Kathmandu, July 27: Macon
Phillips, coordinator for the Bureau of International Information Programs at
the United States Department of State, Wednesday said that the role of media
during the elections was to make sure that the people were well informed.
“The media should not forget the
foundation of independent journalism. Only responsible media can strengthen
democracy,” Phillips remarked during an interaction with the journalists in the
capital.
He said that a large number of
people still either didn’t care much about the electoral process or didn’t know
about various dimensions of election.
He criticized the funding of
political parties in the media and said that such funding would make media less
responsible to the society.
Phillips commented that the
institutions, including political parties and media were losing their
credibility, therefore to make the election campaign more effective interpersonal
communication should be applied.
“People to people contact and
reaching to more people through opinion leaders will be effective,” suggested
the former special assistant to the President Barack Obama and director of his
Digital Strategy.
Phillips also had run the new
media program for the Presidential Transition Team and served as the deputy
director of the Obama campaign’s New Media Department.
He promised the US assistance to Nepal in holding free and fair
elections.
The programme was organized by the
International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
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