Sanchargram, Kathmandu info@presscouncilnepal.gov.np

Directive Press Council Nepal Issues regarding the Corona Virus outbreak journalists

Press Council Nepal issues Directive for all types of media and journalists regarding the Corona Virus outbreak

Press Council Nepal’s Directive, 2076 for the journalists and media

Press Council Nepal, having exercised the powers conferred by Clause (b) of the Press Council Act, 2048 Article 7 and with the consent of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, has issued News Transmission Directive 2076, related with Public Health including epidemic, with immediate effect, for the Journalists and media regarding the precaution and responsibility of publishing news content regarding the outbreak of Nobel Corona Virus, which is pandemic worldwide.

Responsibilities to be followed by journalists and media while disseminating news about corona pandemic:
(1) Dissemination of factual news verified by the authentic sources: (1) Journalists and media should disseminate the news about corona virus outbreak ensuring that they are based on facts and verified by the authentic source or subject specialists. (2) The news, article, notice and information that the journalist or media disseminate through social media must be decent, factual and authentic. (3) While re-publishing the news, information or article/contents posted by other social media users through sharing, liking and re-tweeting, the journalist or media should disseminate it considering the authenticity that equals their own publication.

(2) Pay attention to the individual secrecy: Journalist and media should pay attention to the individual secrecy of the suspicious or suspected of the infection or infected victims. The identity of the person who is suspected to have coronavirus should be concealed. Moreover, no such contents should be produced, published, broadcasted and distributed that can have adverse effects upon the infected person. Without the consent of the infected and permission from the concerned authority, the identity of the confirmed case also should not be disclosed.

(3) Should not blame or accuse: Journalist and media, while disseminating news content about corona outbreak, should not connect it with any country, region or community and blame them for the spread of the virus. Likewise, news should not be disseminated in such way that it blames or personally accuse the infected person. Such news content capable of creating discrimination or hatred based on any caste, sex, religion, area, language, political inclination, race or physical, mental status should not be produced, published, broadcasted or distributed.

(4) Should not give space for false, exaggerated and unauthorized information or rumors that spread fear, panic and sensation: While disseminating the news content about corona virus outbreak, the journalist and media should not give space for the unauthorized, false and exaggerated information and rumors that are not verified by the concerned authority of Nepal Government. Sensibility and alertness should always be adopted so that the readers, listeners and viewers are not disappointed or excited.

(5) Should not mention the name of a person not related to the incident: (1) Journalist and media should not produce, distribute or publish-broadcast any such news, photo or visuals that discloses the name, address or identity of the relative or someone close to the person having corona virus infection.

(6) Should not publish or broadcast the scene or photo: Journalist and media should not disseminate the scene and photos of the person whose life has been claimed by the infection.

(7) Readiness to Rectify Errors: Upon receiving any fault or mistake on the news content regarding the corona outbreak that are disseminated, the journalist and media should rectify them as soon as possible, and inform publicly about it from the same media. Moreover, Press Council’s directions for rectifying the errors should be followed immediately.

(8) Press Council will monitor and take action: Press Council Nepal can monitor whether the journalists and media have followed this directive and take necessary action in accordance with Press Council Act, 2048 and Journalist Code of Conduct, 2073 (Amendment- 2076).

-2076/12/10 (23 March 2020)

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