The disappearance of the fourth power

Nepal has made significant progress in press freedom internationally, ranking 74th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global media watchdog, Nepal has outperformed other South Asian countries in terms of political, economic, legislative and social indicators. This indicates a more hospitable environment for journalists and media workers than that of their neighbors. The rest of South Asia, RSF notes, face serious challenges to media freedom, including political pressure and censorship, which led to a drop in their ranking in 2024.

Concerned media in Nepal, however, did not notice such dramatic progress. This is evident given the country’s challenges in promoting press freedom, especially post-Covid-19. The past three years have seen an increase in press freedom violations, legal obstacles and a decline in the effectiveness of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) as a watchdog. Nepal also lags behind the Maldives and Bhutan in the safety of media workers. In addition, the country scored 109 on the Security Index, which indicates security issues that affect journalists’ ability to report freely.

Cases of violations have increased

FNJ records show a slight increase in press freedom violations in 2024, reaching 60 incidents, compared to 58 and 53 in 2023 and 2022, respectively. These violations include threats and insults (25), professional insecurity (16), physical attacks (11), obstruction (4), arrests (3) and the death of a journalist. The brutal attack and eventual death of Suresh Bhul on November 10, 2024 in Dhangad was the first case of a journalist being killed since 2009. The motives behind the attack remain unclear, so it is not known whether the incident was related to press freedom issues. .

Similarly, FNJ reported 25 cases of threats and intimidation of journalists over their reporting, mostly involving political figures in online and offline contexts.

A famous incident related to the mayor of the underground city of Dharan, Garka Sampang, who threatened journalist Gopal Dahal after he published a report on his arbitrariness on December 1. Mayor Sampang vowed to tarnish Dahal’s reputation and humiliate him. Journalist Ramesh Karki also faced severe online harassment in March after publishing a report on local government corruption. Several journalists across the country reported receiving threats because individuals from various sectors found their reporting objectionable.

Challenging legal issues

Various legal and political issues have also affected press freedom in Nepal in 2024. Parliament passed the Public Broadcasting Act (PSB), creating a historic broadcasting agency through the merger of Radio Nepal and Nepal Television. This could be a significant step towards the professional growth of the state media in the country. However, certain provisions, such as the proposed structure and lack of autonomy characterized by potential political interference, threaten the authenticity of the PSB agency.

The government, which had banned TikTok at the end of 2023 citing that it threatened social harmony, lifted the ban last August. However, there was no consistent policy to combat misinformation and misinformation on other social media platforms. In March, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed Chief District Officers (CDOs) to take action against online news portals and social media platforms that spread information. This directive was met with significant backlash from civil society and media organizations, which eventually led to its withdrawal.

Due to stakeholder concerns, the government has also suspended several bills, including the Media Council Bill and the Information Technology Bill. These bills contain provisions that could seriously affect media freedom, putting journalists and media organizations at risk.

Bolonka or watchdog?

In 2024, the FNJ faced significant turbulence when the election date was repeatedly postponed. This led to the resignation of FNJ president Bipul Pokharel and acting president Ramesh Bista. Delays in the FNJ elections led to political divisions among journalists, further damaging the organization’s reputation as a media watchdog.

When the election finally took place in December, Nirmala Sharma became the first woman to lead the organization. However, her victory was overshadowed by controversies surrounding the coalition between the Press Union and Press Chautari Nepal, affiliates of the ruling government parties. The alliance guaranteed that their candidates would fill key local, provincial and national positions. The direct involvement of ruling political parties in helping candidates win from their coalition has led to widespread skepticism about the FNJ’s future role as a bellwether rather than a watchdog.

As a result, public trust in the FNJ has declined, and many are concerned about whether the newly elected leadership will be able to uphold the organization’s mission to protect press freedom and act as a fourth estate.

The way forward

Nepal needs a comprehensive strategy to create a free and independent media environment. Stakeholders from relevant sectors, including governmental and non-governmental organizations, should work together to protect journalists from harassment, threats and intimidation both online and offline.

The government should prioritize political reforms to curb political interference in media functions. To restore lost trust, FNJ must adopt democratic practices, prioritizing transparency in every action. It is time for the nation to create an enabling environment for press freedom that will allow journalists to serve as true watchdogs of democracy.