JAB executives and future
The new executive of JAB has taken over the reign to promote press freedom in Bhutan within weeks the association, through its publication, said Bhutan government is hindrance to press freedom in the country.
The new executive has a rough road to walk. With journalism industry dying, new JAB team not only has vital responsibility to enhance the freedom of the press but also to ensure the industry remains sustainable.
A popular TV anchor Dawa has won the battle for the top job of JAB beating tow other contestants while other executive members elected unopposed.
The first executives laid foundation for the organisation rather than pushing forward with their mission. And, the succeeding team would have the pleasure of receiving credits if the situation describe in the JAB report improve during the tenure.
The foremost task for JAB to pursue is to sit for dialogue with government to ensure private media do not continue to die. The government continue to ignore the importance of media in a democratic society. Tshering Tobgay despite being vocal in favour of government support during his tenure as Opposition Leader has shut his mouth. The bureaucratic discrimination against the private media continues to rule.
Dawa was once scapegoat of government’s intolerance towards media. He and BBS was warned to clarify why public questioned a minister during a live television show a few years back. But he too is hypocrite. He would run his show in English but stop public and the political candidate to speak in their language (refer the BBS debate in southern Bhutan during last year’s election).
While there could be hope Dawa and his team would work for freedom of press but certainly not for freedom of expression. The JAB team must inherit freedom of expression is not exceptionally for media persons but for general public too. JAB must rise above the South Asian culture to oppose only when journalists are not given right to speak.
Other major challenge JAB should shoulder is to promote professionalism, ethics and integrity in journalists. Very few current working journalists are academically journalist. Not only is there the need for journalism studies but skills upgrade and refreshment courses. This is essential to improve public perception that media and journalist are credible in Bhutan.
JAB should also work towards decentralising media. Thimphu shouldn’t be the city for media concentration. Cities like Trashigang, Phuenstholing, Gaylegphug are other major cities that need media presence.
Wishing all the best for new executives.