Nepal

A total 52 incidents of press freedom violations were recorded in 2023, while Freedom Forum’s annual media report shows the severe impact of the economic downturn on Nepali media.

Freedom Forum’s annual media report for 2022 states that in total 45 incidents of press freedom violations occurred in Nepal, and 120 journalists were directly affected. Compared to the previous year, the number of violations declined, but the number of affected journalists increased, which the report has noted is a worrying trend.

Freedom Forum published its annual World Press Freedom Day report which highlighted the attacks against journalists in Nepal over the past year.

This report analyzes 100 judgments on cybercrime cases made by local courts in Nepal.

Freedom Forum recorded a total of 96 press freedom violations during 2020. Although the number of violations declined slightly compared to the previous year (111 in 2019), the country still awaits an improvement in the press freedom atmosphere.

Media networks have faced closing operations, job losses, and a weakened watchdog role for independent media. This report details the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the state of media in Nepal.

Online media at receiving end; press freedom violation highest in seven years according to the 2019 report of Freedom Forum

Freedom Forum’s press freedom report from May 2018 to April 2019

Freedom Forum recorded a total of 98 press freedom violations that directly affected at least 223 journalists in 2018.

Freedom Forum’s report on increasing attacks against journalists who are covering political protests.

Reports by Freedom Forum published every three months show a gradual improvement in the statistics for women’s presence in the media.

According to a report, women were underrepresented in Nepali media with only 9% in bylines and 13% as news sources in 2,397 news stories.

Hostility against the press continues to rise.

Freedom Forum recorded a total of 66 press freedom violations during this passing year 2017, which is a sharp rise compared to the previous year, 2016. Only 25 incidents were recorded in 2016.

A report on gender content monitoring found only 6% of bylines were women.

According to Freedom Forum, anti-press incidents have declined in Nepal since April 2017 but the policy environment is still regressive.

Freedom Forum monitored FoE during the elections as it concerns citizens’ freedom of expression through the ballot box. Therefore, any action creating an unfavourable atmosphere for the elections is also a violation of freedom of expression.

This report presents the outcome of an assessment of women’s participation in the Nepali print media as news source, news actors and news reporters identified in bylines. Women’s participation is still meager vis a vis Nepali media content

Freedom Forum has issued a review of Nepal’s National Mass Communications Policy 2016. Among others, FF says the policy fails to articulate constitutional provisions relating to freedom of expression and mass communication. The policy, they said, also seems to promote centralided regulation, instead of self-regulation.

Freedom Forum observed a relatively peaceful atmosphere for the media this year (2016) with a significant decline in the number of press freedom violations. FF recorded only 25 incidents of press freedom violations during 2016 versus 83 in 2015.

The report features present FoE practices on internet in Nepal and analyses existing policy, laws and constitution affecting the practice of freedom of expression. It seeks to advance the debate on this topic, thereby augmenting digital rights to make democracy’s pillars more sustainable and more functional.

Numerous journalists were attacked in connection with their coverage of demonstrations and political unrest related to provisions in the new constitution.

Media under the chilling effect of political unrest

(*The As the world is marking World Press Freedom Day today (May 3, 2015), Nepali media is grief-stricken, mourning over the deaths of thousands of Nepalis with slim hopes of finding anyone alive nine days after the destructive earthquake. Freedom Forum normally marks this day with the production of a report on press freedom across the country and other programs. But, this time, this report on ‘media in a disaster’ is unavoidable.

Ranked 118th in annual global media freedom report

Journalists reporting on corruption were prone to more threats in 2014, Freedom Forum found

There has been some improvement in the state of press freedom, reports Freedom Forum. At the same, the State’s strict vigilance of new media is disappointing

The 100-page report shows that Tibetan refugee communities in Nepal are now facing a de facto ban on political protests, sharp restrictions on public activities promoting Tibetan culture and religion, and routine abuses by Nepali security forces.

“Journalists face threats and intimidation amid a tense political climate”

Ranked 120th in annual press freedom index

Disability rights activists excluded from political process

Ranked 126th in annual global media freedom report

Authorities detain Tibetan and Nepali monks and pressure them to sign pledges not to participate in future protests

“Nepal is among the worst nations worldwide in combating impunity”

Journalists are “regularly subjected to threats from rival political groups and their supporters”