Condition of Nepali journalists after the 2008 Constituent Assembly Election

Abstract

Media professionals in Nepal faced a wide range of threats in recent decades, as a result of the political conflicts among the ruling Communist Party (Maoists) and other interest groups. After the 14-year civil war and the revolution against the King in 2006, the leading political groups in Nepal reached an agreement on establishing a parliamentary system. In April 2008, a Constituent Assembly election was held and an interim constitution was introduced. The Interim Constitution protects the freedom of news and communication. This paper studies the condition of journalists after the 2008 Constituent Assembly election in Nepal. In-depth interviews were conducted with journalists working for popular national newspapers, online news organizations, and commercial television networks. The findings suggest that, despite the written protection of media freedom in the Interim Constitution, implementation of the protected rights remains a mission hardly accomplished. The situation is slightly better in the capital city than it is in other parts of the country. However, journalists nationwide still face threats and assaults as a result of what they report. Pressure comes from different levels, ranging from minority groups, armed forces, and even media owners. The government plays a weak role in providing security service to journalists.