Scandal, Journalism Ethics, BBC and Nayapatrika

bbc_news link The Namrata Shrestha sex scandal has created a huge impact not only in Nepalese film industry but also started debate on ethics in journalism. BBC Nepali aired a program “Nepal Samdarva” (sorry, the audio link is removed from BBC)  in which Rabindra Mishra questioned on the ethics of Nepali journalist to bring out the news to general public. Mishra called upon the editor of Nayapatrika Dainik, Krishna Jwala Devkota, and Journalism Professor, P. Kharel, to talk on the issue. Kharel says that the video is personal and it should haven’t have been a news but Krishna defended on being it a public news.

Till date, it is not known who released the tape in YouTube. Internet, by its vary nature is ruthless in distributing content around the world. In a matter of hours the video was distributed all around the world like a wild fire. Some noted newspapers like Kantipur, Nagariknews didn’t thought it newsworthy (however they featured articles on the subject, later). But others like Dainikee, Nayapatrika wrote front page articles on their issues. This shows division on mainstream journalist on prioritizing news for publication. Some thought it a personal matter and others consider it a public concern. We first thought that it was an attempt to defame the artist but it later turned out to be the real Namarta. It shouldn’t have been released in internet in the first place… once it is out one can’t control it. Turning a blind eye on it might even backfire. People should be given an opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes.

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