Journalist union and its challenges
After years of tussle, the young media industry members in Bhutan finally got their trade unions. The Journalist Association of Bhutan (JAB) previously initiated by Gopilal Acharya has formally received new leadership on Tuesday.
Pasang Dorji of The Bhutanese, a daily scheduled to be launched in later this month, secured president seat. Tenzing Lamsang of the same paper, who is much appreciated for his bold reporting on sensitive issues of corruption, received only 10 votes against Dorji securing 51.
Other members elected to the steering committee include Tenzin Rigden (consultant of The Journalist), Tenzing Lamsang (CEO – The Bhutanese), Sonam Pelden (Kuensel), Dawa (BBS), Kuenga Dorji (Radio valley) and Kelzang Thinley (Radio Waves).
The managing editor of Business Bhutan, Kinley Tshering, has been elected as the general secretary and Chhundu Tshering of Druk Neytshuel as treasurer.
As young industry, the media professionals in this force will have immense but sensitive responsibility to play. A large number of issues have remained piled up due to absence of any media activism. The world will see if the new team will play constructive and dynamic role in promoting freedom of expression, right to information and strengthening democracy.
The scribes grew in a society that remained isolated for years under the autocratic regime where speaking against bad deeds of the government and government officials is treated as treason. This will obviously influence their thought and actions in promoting media freedom.
Their involvement in amending draft advertising policy is vital to ensure sound development of the industry. Unless its core contents are changed before implementation, the emerging industry is likely to die.
The new industry has also faced challenges in coping with continued but compulsory publication of Dzongkha version of newspapers, which has been the burden for all print publications.
There are more issues. Will continue it.