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🇳🇵 Nepal /Culture & Society

Nepal leads South Asia in press freedom, but domestic challenges mount

From Kathmandu Post · (5m ago) English Mixed tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Nepal ranks highest in South Asia for press freedom according to Reporters Without Borders, but domestic realities show a tightening grip on journalism.
  • The country's press freedom index score is 87th out of 180 nations, a stark contrast to neighboring countries like India and Pakistan.
  • Despite the positive ranking, journalists face increasing violations, including intimidation, attacks, and arrests, particularly during recent protests.

While the latest World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders offers a glimmer of hope, placing Nepal at the top of South Asia's rankings, the reality on the ground paints a far more concerning picture for journalists.

On paper, Nepal is doing better than most of its neighbours. In practice, the space for journalism is tightening.

This quote sets the tone for the article, highlighting the discrepancy between Nepal's press freedom ranking and the actual situation for journalists.

On paper, Nepal's position at 87th out of 180 countries might suggest a healthy environment for the press. However, this statistic belies the escalating threats and violations faced by media professionals daily. Data from the Federation of Nepali Journalists reveals a disturbing trend, with 131 incidents of press freedom violations in the past year alone, ranging from intimidation to physical assaults and even suspicious deaths.

The gap between global perception and domestic reality is becoming harder to ignore.

This emphasizes the disconnect between Nepal's international press freedom standing and the daily challenges faced by journalists.

The recent Gen Z protests in September 2025 starkly illustrated this precarious situation. Within two days, 26 separate violations were recorded, affecting over 100 journalists. Media houses were attacked, looted, and set ablaze, with several journalists injured by gunfire. This highlights a dangerous pattern where journalists are caught in the crossfire of civil unrest, suffering both physical and financial losses.

Data from the Federation of Nepali Journalists show 131 incidents of press freedom violations in the past year alone.

This statistic underscores the severity of press freedom issues within Nepal.

Furthermore, the problem is not confined to the capital. Regional outlets and even a district office of the journalists' federation have faced vandalism, indicating a widespread vulnerability. Digital journalists, especially women, are increasingly targeted with cyberbullying and harassment. This gap between international perception and domestic reality is a critical issue that demands urgent attention.

Journalists were caught between protesters and security forces, exposing a recurring pattern in Nepal’s unrest.

This explains the dangerous position journalists often find themselves in during periods of civil unrest.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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