, responsible, and accountable during this significant historical context.

The Council urged the media sector, like other state bodies, to play a special role in making the election successful by disseminating content within the boundaries of the code of conduct in a healthy, clean, free, dignified, impartial, and balanced manner.

Attention has been drawn to respecting the conscience, freedom, and secret voting rights of the general voters, and to refrain from disseminating content that adversely affects a clean and impartial election or influences votes.