National broadcasting policy

THE national broadcasting policy (NBP) is set to be placed for approval at the cabinet next month. This is a matter of serious national importance as it is a pointer as to how the flow of information is maintained in democracy. As such, before taking a final shape, the draft policy on broadcasting demands sufficient public debate to ensure that it is time-befitting and meeting the need of all stakeholders, and whether there is indeed need for a policy at all.We are not aware if the government has allowed such open discussion among various stakeholders. In this context, the information minister’s assurance that the NBP to be approved by the cabinet would ensure desired development of mass media and protect public interest doesn’t sound convincing.But what we see in actual practice is antithetical to what the government is promising. For the public are still in the dark about what the draft NBP ready for cabinet approval actually contains. They do not know if it is going to curtail or increase media freedom.It would be ill-advised if the government pushes through the NBR in a slapdash manner at the fag end of its present tenure. It has to be ensured that the NBP does not impinge on the press freedom keeping an eye on the fine line between the rights and obligations of the stakeholders.So, to avoid the risk of creating another black law, the government must invite open discussion among all stakeholders before sending the draft broadcasting policy to the cabinet for approval.