_: Community radio played a significant role in the political change of different periods, protecting democracy, creating public awareness and in disaster management. However, it is now struggling for existence.
Speaking at a programme organised by Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal here on Tuesday on the occasion of World Radio Day, stakeholders shared that community radio is struggling for its existence due to advancement and increasing use of information technology.
On the occasion, Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat mentioned that media played significant role to establish freedom of expression and rule of law after the political change of 1990.
He explained that there is a big challenge in commercial development and sustainability of community radios. “Social platforms have reduced the use of radio and television. So there are negative impacts on their business. People’s interest towards radio is decreasing and radio has been finding difficulty to get advertisement”, stressed Mini
ster Mahat.
The Finance Minister added that the Finance Ministry had already given consent for exemption of renewal fee and royalty as demanded by community radio operators.
He expressed commitment that the state would take initiative to protect the radio, which played crucial role to make the general people aware.
Similarly, Vice-Chairperson of Lumbini Province Planning Commission, Dr Nahakul KC, pointed out that radio should change their working style for its effectiveness in this era of information technology, saying radio has significant role in social empowerment and mainstream.
“There is a drastic change in communication sector after restoration of democracy. The role of radio in social empowerment is incomparable. A separate model for operation of community radio being away from political affiliation is necessary”, he underscored.
KC shared that Lumbini province government has forwarded different activities including accident insurance of media persons, establishment of Communication Registrar Off
ice.
Likewise, President of Federation of Nepali Journalists, Bipul Pokharel, laid emphasis that community radio should compete with media based on information technology and internet and to broadcast contents meeting the local’s expectation for their existence.
Chairperson of Advertisement Board, Laxman Humagain, mentioned that community radio could identify their targeted audiences, stressing that community radio should keep local contents in priority while Chairperson of ACORAB, Arjun Giri, said there should be exemption on import of radio equipment and royalty determined for radio.
Source: National News Agency Nepal