The 22nd annual general meeting of the Nepal Media Society concluded on Friday in Kathmandu. The meeting issued a seven-point declaration and unanimously elected a new executive committee for a four-year term.

The meeting selected Madan Lamsal of Arthik Abhiyan as president as Shubha Shankar Kandel of ABC TV completes his term. Dharma Raj Bhusal (Himalaya TV) and Mahesh Swar (Kantipur Media Group) were elected vice presidents.

Bodharaj Tripathi (Sourya Daily) was chosen as general secretary, with Nawaraj Kunwar (Butwal Today Daily) as secretary and Janak Pant (TV Today) as treasurer.

The meeting elected other members including Bal Krishna Chapagain (Dainik Patra Daily), Nikita Poudel (Gopi Krishna TV Filmy), Binod Paudel (Mission Today), Surendra Bahadur Singh (Gaurishankar TV), and Rajan Pokhrel (The Himalayan Times).

The meeting also named founding president Kailash Sirohiya, who is chairman of the Kantipur Media Group, and Captain Rameshwar Thapa of Annapurna Media Network as advisors.

While congratulating the newly elected team, KMG chair Sirohiya reflected on the society’s achievements since its founding as an independent, inclusive, and non-profit media platform.

The declaration calls for an end to criminal charges and cyber law misuse against journalists exercising constitutionally guaranteed press freedom, criticises the government’s bias in media funding and urges equal access to state advertisements and denounces the proposed Media Council Bill as a control mechanism and urges lawmakers to prioritise an overarching media law that respects self-regulation and democratic values.

The declaration also underscored the need for media organisations to implement minimum rates and transparent codes of conduct to curb unhealthy competition in the advertising market.

The Society is a non-profit private organisation established in 2003 as the umbrella organisation of Nepal’s major print, television, radio and digital media platforms. It brings media owners together with an objective to promote and share best business and operating practices, the organisation says.