TRN Must Innovate To Remain Competitive

The Rising Nepal, the country's first English-language broadsheet, is celebrating the 59th anniversary of its publication. In its almost six-decade-long journey, The Rising Nepal is a witness to the sea change in the country's political, economic, and social spectrums and has been trying its best to inform its readers and the public, both within and outside the country, through news, reports, articles, and op-eds.

This is one of the two flagship publications; the other is Gorkhapatra Daily, also the first Nepali language broadsheet, of Gorkhapatra Corporation, a publication house owned by the state. This ownership by the state is both its boon and bane. While the state ownership has provided some financial stability to the corporation and its publications, which many other newspapers in the country would strive for, it sometimes limits its editorial freedom. That constraint resulted in, it is accused, in its news, reports, and opinions, being biased in favour of the government and the political parties in power, rather than encompassing a broader opinion of mainly the other side of the political fence or the political power structure. But being a state-owned entity, it has the obligation to put forth the views and opinions in concurrence with that political system and ideology.

First English daily

The pioneer English daily began when there was no other English daily; journalism was just an emerging profession, and there were just a handful of weeklies published in the private sector, mainly by individuals. So, it was the first English daily in the corporate sector. It is said that the King at that time felt the need for a media platform in the English language to apprise the diplomatic community and expats of the news, views, and opinions of the government and to the few English-speaking communities inside the country.

However, nothing much changed even after the establishment of the multi-party political system in 1990 when it comes to the professional development of state-owned media. Every political party in power took the publications to further their government's views and interests. The other accusation is that every change in the government would bring about changes in the administration of the corporation or the editorial team. Every time there was a change of government, and there were many and in frequent intervals in the last three decades of different hues and ideologies, The Rising Nepal and its sister publications had to explain and rationalise the government's policies and decisions. This is the malaise that has been affecting the corporation both in its administration and its editorial contents.

Despite these some shortcomings, Gorkhapatra Corporation prides itself as one of the biggest publishing houses in the country with a variety of publications besides The Rising Nepal, such as Gorkhapatra daily, Madhupark, a monthly literary magazine, Yuva Manch, a magazine targeted at the youths, and Muna, a children's magazine. The Rising Nepal is, at present, the only publication in the English language of Gorkhapatra Corporation. 

Earlier, there were a few others like the Nepali Perspective, a monthly magazine that focused on analytical and research-based articles and opinions of renowned personalities in the government, bureaucrats, and other scholars. Then, there was Sunday Dispatch, basically an infotainment weekly, but it delved into critical issues in a much freer manner than its sister daily publication.

The Rising Nepal and other publications of the Corporation can take pride in having acclaimed news reporters and news and editorial writers in the media sector, both in the past and the present. 

The individuals at the helm of TRN in the past were some of the doyens of Nepali print journalism, like Barun Shumsher Rana, Mana Ranjan Josse, Shyam KC, and Parshuram Kharel, to name a few. Working with them or watching them from close proximity was indeed a learning opportunity for new and aspiring journalists on how minds with analytical prowess look at intricate issues and events with different perspectives and to hone up their skills in news and opinion writing.

What it meant to be working as a journalist in an English-language broadsheet newspaper when there was none was a matter of pride and elevated self-esteem working with some of the best writers and editors in the country. When you feel that your reports and write-ups will be read and discussed by people, it gives you a sense of pride and, more than that, a sense of responsibility and obligation to impart news and information in a fair and impartial manner.

Massive transformation

Since the late 90s, Nepal's media sector, both print and electronic, has witnessed massive transformation with the pouring of investment and the coming of new media houses in the private sector. Globally too, the digitalisation of media and the growing popularity of social media, and lately new technologies like AI and ChatGPT, have reshaped the media landscape with new outlets to provide people with news and opinions. The concept and demand of the readers have also changed tremendously, and the rise of media consumers, demanding instant delivery of news and information when they want it, how they want it, and as they want it.

That has impelled the publishing and media industry to face a unique set of challenges, virtually ending the old-fashioned concept of a newspaper to provide people with news and opinions and nudging them to rethink their strategies. The Rising Nepal is no exception. It must innovate, remain competitive, and meet the changing needs and wants of its audience to ensure sustainability and growth in the rapidly evolving digital era. Still, the bright spot for the print media is that judicious and prudent readers are aware of the fact that online news through social media and digital feeds at times is untrustworthy and unreliable and still rely on broadsheet brands to ensure that they are getting factual and reliable news and information.

(The author is a freelance writer.)