Press Union Urges Government to Withdraw Social Media Bill

The Nepal Press Union (NPU) has called on the government to withdraw the proposed social media Bill, 2081, expressing strong reservations about provisions it says threaten press freedom and freedom of expression.

The demand was part of a 12-point declaration issued following the NPU’s national conference of province and chapter presidents, held from February 17 to 19 under the coordination of the Union’s Central Committee. The declaration emphasized the need for broader consultations with stakeholders before advancing the bill.

The NPU voiced concerns over provisions it believes could restrict media freedom and urged the government to engage with media representatives to address these issues. The union insisted that the bill be withdrawn to safeguard press freedom and freedom of opinion guaranteed by the Constitution.

The conference also discussed a range of issues, including the organizational structure of the NPU, challenges faced by working journalists, professional security, and the impact of evolving technology on the media landscape. During the event, General Secretary Dilip Poudel presented an organizational report, while Senior Vice-President and Disciplinary Department Coordinator Prem KC delivered a report on disciplinary matters.

The NPU announced plans to implement an action plan based on the recommendations from the conference. This includes launching a pressure campaign focused on enforcing the Working Journalists Act, ensuring the implementation of minimum wages, timely payment of salaries, and improving the physical, economic, and social security of journalists.

The Union also expressed concern over laws and guidelines issued by various levels of government that it claims infringe on press freedom. It urged all three tiers of government to develop communication-related policies and regulations aligned with the constitutional guarantee of free speech.

Highlighting economic challenges faced by the media sector, the NPU warned that print, television, and radio outlets are struggling due to the shrinking advertising market. The declaration called on the government to expand public welfare advertising to include online media and to establish a fair and proportional advertisement distribution system.

The conference also pledged to implement programs aimed at supporting journalists, including capacity development initiatives, vocational training, insurance, social security measures, and writing fellowships. As part of its commitment to fostering global media practices in Nepal, the NPU announced plans to organize the Lomanthang International Media Summit in March-April.

Additionally, the Union urged the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) to immediately reinstate journalists who have lost their membership and to work toward ensuring the rights and welfare of media professionals across the country.