Background:

National Media Development Center (NMDC) a membership based NGO has been established in February 2007 to help build the capacities of the provincial media in Nepal and other developing countries. The establishment of the NMDC is the result of a series of discussions with many journalists in different districts of Nepal. During these consultations we came to the conclusion that the capacity of the independent provincial media have to be raised in order to safeguard democracy, human rights and social development in Nepal.

NMDC is fully dedicated to the establishment and promotion of a free media as the foundation of democracy and pluralism. We thrust that an independent and financially sustainable and professionally strong media can create a well-informed citizenry.

Mission:

National Media Development Center has identified as its mission:

• To promote and strengthen the district media;
• To maintain constant vigilance in protecting the democratic system and rule of law, Human rights and guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press;
• Strengthen the local media through capacity building and financial sustainability schemes;
• To stimulate and motivate high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism;
• To encourage local journalists to establish media in the district where no media exist or are able to survive;
• To be the pre-eminent national center with the membership of district journalists;
• To help all citizens including ethnic, Dalit and marginalized people acquire dignity, and rights through promotion of the local media.

Five main working areas:

§  Media Management Training,

§  Good Journalism Training, ( Health & Civic Journalism regional and Basic remotest district focused)

§  Media Exposure Training,

§  Media Publication and Research, and

§   Media Dialogue Workshop

Health Journalism Major Component:

NMDC is the pioneer in providing Health Journalism Training focused on RH. Training opened the eyes of the journalists to identify different public health issues that were unnoticed before. Quality, verified information and coverage in local and national media increased and response to the news from health institutions started. The journalists who were not publishing health news started to publish and broadcast twice in a week. Women listening the news broadcasted from FM radio went to the nearby health centers and hospitals for treatment.  Since December 2007, it provided training to 271 mid career journalists including 126 women.

Health Journalism Feature Bulletin Publication, Health News impact analysis, Fellowship Award on Health Journalism to trainee Journalists are our regular activities in Health Journalism.

It is focusing on Rural Health Journalism Promotion in Nepal...

Rural Media Empowerment:

NMDC differs to others, as we reach on the spot and provide skill and monitor the impact if it brought any changes to the journalists and the society. We have proved it and changes are measurable. Rural media empowerment is the nerve of NMDC, for this it has provided Rural Focused Basic Journalism Training  to 199  journalists on Civic and Basic Journalism in the remotest districts such as  Dadeldhura, Pyuthan, Myagdi, Parbat,  Rukum, Nuwakot, Udayapur etc.

Similarly, it has provided Civic Journalism Training to 145 Journalists.

National and International Level Media Dialogue, Research and Publications are NMDC''''''''s other activities. …