Contribution Of TRN In Sports Journalism

The Rising Nepal, the foremost English-language daily broadsheet in the nation, has made significant contributions to the advancement of sports journalism. The daily, which holds a venerable place in Nepal’s media landscape, has prioritised sports news coverage since its beginning.

The history of sports journalism in Nepal is relatively short. To trace the roots of sports reporting in the country, we need to look back at the oldest newspapers, which are none other than Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal (TRN). While some magazines focused entirely on sports, marking the beginning of beat journalism in sports, they were not published regularly.

According to media researchers, the history of sports journalism in Nepal began with Sporting Times, an English fortnightly magazine published in 1956. Only a few issues of Sporting Times, edited by Manindra Raj Shrestha, were published before the publication was discontinued. In 1960, a magazine called Sportsman was published by editor Shyam KC, but it did not last long. As a sportsperson, KC recognised the significance of sports and played a vital role in advancing sports journalism. Later, he became the editor-in-chief of The Rising Nepal, where he contributed by creating a dedicated page for sports coverage.

Magazines such as Rangasala (1967), Khel Ra Kheladi (1968), Khelkud ra Janajivan (1974), and Khel Jagat (1979) were published, but they were unable to sustain long-term operations. Since then, numerous magazines have attempted to cover sports news in Nepal, but most have also shut down. The main reasons for the short lifespan of these sports magazines include a lack of financial resources, insufficient advertising, and a limited readership.

During this period, sports events were often not considered newsworthy. Editors typically prioritised other topics over sports news, viewing it as unengaging and unproductive. Even when they did publish sports updates to cover significant events, these stories were often treated as fillers to balance the layout or fill gaps between more important content. Additionally, there were fewer sports events during this time.

Contribution

As the publication of TRN began in 1965, sports news started to gain priority. The editors focused on sports events, providing ample space in Nepal's leading English broadsheet. The editors of TRN even allocated a separate page for sports news at a time when the coverage of sports events was very scant.

The practice of TRN to provide a separate page for sports became a trend in Nepali daily newspapers after 1990. It continues to this day, contributing to the development of sports journalism.

Some major national newspapers used to dedicate two full pages to sports coverage; however, this practice was discontinued after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic severely impacted the financial stability of the Nepali media industry, causing many newspapers that previously provided full-page coverage of sports to reduce their coverage to just half a page. To increase the page count from eight to twelve, TRN started a two-page sports coverage. Unfortunately, due to the COVID outbreak, TRN had to revert to eight pages, reducing sports coverage to one page.

TRN, on the other hand, continued to publish full-page sports coverage during the pandemic, even as much of the world went into lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In contrast, its sister publication, Gorkhapatra Daily, reduced its sports section to half a page, a change that remains in effect to this day. The state-owned broadsheet has consistently provided full-page coverage of sports, except during the massive earthquake in April 2012, when its coverage was reduced to four pages.

Nevertheless, TRN has consistently kept its readers informed about both domestic and international sporting events. From a time when electronic and digital media were nonexistent to the present day, TRN has established itself as a reliable source of sports news. It provides updates on global sporting events while also focusing on local and national tournaments.

Before major global sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, TRN publishes a special pull-out section. During events like the World Cup, Olympics, and National Games, the entire sports page is devoted to these significant competitions. Additionally, there is a half-page dedicated to other domestic and international sports news.

As a pioneer in sports journalism in Nepal, TRN serves as an essential resource for sports enthusiasts interested in the history of Nepali sports.

The archives of TRN are a treasure trove that records Nepal's sporting journey. The chronicling of triumphs, defeats, and controversies in both national and international arenas reflects the evolution of Nepali sports.

TRN has consistently supported Nepali sports by covering national tournaments, leagues, and grassroots activities extensively. The publication has provided a platform for emerging talents and highlighted the development efforts of sports organisations across the country.

TRN has also celebrated Nepali athletes who represent the nation on international stages, offering them recognition and inspiring future generations to pursue careers in sports.

The broadsheet has critically highlighted the challenges facing Nepali sports, including inadequate infrastructure, a lack of funding, and governance issues. It advocates for reforms and better policies to support athletes and improve the overall ecosystem of Nepali sports.

The analytical and opinion column on sports is one of the features of TRN. A sports column is included on the supplement page of TRN, which publishes every Friday. In addition, significant historical achievements in sports are prioritised for the front page of the publication.

Challenges

Despite the significant contributions TRN has made to Nepali sports journalism, management and editors still do not take sports news seriously. This issue is not limited to TRN; most media outlets, including print, electronic, and digital platforms, are struggling with a lack of qualified personnel in sports reporting.

A maximum of two human resources are assigned to cover various sports, each operating under different rules and formats, ranging from football and cricket to martial arts.

Reporting on sports is a challenging task. Sports journalists need to possess a strong understanding of the technical, statistical, and historical aspects of various sports disciplines. Sports journalism is not just about wins, losses, or scores; it also encompasses science, health, economics, corruption, and politics.

With the numerous sporting events occurring at both the national and international levels, the number of sports journalists available in media houses is inadequate for the current demands. Furthermore, the quality of sports reporting suffers when a single reporter is tasked with covering multiple sports disciplines, such as football, cricket, volleyball, and martial arts.

Despite the lack of trained sports journalists, it is thanks to the sports-loving editors and reporters that coverage of sporting activities has continued in Nepal’s national dailies, including TRN. It is not too late to invest in training sports reporters and adding more journalists to the sports bureau.

As sports journalism evolves with interactive content, multimedia storytelling, and increased audience engagement, TRN must adapt to remain relevant in the digital era. This presents an opportunity for TRN to uphold its legacy while embracing innovation and continuing to serve as a trusted source for sports news and analysis in Nepal.

(The author is associate editor at The Rising Nepal.)