Marking World Press Freedom Day, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has unveiled a dark picture of the country’s media landscape. A newly released report exposes a sharp and alarming spike in press freedom violations, recording 131 incidents between May 4, 2025, and April 30, 2026—a massive jump from just 73 cases the previous year.
The grim statistics include 51 instances of threats and abuse directed at journalists, 30 physical attacks on media personnel and equipment, 26 cases of seizure or obstruction, and 18 incidents related to professional insecurity. The year also saw two journalists arrested, three policy-level restrictions imposed, and the suspicious death of one journalist. FNJ President Nirmala Sharma blamed the deteriorating environment on a toxic mix of unchecked impunity, severe financial crises within media houses, the government’s chokehold on advertising to private media, and rampant social media misinformation.
Former FNJ President Taranath Dahal pointed out that political instability has fueled intolerance against the press, particularly at the provincial and local levels where journalists exposing corruption routinely face threats. The report placed heavy emphasis on the catastrophic fallout from last September’s violent ‘Gen-Z Protests’. During the unrest on September 8 and 9 alone, 26 severe violations were recorded. Vandalism, arson, and looting resulted in a staggering $3.95 million (Rs 600 million) in institutional damages and $1.19 million (Rs 180 million) in private property losses for journalists, while five reporters were tragically injured by gunfire