The Federation of Nepali Journalists has said 2022 was very challenging in terms of freedom of the press and expression in Nepal.

The federation says fresh challenges to press freedom have been added as new means have been adopted to curb freedom of the press with the advancement of new technology.

“People or groups disagreeing with the news have started attacking media organisations and journalists through a different method. This has added a challenge to the field of Nepali journalism,” said Roshan Puri, General Secretary of the federation, in a statement on Saturday.

“Unlike the previous year, media and journalists were attacked through digital means this year. Acts including gaining unauthorised access to the content management system of online media, organising unfollow campaigns, threatening journalists through social media platforms, attempting to shut down or hack social media accounts took place this year,” the umbrella organisation of the Nepali journalists said.

The federation stated that new media-related laws promulgated by the federal, state and local governments have posed challenges to full press freedom guaranteed by the constitution rather than promoting freedom of the press and expression.

The FNJ said it recorded 53 incidents of press freedom violation this year.

A total of 132 male and 18 female journalists and six media organisations were affected by such incidents. The number of press freedom violation incidents has come down compared to the past year. In 2021, 62 incidents of violation of press freedom were recorded while 190 journalists and four media organisations were affected.