AAN denounces ‘Rs 3B missing’ claims as misleading

KATHMANDU: The Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN) has expressed serious concern over the news titled “Rs 3 Billion Missing in Government Advertising” recently published by Kantipur Daily, as well as the subsequent statement issued by Nepal Republic Media Ltd.

As a responsible professional body, the Association believes that such reports, which question transparency and ethics in the advertising sector, risk creating unnecessary confusion among the public and stakeholders.

The AAN wishes to clarify its official stance: there is no concrete data or legal basis to substantiate the claim of “Rs 3 billion missing” mentioned in the media.

Misinterpretation of government advertising allocation and payment procedures can tarnish the overall reputation of the advertising industry.

Media houses themselves are an integral part of the advertising market. While media organizations carry the vital responsibility of reporting misconduct based on verified facts, targeting other media houses or advertising agencies with unconfirmed allegations contradicts professional ethics and journalistic standards.

Such misleading reports undermine the trust that exists between advertisers, agencies, and media outlets, while also posing a risk to the sustainability of the advertising profession.

The Nepal Advertising Association remains committed to maintaining an organized, transparent, and ethical advertising market.

The AAN has long urged media houses to engage in advertising business only with registered, organizationally affiliated, and recognized firms.

Unverified claims like these unjustly malign the overall advertising sector, which is worth over Rs 25 billion.

Advertising remains the primary financial support for media outlets.

However, the absence of a scientific basis for ad rate determination in the economy has led to inconsistent pricing, threatening the financial stability and self-reliance of professional media organizations.

In response to such concerns, the AAN, in collaboration with Nepal Media Society, Media Alliance Nepal, and two other professional bodies, successfully established a business agreement last year to implement minimum advertising rates across media outlets—a fact well known within the industry.

The constitutional and legal framework provides appropriate channels to investigate irregularities.

Therefore, the unilateral dissemination of misleading information by media houses is regrettable.

The AAN sincerely appeals to all advertisers, agency operators, and stakeholders to refrain from following unverified reports.

The Association also requests media houses to ensure that all information is verified before publication, in line with professional ethics and journalistic responsibility.