Online media suffered hostility during election: FNJ Chair Pokhrel

Chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Bipul Pokhrel, has said the online media faced more hostility than other media during the recent election. Nepali media is still facing intimidation, he added.

Speaking at an interaction on ‘online media and social media trend during the election’ organized on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Online Journalists’ Association here Thursday, Chairman Pokhrel argued that the information atmosphere dominated by Youtube has caused intimidation on professional media and online journalists. It is a new challenge, he added.

“Cyber attack is another latest trend Nepali media is facing at present. FNJ believes this challenge is fomented with the rise of independent candidates and the Swatantra Party,” Pokhrel underscored.

On the occasion, FNJ General Secretary Roshan Puri said a huge investment in online journalism but little payments to reporters would cost the professional security of journalists.

Chairman of the Online Journalists’ Association, Dilli Prasad Sapkota, said the time has come to dwell on how professional security for online journalists could be guaranteed.

Various sorts of disinformation spread online during the election were presented during the program. The strategy should be formulated for the secure future of online media.