Media should focus more on people’s welfare (REPRODUCTION)
K.B. Lama, presently the editor of Bhutan Observer, has been in the media scene for the past 25 years. One of Bhutan’s first trained journalists, he talks to Bhutan Times on the role of the media, private in particular, post 2008. He also shares the lighter side of being part of Bhutan Observer.
Q. You have been in the media industry for a very long time. What has been your experience for the past 25 years?
A. Way back in the late 1970s, we used to type our stories on Remington and Godrej type writers and send them to the press for “composing” manually. Now with computers and desktop publishing, we have come a long way. And it has become so much easier.
I have been working in one form of media or the other for the past 25 years. But all of those years were not exclusively devoted to news reporting or editing a newspaper. I joined Kuensel sometime in the beginning of 1977 as a reporter. After some five years, I joined the erstwhile Development Communication Support Division of the then Department of Information as a video script writer.
When I was transferred to Bhutan Broadcasting Service, I was asked to set up the commercial division. It was a challenging but fulfilling job. Before I retired from BBS, I was heading the human resource division.
Q. After you retired from BBS in 2004, you had become an old farm boy looking after your orchard and cattle. How was the experience when you were suddenly called to start one of Bhutan’s private newspapers?
A. Having started my career as a reporter, I felt as if my life has come full circle when I was invited by the KMT management to be part of the team, along with Dasho Damchoe Lhendup and Sonam Kinga, to start Bhutan Observer.
Q.What kind of struggle has it been so far working with a private newspaper?
A. It has been an uphill task. Though Dasho Damchoe and I may claim to have come from journalism backgrounds, yet we were out of touch for so long, it was like starting all over again. Coupled with that, all our reporters were fresh graduates. It was more like giving classes on journalism rather than running a paper. Of course, Sonam’s literary background helped.
Q. What are some of the everyday newsroom obstacles you usually confront?
A. Basically trying to gather news and meet the deadlines. Though the private media had been launched with a big bang, yet people and government officials are still wary of talking to the media. Of course, there are people who talk, but they are people who would like to rest their gun on the media’s shoulder and take potshots at people whom they don’t like or disagree with.
Q. What kind of future do you see for Bhutan’s private media?
A. Well, the response from the people had been good to start with, though economically it is a challenge to meet targets. But I am confident that it will pick up as people realize the value and role of independent private media in the post 2008 period.
Q. What course have you charted for BO in the coming years?
A. Right now, I must say Bhutan Observer is still going through the teething stage. We are still in the process of training our reporters. In future, we are planning to open more bureaus in the regions and dzongkhags and streamline our printing and distribution.
Q. Given that both BO and BT are fledgling industries, is private media in Bhutan ready to cover issues relating to democracy in 2008?
A. The decision to establish private media was taken keeping in view the emerging political scenario on the eve of 2008 or post 2008 period. Therefore, to be in tune with the developments during that period, I think private media will have to grow up in a hurry. I feel the workshops on media, organized recently by the Ministry of Information & Communications and the Anti-Corruption Commission, are commendable as such workshops will help the media to develop and grow.
However, whether we are capable or not will be evident in 2008 for all to see. The role of the media will depend largely on the public, their feedback and their reactions to what they would like to read or not read. This demands a responsibility and maturity of the people, that we as the media will strive to fulfill.
Q. What do you think should be the focus of the Bhutanese media as we approach the first general elections?
A. I feel we should focus on issues that concern the welfare of the Bhutanese people, transcending all social, economic, political and personal interests. As I mentioned earlier, media’s responsibility will be to ensure that every Bhutanese has the knowledge and information necessary to make their decision.
Q. Should the government do more for the long term sustenance of the private media?
A. Yes, because government is the main source of advertisements as our private industrial base is small. But too much dependence may force us to toe its line. It is a catch 22 situation.
Q. How independent and accountable is the Bhutanese media?
A. I think our readers are not very impressed with our track records. I feel we should do more.
Q. What do you plan to do after you finally retire?
A. Perhaps, look after the grand children like most grand parents do. Pamper them and annoy their parents. Ha, ha, ha.
February 18,2007, Bhutan Times