73 incidents of press freedom violation recorded in a year

Kathmandu, May 3: Various organizations working in the sector of press freedom and journalists rights, including the umbrella organization of Nepali journalists, have released annual reports on press freedom on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day (May 3).

Altogether 73 anti-press incidents were recorded by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in Nepal in the last one year.

The FNJ’s Media Monitoring Unit updated that a total of 151 journalists and five media houses were intimidated last year from May 4, 2024 to April 30, 2025.

Two journalists were murdered during this period, said Ram Prasad Dahal, FNJ General-Secretary. The FNJ also recorded 16 cases of professional insecurity among the media professionals during this period.

Some journalists were at the receiving end of threat, manhandling and ill-treatment as well, he informed, adding that the FNJ regards these anti-press activities as a serious attack on democracy.

FNJ condemned murder of journalist Suresh Rajak at Tinkune incident on March 28 and vandalism on the media houses.

Likewise, the Federation deeply regretted the incident of brutality against Sabina Karki while reporting the recent teachers’ agitation in Kathmandu and displacement of Dharan-based journalist Gopal Dahal due to threats of physical assault and mental torture by the Mayor of a local government.

Press freedom in peril, argues FF

Meanwhile, another organization working in the freedom of expression and journalists’ rights in Nepal, Freedom Forum, released an annual press freedom report named ‘Year of Journalists’ Killings: Press Freedom in Peril’ on Friday.

As per the FF report, the trends shaping last year’s press freedom were: “Increased violation of press freedom with growing physical attacks, widening economic pressure in media with retrenchment on rise, little progress in lawmaking and media reform, information disorder, horrible incident after a decade- killing of an on-duty journalist turning federal capital itself into the most hostile place for free press and journalist, impunity left ignored, underreporting of public concern for lack of effective media presence, and rising intolerance towards media with discredit.”

The report prepared by monitoring and analyzing the anti-press data from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025 stressed the urgency of robust media along with respect to press freedom and thriving media profession where favorable law and tolerant public spheres are ensured.

However, FF recorded 68 incidents of press freedom violation last year, where total 88 media persons- 77 male and 11 female journalists- including eight media houses were directly affected. It was increase from the previous monitoring year where there were only 60 incidents of violations which had affected 88 media persons including 11 female and three media houses, the report added.

The Day commemorates the endorsement of the UNESCO’s proposal to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day since May 3, 1993 and celebrates the issuance of the declaration on press freedom in Windhoek, Namibia in 1991.