National Journalism Day

National Journalism Day is celebrated on the 24th of Baisakh with various programs in Nepal. The government officially recognized this day as a national holiday in 2073 B.S., and it has been celebrated at the national level ever since. This date is also significant as it marks the start of the weekly publication of the Gorkhapatra newspaper in 1958 B.S.

Theme for 2025:

This year’s Journalism Day is being observed with the theme “Reliable Information Source: Accountable Journalism and Safe Journalists.”

The History of Gorkhapatra

Gorkhapatra started its weekly publication on the 24th of Baisakh, 1958. Its first printer and manager was Pandit Nardeo Pandey. Gorkhapatra began publishing twice a week from the 29th of Ashoj, 2000 B.S, and then three times a week from the 8th of Poush, 2003 B.S. By the 7th of Falgun, 2017 B.S, it started being published daily. Only 33 years after its establishment, in 1991 B.S, the names of its editors began to be printed. The first editor’s name to be published was Prem Raj, and this is when editorial articles started appearing regularly in the newspaper.

The Current State of Journalism in Nepal

Today, there are over 4,900 print publications, 1,193 radio stations, 246 television channels, and more than 4,600 online news sites in Nepal. However, journalism in Nepal stands at a crossroads of both opportunity and challenge. With easy access to information and rapid technological advancements, journalism has gained momentum. However, questions have been raised regarding the fundamental values of impartiality, investigative reporting, and accountability.