KATHMANDU: Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), the National News Agency, has started two-day training on visual journalism from today.

In the training, RSS executive chairman Dharmendra Jha will make a presentation on ‘From Print to Digital: Technology-impacted Journalism’, deputy general manager Raju Shakya on ‘Visual Journalism and RSS’ and RSS’ chief videographer Bishnu Kalpit on ‘Visual Journalism and Television Script Structure’.

Similarly, Advertisement Board chairman Laxman Humagain will make a presentation on ‘Visual Journalism and Digital Platform’, Nepal Television general manager Phulman Bal on ‘Importance of Language-Style in Visual Journalism and Script Writing Concepts’ and journalist and media trainer Maha Prasad Lamichhane on ‘Topics to Pay Attention in Use of Equipment in the Context of Visual Journalism’.

Inaugurating the training, Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Dr Baikuntha Aryal suggested RSS to give special attention to aspects like content, presentation, time factors, quality, dissemination, use of technology and feedback from audience and subscribers as it starts visual service. “RSS needs to reorient itself along with the video service and it should adopt the rapid development in technology to enhance its credibility,” Secretary Aryal said.

Executive chair Jha said that the news agency’s visual service would be developed as the leading service. “The visual service is targeted for the online. RSS will adopt the information technology and it would be moved ahead as a prompt and credible service,” he added.

Advertisement Board chairperson Laxman Humagain urged the RSS to move ahead the visual service as per the aspirations of its subscribers.
RSS general manager Siddharaj Rai said issues like effectiveness of the RSS’ visual service, its challenges, language and style and use of technology would be discussed in course of the training.

RSS started its visual service on the request of the television channels and online media in operation in the country at present and it has been producing the visual contents and distributing them from its studio based at the RSS central office.

The news agency has also prepared a ‘Visual Service Operation Guidelines-2079’. It is producing visual clips on political, economic, social, cultural and relevant topics and events, and providing them especially to television and online media.

RSS officially launched its visual service since July 17, 2022, in line with its policy of diversifying its news services. It is being run on a trial basis presently.

Established on February 18, 1962, the country’s only state news agency has been providing the Nepali news, international news, English news, feature news, national and international photos and audio clips along with its new addition visual service.

RSS