Yellow Journalism and Media Ethics - YUWA Nepal

Yellow journalism is a term used for the use of inadvertent and glamorous newspaper reporting without regard to facts. Its history and development, its purpose in the media and its impact are discussed. This is the kind of journalism wherein the news is published without any proof. Yellow journalism is known as the ‘fake’ and ‘money making’ journalism. The main aim of Yellow Journalism is to gather  attention of people in the society. It is difficult to get the attention of the viewers without sentimentalization of news and so, yellow journalism is the impact of the attempt of the media to get popular among the mass audience.

Yellow Journalism is a way of publishing news in such a format that it attracts a good number of readers with an aim to increase the circulation of the newspaper. The phrase was coined in the 1890s to describe the tactics employed in the furious competition between two New York City newspapers. The history of this type of journalism was started in the USA and is also related to Joseph Pulitzer who published a paper called the ‘New York Sunday World’, which is also called the  ‘New York World’ and was very famous. The other major paper at the time was William Hearest’s ‘New York Journal’. They both published a colour cartoon called Yellow Kid at the time. Both newspapers began the practice of sensationalizing news for attention and profit inorder to compete with each other and as a result, the term ‘yellow journalism’ was coined to refer to such practices.

Yellow journalism itself attempts to warm up the audiences to a specific issue. The code of conduct and the ethics of professional journalism which asserts that the audience has the right to get objective and accurate information from mass media is not aligned with the motives of yellow journalism. It is present in all parts of the world and is being used more and more liberally by the media. This is causing a lot of problems as in the age of social media and instant communication, sensationalized news travel fast and actual news are not within reach of most people. The right to get information and the right to freedom in a regular and positive way must be respected by the media.

Accuracy, balance, credibility, effectiveness, fairness, truth, objectivity, honesty, independence, respect for the rights of others etc. must be followed by the media to conduct professional journalism. To avoid being sucked into yellow journalism, the Nepalese journalists and media houses should follow the code of conduct which was formulated by the Press Council of Nepal and the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Association of Nepal. Nepal must follow the social responsibility theory of the press for its further development. Media ethics is the way to uplift the social, economic, philosophical/moral and professionalism in the sector of journalism.

Ethics are important in Journalism because they create guidelines for journalists to help people be informed as also from feeling unequal or outcast. It also helps the journalists to maintain a sense of equality. Rules of conduct or principles of morality that point us towards the right or best way to act in a situation. Similarly, many international organizations; International Federation of Journalists, International Organization of Journalists, European Federation of Journalists, Society of Professional Journalists etc. are also working in the field of journalism to keep healthy and professional environment in the field of journalism.

Rebuilding the lost hopes

The persevering students in a school, so eager to learn and thrive, had to return back soaking wet because their school lacked a roof. Shree Dwarpaleshwor Secondary school situated in the rural Kavrepalanchowk had been running their daily classes in a temporary school where the students always feared their classes being blown away in the strong wind of the hills. It used to be a complicated decision for the parents: they feared the hindrance in their childrens' school lessons, but their soft hearts could not watch their children return back from school soaked in rain.

As of 20th January 2020, the happiness has returned back to the hearts and faces of the students, their parents and the teachers. With the support from 'Kids of Kathmandu' in collaboration with 'Sustainable Future', has constructed a 6-classroom building for the school. Prior to the construction of a second building, 'Sustainable Future' had already constructed a 5-classroom building; but since the rooms were not sufficient for all the students, the construction of a second building has evidently brought immense satisfaction and happiness to the school community.

The school has been constructed using the 'Rammed Earth Technology'. An environment-friendly construction technology does not only use sustainable local resources but has also depicted no compromises with the comfort of the students. Since the building remains warm during the harsh and windy winters and keeps the insides cool during hot summer days, the students have been presented with every important features in a classroom necessary to maintain their concentration during their class lessons.

Since the construction of the school building, the number of students has also increased by high tens. Some students even plan to enroll their friends in the school.

The school building which showed no motivation since the destruction after the 2015 earthquake, has relighted hopes in the hearts of the people in Mandandeupur Municipality.

Shree Dwarpaleshwor Secondary School
Mandandeupur Municipaity, Kavrepalanchowk

The World Between The Woods - Joshika Bhandari

Joshika  Bhandari presenting her story 

“ Mom takes these stuff away,” said Polly. Polly and her mom were cleaning her room. “ Sure dear, I will,” said Mom. It was late so they had their supper and went to bed. There was a dark circle in the room but she thought that because she was feeling sleepy, she was seeing that. So she quickly went to her bed. The next morning when she woke up she again saw the dark circle. She went closer to it and found it was a big hole. She was very curious about what was inside that hole. She asked her parents about it but they didn't know. She spent that day just thinking about it. The next day she couldn't hold herself so, she went inside the hole. She didn't know where the hole went.

The hole led the girl to an old science lab. Inside it was different kinds of rings. She wore it and vanished. For many days it was like a mystery for people as to where Polly went. She had a best friend named Evangelia. She went to her house and her room to look for clues to find her. At last, she saw that hole. As she was Polly’s best friend and was curious so she went inside that hole. “ Ah! What a dark hole. I bet Polly wore these rings.” Evangelia said. So, there she also wore the rings and got vanished. As they both vanished they came to the same place. 

Both of them were between the woods. There were more than fifty pounds in that forest. They both were curious about what was inside those ponds and jumped into it. They came out of the pond without being wet. Now they knew that every pond had a different world. So they went to every pond and enjoyed themselves. At last, only one pond was left. They jumped in the last pond and they found it very strange. It seemed that there was a big war going on. Nothing was left except a haunted castle. There was a big bell and a golden hammer. They both rang it and a tall beautiful lady statue came to life. She seemed to be kind and humble but she wasn't. They all came out of the woods again. 

The woman was a magician. She took the children to their original place. But they both found it very strange as they were in the future. The place was so beautiful and amazing that the woman wanted it as her kingdom. But the two children were not ready. They had an idea to get rid of the women. They led her to the science lab and showed her the magical rings. She wore all of them and then she vanished. The girls were happy now but wondered where the woman had vanished to.

*This story was presented as the final story for Katha Bunaun V, organized at Bhanubhakta Memorial Higher Secondary School. The story was also awarded as Best Story Award.

Prepared By: Joshika Bhandari

Facilitators: Monal Bhattarai and Sanskar Shrestha

Joshika Bhandari and her class with the facilitators

Canopy Nepal with a team of enthusiastic youths, is providing scholarships and interactive sessions and workshops to improve education system, little by little. The solutions provided by the experts are always implemented in our programs in the ways that fit them the best. 

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