It has been almost a year since the earthquake in Jajarkot. On the night of Kartik 17, thousands of people lost their lives, many were injured, and thousands of structures were destroyed. Although the rescue and relief operations immediately following the earthquake in Jajarkot were relatively well-managed, the rehabilitation efforts have not progressed as they should have. Rehabilitation work is still ongoing, and the earthquake-affected people of Jajarkot are still waiting for swift and effective reconstruction. Meanwhile, summer has come and gone, the monsoon has arrived, and now the winter’s cold wave is likely to intensify. Despite facing all these weather challenges, the earthquake victims remain in difficult and complex circumstances.
During this time, from the onset of the earthquake in Jajarkot until now, journalists from Jajarkot, Rukum, and other areas of Karnali Province have played a crucial role through their relentless journalism. This media episode is an interaction focusing on how journalism was conducted at both the local and national levels during the disaster, how the disaster was prioritized, and how effective disaster journalism can be executerfd. In this program, journalists and media leaders from Jajarkot and Rukum West participated. They shared their experiences regarding the Jajarkot earthquake, the challenges faced in journalism, and how effective journalism can be improved in the future.
In the program “Talk of the Town,” while discussing the situation of relief, rescue, and reconstruction one year after the Jajarkot earthquake, BhimrajOli, Chairman of the Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations, Rukum (West), stated, “We have managed to get through one winter, but it seems we will have to endure another because no standards have been provided by the local government for house reconstruction. There is fear that the local authority may not recognize the houses we build on our own, which has made reconstruction impossible.”
In the program, Laxman K.C., President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Rukum (West), explained the role of the Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations and the media since the earthquake on Kartik 17. He said, “When the earthquake affected the general public in Rukum (West), journalists were not exempt from it. We too became victims; our media outlets were also affected. The first task of the Journalist Federation, immediately after the incident, was to coordinate with other journalists and the Chief District Officer to ensure comprehensive reporting. Journalists on the ground were coordinated with, and information related to the event was disseminated. They also participated in search and rescue efforts alongside the affected families. The next day, after information about the number of casualties began circulating on various social media platforms, people started questioning the media. How many people died? What was the extent of the damage? What is the reality? In response to such questions, we deployed local journalists from radios, online platforms, and newspapers to the more severely affected areas to collect accurate information. Ultimately, the information from the police and other relevant authorities had to be verified, but during that disaster, it was extremely challenging to justify the information. The disaster reporting portal created by the state faced issues, and without proper data entry, there were challenges in communication and coordination, leading to discrepancies in the data.
Pawan Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Jajarkot, shared, “It was initially difficult to start reporting as the media agencies were also damaged. First, we were involved in rescue efforts, and only after that did we begin reporting. To prevent the spread of false data, our Journalist Federation created a group where all media members shared accurate information. For two days, we worked without food while reporting. Some of our colleagues were buried under debris, and some of their family members were also affected. Despite these challenges, we continued to report. There are five community radios in Jajarkot. Among them, Nalagad FM was completely destroyed, and Community Radio Khalanga was partially damaged. They are still not operational. Jajarkot FM and Khalanga FM have been running from the same room for the past year. So far, we have not received any support from the government, local authorities, or security agencies.”
Sharing her experience, Ms. Lila Poudel, Station Manager of Hamro Paila F.M. Rukum West, said, “It is as easy to teach others in times of crisis as it is difficult to endure and act when it happens to oneself. Making decisions about what to do and how to proceed becomes challenging, and it brings mental stress. Right after the earthquake, it was difficult to go live or conduct a program due to the lack of suitable infrastructure for the radio. Great attention was given to avoiding the spread of false information and ensuring accurate information dissemination, with all media working in unison to prevent the dissemination of misleading or deceptive news.”
This interaction program was followed by an open floor discussion where many journalists shared their opinions throughout the session. Similarly, Deep Bahadur Gharti, Journalist, Digital Online Communication Jajarkot, mentioned, “All sorts of media have been affected by the earthquake. Significant accessories including laptops, the internet, cameras, and more were completely damaged. We assisted the government and relevant bodies through the media, but I express my complaint that the media has still not received any support from anyone.”
Discussing the challenges, problems, and difficulties faced by local media, Mr. Amarraj Pun, Journalist at Nepal Television, Rukum West, said, “I am also an earthquake victim. There was significant human loss in Aathbiskot Municipality and Sani Bhari of Rukum West. Among these, the most human loss occurred in wards 13-14 of Aathbiskot Municipality.” During the disaster, he noted that he and his fellow journalists from neighboring districts focused on active and field-based reporting. He mentioned that there was no prior practice of quickly and effectively disseminating information or reporting during disasters, and that this disaster served as the first lesson in conducting journalism in such situations. Despite the difficulties, he stated that he worked diligently in the field to the best of his ability.
Gopal Regmi, Vice-Chair of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Rukum West, stated that there is a lack of financial resources for media operations and urged NGOs, INGOs, and UN organizations to invest in the media.
Raju Lamichhane, a journalist at Gorkhapatra National Daily, Rukum West, mentioned the sensitivity inherent in the profession. He expressed his complaint about the pressure to deliver news quickly and accurately, while there is no agency to look after the condition of one’s family or the associated risks. He said that when he begins to take care of his family, he fears that his profession may be endangered and overlooked.
Pravin Lotel, a journalist at Himalaya Television, Rukum West, reported that many media organizations have closed down and are in a fragile state since the COVID-19 period up to the recent earthquake. As a result, he believes that a budget needs to be allocated for the media, and that the federal and provincial governments should also make arrangements for public welfare. He stated that there is a need for programs at both national and international levels for media empowerment and capacity building.
Megaraj Khadka, Director and Editor-in-Chief of Aaha Sanchar Weekly, Rukum West, emphasized that many challenges have arisen due to the lack of institutional development in the media and stressed the need for such development to occur.
Ganesh Baniya, a journalist from Image Television, stated that in both Rukum and Jajarkot, while discussing the work of journalists, there is a lack of resources, tools, time, and a conducive environment to conduct follow-up studies, in-depth studies, and reporting on the news related to the earthquake, rescue efforts, relief, and early rehabilitation. He mentioned that such studies are essential to accelerate and improve rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, press for better relief measures, and examine the status of livelihoods, housing, and mental health issues.
Ms. Lila Poudel, Station Manager of Hamro Paila F.M. Rukum West, mentioned that her radio program focuses on topics such as human loss, psychosocial counseling, mental health issues, difficulties in making a living, and whether or not there are problems related to health, education, drinking water, and sanitation while people are living in temporary shelters. She added that the concerns and challenges of the affected individuals are also given priority.
Pawan Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, stated that three days after the earthquake, the radio was brought back into operation. One week after resuming broadcasts, a program titled “Jeevan Raksha” (Life Saving) was launched across all community radios in Jajarkot and Rukum. Through this program, live reporting and interviews were conducted every day for a month, featuring different individuals from various organizations and sectors.
Laxman KC, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, stated that to make the media’s role effective—from risk reduction, management, and disaster preparedness to reconstruction—it is necessary to revise and adopt the knowledge and lessons learned. He emphasized that media structures should be built in accordance with the provisions, and there should be a strong focus on developing the capacity of journalists. He expressed great hope for overcoming these challenges by conducting campaigns in collaboration with the NGO Federation and the Federation of Nepali Journalists. He also committed to conducting campaigns collectively.
Gopal Regmi, Vice President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, mentioned that cooperation on such issues can be achieved through various means by working together between the media and development partners.
Speaking about the role of media during disasters, Mr. Atmaram Neupane, Project Analyst at the United Nations Population Fund, emphasized the need to adopt a survivor-friendly approach in disaster response. He stated that while disseminating information, the “Do No Harm” principle should be followed, ensuring that the affected are not placed in further danger and that their information is kept confidential as much as possible. He also highlighted the importance of incorporating issues such as gender-based violence and human trafficking into disaster communication, both before and during disaster phases. Additionally, he requested that information about life-saving services, especially related to sexual and reproductive health and the prevention of gender-based violence, be included.
Simrika Sharma, National Information Officer at the United Nations, Nepal, stated that the UN is positive about collaborating with the NGO Federation and that the Federation of Nepali Journalists is open to cooperation if journalists at the local level propose and express a desire for institutional collaboration. She also committed to prioritizing local-level journalism, fostering partnerships, conducting capacity-building programs for journalists, and providing moral, physical/infrastructural, and technical support to local journalists as needed.