Kathmandu— Nepal’s Minister for Information and Communication, Dr. Bikram Timilsina, instructed relevant government bodies on August 20th to improve the transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of newspaper classification and the distribution of public welfare advertisements. The directive came following a discussion with officials from the Department of Information and Broadcasting (DOIB) and the Press Council Nepal, focusing on concerns about irregularities in ad allocation and reporting practices.

Concerns Raised During Discussion

The meeting addressed several specific issues plaguing the current system. These included instances of single owners or companies receiving multiple public welfare advertisements, discrepancies between reported circulation numbers and actual publications, and a lack of clear criteria for newspaper classification. Officials also noted inconsistencies between the number of papers claimed to be published and verified figures.

Classification Methodology

Participants explained that the current process for classifying newspapers relies on self-declarations from media houses alongside details provided in audit reports. These documents are used to determine the actual number of publications or circulation, but officials acknowledged the need for a more robust verification system.

Minister Timilsina concluded the discussion by instructing agencies to develop an effective system for accurately determining newspaper publication and distribution numbers, clarify the basis for classification, and ensure transparency and justification in the allocation of public welfare advertisements.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.