TRN faces challenge to prove its relevance in AI age

Kathmandu, Dec. 16: The Rising Nepal (TRN), the first broadsheet English daily in the country, has completed six decades’ journey in publication and will turn 61 on Tuesday, December 16. 

Published by the state-run Gorkhapatra Corporation, the longest running English newspaper in Nepal was launched by then King Mahendra on December 16, 1965 (1 Poush 2022 BS) with the objectives of catering to the need of English readers within the country and inform foreigners about Nepal and its culture.

TRN is the second longest-running newspaper in any category in Nepal after the Gorkhapatra daily that is running in its 125th year of publication. The Gorkhapatra, initially a weekly newspaper, was published during the days of Rana Prime Minister Dev Shumsher, who, unlike other 'rulers in the waiting' Ranas, wanted to give impetus to education and development. 

Likewise, the government also needed a broadsheet English newspaper to publish advertisement in English language as those needed had to reach out to the broadsheets in India for that. 

Since TRN was launched during the Panchayat era when the King was all-in-all and was a state-run daily, its editorial line largely aligned with government narratives. While it exercises greater freedom and responsibilities in the republican era, issues of national unity, development, foreign affairs, culture and environment continue to get priority in the coverage. At times, TRN enjoyed greater editorial freedom even compared to its sister publication – Gorkhapatra. 

Now, it accords priority and provides space for parliamentary affairs, economic policy, private sector issues and social change while also maintaining the status quo for official information and documenting the historical events. Meanwhile, it contributed to shaping Nepal's international events thr  ough steady and continuous coverage of diplomacy, tourism, investment and development cooperation – catering to the need of diplomatic community in Kathmandu, and development partners. 

While stressing on analysis, interpretation and long-form writing, former editors of this daily maintained that offering quality content in print and online format can save it from the downward slide. "The optimum utilisation of available space catering to prospective readers is a criterion inherently tied to the readers’ interests. The ultimate target of news outlets is catering to the collective interests of reading, listening, and viewing audiences, and not to the exclusive attention of powerful personalities or a celebrity type," former Editor and Professor P. Kharel wrote in his article published in TRN.

Head of the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the Tribhuvan University, Dr. Kundan Aryal recalled how TRN was learning, reading and teaching material before the use of internet for these purposes. "It was a mandatory reading for the students of journalism and English literature," he said while stating that it is a challenge for TRN to prove its relevancy in the new age of technology and Artificial Intelligence. 

Well-wishers of the TRN, some even visiting the Office, suggested for technological improvement and enhanced accessibility of the print and online version of the medium. It was among the few media that went online as it began online publication on a trial basis on February 23, 1997. 

TRN publishes thematic pages on business, opinion, international, art and culture and sports, and a 4-page weekly Friday Supplement.