In a democracy, the media are regarded as the fourth pillar of the state, tasked with scrutinising those in power and keeping citizens informed. But as Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government completes its first 100 days in office, journalists and media observers say a series of developments point to mounting pressure on press freedom and freedom of expression.

Concerns have centred on warning-laden remarks by senior ministers, sustained online harassment by supporters of the ruling party, a government policy directing public advertising only to state-owned media, and recent court rulings that critics argue could have a chilling effect on journalism.

When Home Minister Sudan Gurung resumed office on June 9, his first public remarks were directed not at law and order but at the media.

Assuming office for the second time, Gurung said the Home Ministry would take action against media organisations that insult or defame individuals.

“From now on, if anyone attempts to insult or assassinate the character of any citizen, the Home Ministry will take this matter very seriously,” he said.

Under Nepal's existing legal framework, complaints against the media fall under the jurisdiction of the Press Council Nepal, which monitors journalistic conduct and recommends action where necessary. Gurung's remarks, however, suggested that the Home Ministry itself would intervene.

He also said no one should be driven to suicide because of “media trials”.

“Especially when it comes to our daughters and women, whose characters are assassinated in the media, the Home Ministry will take this very seriously,” he said. “If you want to attack someone, attack me. But it must be based on facts. There should be no distortion. No one should have to commit suicide because of media trials.”

To many journalists, the remarks implied that the Home Ministry intended to deal directly with complaints against the media, bypassing the legal mechanisms already in place.

Media scholar Binod Dhungel said the comments suggested the home minister was relying on personal authority rather than established legal processes.

“Instead of saying 'the law will deal with it', senior political leaders, including the prime minister and home minister, increasingly say, 'I will deal with it' or 'I will fix it',” Dhungel said. “In a democracy, the Constitution and the law should stand above individuals. When leaders project personal authority instead, it creates fear.”

Growing self-censorship

Media observers say pressure on journalists has not come only from the government itself. They point to an increasingly hostile online environment, fuelled by supporters of the ruling establishment who aggressively target critics on social media.

Dhungel said that although there have been no major physical attacks on journalists during the government's first 100 days, online abuse has intensified.

“Journalists have increasingly faced cyberbullying and cyber intimidation,” he said. “Supporters who idolise ruling party leaders and the prime minister often adopt the same confrontational language online, spreading hate speech against journalists and content creators. This has created an atmosphere of fear across both mainstream and social media.”

He argued that the result has been growing self-censorship.

“Many media organisations have become increasingly cautious about what they publish because of the hostile environment.”

Advertising policy sparks backlash

Journalists' organisations have also accused the government of using financial pressure to weaken independent media under the guise of regulation.

Deepak Acharya, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), said the government appeared more interested in controlling the media than regulating it through independent institutions.

“We are not against regulation,” Acharya said. “But the government is moving towards control in the name of regulation. Instead of strengthening autonomous institutions such as the Press Council Nepal, it wants direct control. That is unacceptable.”

He also criticised the government's advertising policy, arguing that it amounted to an “economic blockade” against independent media.

“The latest advertising policy is highly discriminatory,” he said. “Directing government advertisements to state-owned media directly hurts most private news organisations. This is a form of economic blockade against the independent press.”

Acharya said governments should accept criticism rather than expect favourable coverage.

“The media are not an extension of the government. Their role is to scrutinise those in power. A government must have the capacity to tolerate criticism.”

On April 2, the government instructed all public bodies to publish official notices, including procurement announcements, only through state-owned media such as Gorkhapatra, Radio Nepal and Nepal Television.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists has since launched nationwide protests demanding that the decision be withdrawn.

Acharya said the federation had also raised the issue with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). During the IFJ Centenary World Congress held in Paris from May 4 to 7, delegates expressed concern that the policy could undermine editorial independence, press freedom, freedom of expression and the public's right to information.

Despite the criticism, the government has not revised the directive.

Government-media ties deteriorate

Journalist Shiva Gaunle said the government's relationship with the media has deteriorated beyond the advertising dispute.

“Our constitutional system envisages the media as a bridge between the government and the public,” he told Kantipur. “But instead of recognising that role, the government appears determined to bypass the media altogether and communicate directly with citizens.”

According to Gaunle, the lack of engagement has become increasingly evident.

“Nearly 100 days after taking office, the prime minister has neither met editors nor held a single press conference,” he said. “That suggests he is unwilling to face direct questioning about his government's performance.”

Court rulings deepen concerns

Media advocates say pressure on journalism is no longer coming solely from the executive branch.

On the very day Gurung resumed office, Kathmandu District Court authenticated the full text of a ruling sentencing then Rajdhani Daily editor Saroj Mishra to four months in prison and imposing a fine of Rs250,000 in a defamation case.

The case arose from a report published in the print and online editions of Rajdhani Daily on July 22, 2023, under the headline “The Arbitrary Actions of Three Colonels in the Army’s Legal Department”.
FNJ president Nirmala Sharma described the verdict as an attack on freedom of expression.

“This prison sentence is an assault on the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression,” she said. “Freedom of expression is indispensable to democracy. Attempts to weaken it are deeply regrettable.”

A week later, on June 19, the Kathmandu District Court ordered the removal of 66 articles published by Business News.com.

The order alarmed media organisations because the journalistic code of ethics of Nepal generally prohibits the deletion or removal of published news reports.

Dhungel said these developments have accelerated both self-censorship and what he described as “mass silencing”.

“People from many sectors, including investors, civil servants and diplomats, feel they have to be cautious even when they have done nothing wrong,” he said.

“The situation is even more serious in the media. People may be willing to speak privately, but they hesitate to appear on television or speak publicly. Increasingly, people say, ‘Let's not speak now. Why invite unnecessary trouble?’ That mentality is producing both mass silencing and self-censorship.”