Media Stakeholders Urge Government to Reconsider Advertising Ban

Butwal. Media stakeholders have urged the government to reconsider its policy of banning advertisements and public notices to private media, stating that the communication sector is in crisis. Speakers at the two-day fourth national media conference, which began on Saturday, organized by the Federation of Publications and Broadcasting Lumbini, co-organized by the Nepal Media Society, and in collaboration with the Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, described the advertising ban as a challenging step for freedom of expression and democracy.

Inaugurating the conference, Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Khelraj Pandey said that any policy that weakens the media cannot be successful in the long run. He opined that the advertising ban is not practical as local levels in remote areas need national and private media to disseminate their information to citizens.

Similarly, Nepal Journalists Association President Nirmala Sharma termed the government's latest advertising policy as a direct interference in freedom of expression. Accusing efforts to create a monopoly in advertising distribution, she mentioned that this issue is linked not only to journalists but to the freedom of all citizens.

Nepal Media Society President Madan Lamsal pointed out that the government's information not being given to private media increases the risk of a large number of journalists becoming unemployed and many daily newspapers closing down. Press Council Nepal Chief Executive Officer Jhabindra Bhusal said that the communication sector has reached a challenging stage due to economic recession, the growing influence of digital platforms, and the shrinking advertising market.

Likewise, Nepal Media Society Former President Shubhshankar Kandel argued that freedom of expression without economic freedom is weak, claiming that journalists have become unemployed due to digital transformation. Nepal Journalists Association Former President Shiva Gaunle mentioned that press freedom and economic freedom are interrelated issues, clarifying that a policy that weakens the economic base of the media is ultimately against the interests of democracy.

Federation of Publications and Broadcasting Lumbini President Navraj Kunwar expressed confidence that the conference will reach a common conclusion for the protection and promotion of private media. Federation Vice-President Vishnu Bhusal said that policy reforms are necessary to solve the challenges in the communication sector, while General Secretary Madhav Nepal informed that the suggestions from the conference will be submitted to the government.

The conference, which will run until Sunday, will include detailed discussions on the government's upcoming advertising policy, media's economic stability, digital transformation, and press freedom, the organizers said. This conference, with the participation of media owners, editors, and journalists, is expected to draw the government's attention to the advertising ban and seek a common solution.