Recognising the issue of sustainability in the local media houses, a new organisation called the Media Owners Association of Bhutan was formed this week through a consortium of 13 media houses, including print and radio.
Members of the association are the owners, chief executives and management representatives of the media houses.
A news release from the president of the association reads the objective of the association would be to look after the sustainability and financial issues concerning private media and media in general. It will also lobby for government policies to ensure a level playing field for the media.
There was a need, the release states, for the media houses to be sustainable so that it is able to fulfill its responsibility to perform its sacred responsibility in a young democracy.
Currently, the member media houses are Business Bhutan, Bhutan Today, Bhutan Times, The Bhutanese, Druk Melong, Druk Neytshul, Druk Yodzer, Gyalchi Sarshog, The Journalist, Bhutan Observer, Kuzoo FM, Radio Valley and Radio Yiga.
The association will also work with state owned media houses like Kuensel and BBS on issues affecting all Media Houses.
The news release goes on to say that it will not duplicate the specialised functions of the Journalists Association of Bhutan (JAB), which is dedicated to looking after the welfare of journalists.
A President, who has been elected for a three-year term, will represent the association.
The Editor-in-Chief of The Bhutanese and part owner of the paper, Tenzing Lamsang was unanimously elected as the first president of the association.
It was recognized that if the economic decline of media houses were not reversed, it would affect both the quality and content of Media, and as a result, ultimately lead to a less vibrant media.
The media owners association of Bhutan will also be registering as a Civil Society Organization.
According to the news release, the association seeks to meet at regular intervals to discuss important issues related to the media houses, and take necessary actions for the greater good of media houses and media in Bhutan.
