KATHMANDU: In the past 15 days, the Press Council Nepal (PCN) has taken action against 31 YouTubers, both individual and corporate, for violating the Journalist Code of Conduct. The media regulatory body announced these measures in a press statement on Tuesday, indicating that the actions targeted YouTubers both registered and unregistered with the PCN.
The PCN addressed issues such as content that incites conflict, character assassination, and one-sided reporting. It specifically directed three YouTube channels, Hello TV Nepal Facebook Page, PNP Media, and Nagarik Patra YouTube Channel, to revise or remove content that breaches journalistic standards, and to provide clarifications within 24 hours. The council also addressed channels spreading misleading, indecent, and violent content.
Additionally, the PCN has requested the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau to investigate 28 YouTube channels that are not officially recognized as media but are still disseminating inappropriate content. The PCN noted that a total of 43 YouTubers were penalized in the last fiscal year for similar violations.
PCN President Bal Krishna Basnet stressed that the council is implementing guidelines to stop the dissemination of false and deceptive material, saying that social media needs to be utilized sensibly to promote the media industry rather than being abused. Particular standards have been set by the PCN for policing and disciplining YouTubers who violate the rules.
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