Media Action Nepal launches Annual Press Freedom Report 2025
On the Eve of World Press Freedom Day, Media Action Nepal Launches Annual Press Freedom Report: “From Intimidation to Impunity: Rising Threats against Media in Nepal”
Kathmandu |May 2: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2025, Media Action Nepal has launched its Annual Press Freedom Report 2025 titled “From Intimidation to Impunity: Rising Threats against Media in Nepal” on May 2, 2025, amid a public function held in Kathmandu. The report, which comprehensively documents violations of press freedom and freedom of expression (FoE) from May 4, 2024, to May 1, 2025, was jointly released by Laxman Datt Pant, Founder and Executive Director of Media Action Nepal; Dr. Suresh Acharya, Chief Information Commissioner of the National Information Commission; Priyanka Jha, Chairperson of Media Action Nepal and Nirmala Sharma, Chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalists.
Speaking at the launch, Media Action Nepal’s Founding Chair and the Executive Director Laxman Datt Pant remarked, “This year’s findings expose a distressing and deepening crisis in Nepal’s media landscape. The report paints a grave picture of escalating threats faced by journalists. These violations not only endanger individual journalists but erode the very foundations of democracy.”
According to the Media Action Nepal, 32 incidents of press freedom and freedom of expression violations were recorded during the reporting period, impacting 40 individuals and media houses, which include 2 killings: journalists Suresh Bhul and Suresh Rajak, 3 arrests involving 6 individuals, including for cultural reporting and contempt of court, 3 cases of information blockage, 2 incidents of equipment seizure, and 22 threats and intimidation cases affecting 24 journalists and media outlets.
These numbers, Pant warned, ‘are not just statistics; they reflect a deteriorating environment for journalism where fear is becoming a tool of control. The systemic failure of accountability and increasing impunity for perpetrators whether mobs, political cadres, or state actors, demands urgent national attention.’
The report categorically details violations from both state and non-state actors, with 16 cases linked to government agencies, 1 to a foreign envoy, and 23 to non-state entities. The killing of journalist Suresh Rajak during a pro-monarchy protest on March 28, 2025, and the threat by Chinese envoy Chen Song to journalist Gajendra Budhathoki over corruption reporting, are highlighted as critical cases showcasing both domestic and international pressure on media.
Among the affected were female journalists such as Sabina Karki, injured by police water cannon during a protest, further underlining the gender-specific vulnerabilities in journalism. Media institutions including Kantipur Television, Annapurna Post, and Samadhan Daily also faced obstruction and political backlash, suggesting even leading outlets are not immune to state interference.
Underscoring the report, Pant stressed, “The passage of flawed legislations such as the Media Council Bill and the Social Media Bill, without consulting civil society, reflects an aggressive push to curtail independent journalism under the guise of regulation.” These bills pose a real threat to the constitutional guarantees of free speech and must be urgently revised, he added.
Adding that the protection of journalists is not just a media issue, rather it is a democratic imperative, Pant, reiterated, “As Nepal enters a crucial phase of political and social transformation, a free and independent media must be protected, not persecuted.”
The launch event, attended by over 40 journalists, featured an interactive roundtable discussion where leading media and legal experts including Nepal Bar Association’s Secretary Advocate Babu Ram Aryal, FNJ Chairperson Nirmala Sharma, Media Action Nepal’s Chairperson Priyanka Jha, UNESCO’s Nirjana Sharma engaged in a critical dialogue on the theme of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on press freedom. The session highlighted the dual nature of AI as both a tool and a threat, underscoring the need for media literacy and regulatory frameworks to prevent misuse.
Commenting on the findings of the report, the Editor of Annapurna Express lauded Media Action Nepal’s continued commitment to press freedom. He emphasized that “organizations like Media Action Nepal serve as a credible watchdog documenting violations and guiding national discourse.” He urged the government and stakeholders to seriously consider the report’s recommendations to safeguard freedom of expression in Nepal.
Media Action Nepal urges all democratic institutions to uphold their responsibility in safeguarding the freedom of the press.
