Nepali journalism stands at a crossroads. While the industry has long suffered from outdated production methods and limited investments, the digital era offers a fresh opportunity — not just to improve content and revenue models, but also to diversify voices and perspectives.
It is time to address the challenges and two pressing challenges are winning audiences and building sustainable revenue, which need to be explored.
Train talent
Modern journalism demands a new set of skills. Most Nepali newsrooms remain limited to traditional practices, with journalists and editors often struggling with multimedia storytelling, visual language and audio programming. This skills gap is not just a technical issue — it’s a fundamental barrier to creating meaningful content.
Media houses can turn this challenge into an opportunity by partnering with professional training organisations or launching in-house training programs. Larger outlets, for instance, could pool cross-medium talent to create teams of producers, videographers, and audio experts who mentor traditional journalists. Such initiatives can raise the production quality and signal to young professionals that there is a promising future in journalism.
Rethink revenue
While global patterns show audiences are willing to pay for high-quality content, Nepali journalism struggles with revenue generation despite a growing digitally savvy audience. Advertisers are increasingly shifting budgets to digital platforms, opting for sleek, engaging productions of creator led channels, which sometimes lack credibility. The opportunity lies in rethinking revenue streams to bridge this gap.
Instead of relying solely on traditional ad revenues or ineffective paywalls, media houses should explore micro-subscriptions, bundled digital offerings, and strategic partnerships with brands, products, and services. Such models have shown promise in global markets and can be adapted to the local context. The key is to align revenue strategies with a clear content strategy that resonates with modern audiences.
Rebuild Credibility
Quality journalism must earn the trust of its audience. In Nepal, content is widespread across digital platforms — Meta, TikTok, Viber, and YouTube — blurring the line between reliable journalism and clickbait. Nepali newsrooms must stand apart through clear, accountable practices.
Media houses need to develop and publicly share editorial and publishing guidelines. When errors occur, transparent corrections and accountability should be the norm rather than exception. These steps are essential to rebuild trust, counter the misinformation circulating on digital platforms, and to raise the bar for content quality in Nepal.
Content strategy
The current content landscape in Nepal is dominated by formats that often fall short in quality. Outlets like RONB, The Nepali Comment, and On Air With Sanjay are examples of innovative formats that show potential and are popular. Yet, most Nepali newsrooms continue political churnalism that no longer appeals to an audience exposed to global standards of production.
A revamped content strategy should prioritise context-rich storytelling and creativity. Format like short videos, explainers, podcasts, and documentaries need to be reimagined with superior production values and engaging narratives to create an immersive media experience. Global patterns suggests that quality storytelling drives engagement on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where Nepali audiences already flock. Nepali newsrooms must harness these insights to elevate their output.
Core challenges
Underlying these challenges is a structural issue: the exploitation and underinvestment in Nepali journalism. Journalists often work under harsh conditions, with low wages and zero benefits, discouraging new talent and repelling talented professionals which leads to a collapse in institutional memory. The industry’s failure to invest in its people undermines every effort to modernise content or explore new revenue models.
A fundamental shift is required. Media houses must recognise that their greatest asset is their people. By investing in decent pay, better working conditions, and professional development, the industry can attract talent who are motivated to innovate and lead. This systemic reform is not only a moral obligation but a strategic necessity for the long-term success.
Chase the elephant
Winning audiences and building sustainable revenue in Nepali journalism is not a matter of quick fixes. It will require a concerted, strategic overhaul. By investing in talent and training, exploring revenue models, rebuilding trust through accountability, revamping content strategy, and addressing system challenges, the industry can finally catch up with global standards.
The time for reflection is over.
