New Business Age Chairman Madan Lamsal Elected President of Nepal Media Society

Madan Lamsal, Chairman of New Business Age Ltd., has been elected President of Nepal Media Society, an umbrella organisation of Nepal’s leading print, television, radio, and digital media platforms.

The Society’s 22nd Annual General Meeting, held in Kathmandu on Friday, August 1, elected a new executive committee for a four-year term (2082–2085 BS). The meeting also issued a strong seven-point declaration calling for reforms in government advertising policy, media regulation, and the protection of press freedom.

Dharma Raj Bhusal (Himalaya TV) and Mahesh Swar (Kantipur Media Group) were elected Vice Presidents, while Bodhraj Tripathi (Sourya Daily) was appointed General Secretary. Other office bearers include Secretary Nawaraj Kunwar (Butwal Today), Treasurer Janak Pant (TV Today), and members Dr Bal Krishna Chapagain (Dainik Patra Daily), Nikita Poudel (Gopikrishna TV Filmy), Binod Poudel (Mission Today), Surendra Bahadur Singh (Gaurishankar TV), and Rajan Pokhrel (The Himalayan Times).

The Society also named two of its founding figures—Kailash Sirohiya of Kantipur Media Group and Captain Rameshwar Thapa of Annapurna Media Network—as members of its advisory committee. In his remarks at the event, Sirohiya congratulated the new leadership and reflected on the organisation’s founding goals.

Society Issues Call for Media-Friendly Policy Reform

In its Kathmandu Declaration, the Society expressed concern over growing pressures on Nepal’s media despite the country’s transition to a federal democratic republic. The declaration warned that journalists and media houses continue to face criminal charges—often under cybercrime laws—for carrying out their constitutionally protected duties.

“The government must stop actions that violate the spirit of Nepal’s Constitution and international norms of press freedom,” the Society said in a statement.

It also criticised the continued use of public funds to support state-run media, despite the government’s broader policy of privatisation. It called for a level playing field in government advertising, urging that media policies align with constitutional guarantees of press freedom and market fairness.

The proposed Media Council Bill also drew scrutiny. The Society described it as a “coercive mechanism” rather than a framework for media development and urged lawmakers to first establish a comprehensive umbrella law for the media sector before introducing additional regulations.

Consumer Rights, Social Media, and Foreign Ad Outflows

The declaration further called for mandatory advertising provisions to inform consumers about goods and services. It proposed that domestic firms allocate 3–5% of their total sales revenue for public communication through mass media. For imported products—such as electronics, clothing, packaged foods, and beverages—the Society recommended that importers or brand owners spend 5–7% of the import value on advertising through local media channels.

“Goods sold in Nepal should be promoted through local broadcasters,” the Society said, framing the provision as a matter of natural justice.

Raising concerns over the rise of misinformation, the Society said disinformation on social media was undermining democratic discourse. It warned that government attention had shifted from addressing this crisis to suppressing dissent.

The group also highlighted the large-scale outflow of advertising revenue through foreign digital platforms, warning that it was eroding Nepal’s tax base. It called on the government to take immediate action and adopt clear, lawful mechanisms to address the issue.

The Society urged all media outlets to uphold ethical standards in advertising, recommending the adoption of a code of conduct that ensures transparency and minimum rate practices to curb unhealthy competition in the media industry.