It was stimulating to read the discussion in your paper about the ongoing media war in Nepal. It seems all your contributors in #182 were open to the option of foreign media in Nepal. It is true that there has been a phenomenal growth in the private media since 1990. But has it really benefited our society? There has been a lack of serious discussion about grave topics like education and health. All the private media is doing now is covering superficial and sensational issues that make readers happy. If we take the notion that people make up their minds after reading the papers, then what is the result? They have become hopeless and cynical about the future. If we blame political parties, the king and the Maoists for the current state of the country, shouldn't media also take responsibility? On top of this, what private media is doing right now is fighting with each other for money and market share when the country is in such a grave situation.

We should look at media (swadeshi or bideshi), which has forgotten that it has a public service role. They are not here just to make money and construct big buildings for themselves.

Brajesh Gautam,
Kathmandu