KATHMANDU: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) Chairman Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal has stressed the need to develop a culture of disseminating truthful, factual and credible news rather than disseminating news quickly in the digital age.

Addressing the award ceremony organized by the National Online Journalist Association here today, Chairman Agrawal said that online journalism is an important medium to inform the citizens, strengthen democracy and make the government accountable.

Stating that truth, credibility, impartiality and public accountability lay in the real power of journalism, he said misleading information, unhealthy competition for clicks and views and economic and professional security of journalists have further challenged the credibility of journalism.

Agrawal said that while artificial intelligence (AI) can facilitate news collection, analysis and dissemination, it cannot replace the wisdom, ethics and human sensitivity of journalists. He said that along with the use of technology, priority should be given to fact-checking, digital literacy and professional ethics.

Stating that the role of media was important in economic development, he insisted on constructive collaboration between media and private sector for investment promotion, entrepreneurship, job creation and boosting the morale of private sector.

“Responsible journalism and responsible private sector are not competitors of each other, they are partners of good governance and prosperity,” he asserted.

He stressed that the media should highlight the problems, possibilities, innovation and success stories of industry, trade, tourism, agriculture, energy, information technology and small and medium enterprises in a factual manner. He also said that the media should keep an impartial eye on the weaknesses, irregularities of the private sector and the issues related to consumers.

Stating that there is a need for professional safety and a respectful work environment for journalists, Agrawal said that journalists should be able to carry out their responsibilities without fear, pressure or temptation. He said that media organizations should provide journalists with proper remuneration, social security and capacity development opportunities.

Promotion of professional journalism, digital capacity enhancement including AI and data journalism, economic sustainability of online media, protection of journalists’ rights, solution-oriented journalism and expansion of collaboration with private sector are the need of the hour, he said.

“News should not only be fast, it should be true; Opinions should not only be independent, they should also be responsible and technology should not only be modern but also sensitive to humanity and morality,” Agarwal said.