Four months ago, I wrote about the dangers of being a journalist in Nepal – a country “where journalists are murdered on a recurring basis and governments are unable or unwilling to prosecute the killers”.
Four months ago, I wrote about the dangers of being a journalist in Nepal – a country “where journalists are murdered on a recurring basis and governments are unable or unwilling to prosecute the killers”.
HT Image
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
The Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based organisation, says that 14 journalists have been killed in Nepal since 1992. The nation ranks seventh among countries unsafe for our tribe.
That the situation is no better in rest of the region is evident from inclusion of Sri Lanka (4), Afghanistan (6), Pakistan (10), Bangladesh (11) and India (12) in that list.
Last week, a report prepared by the information ministry exposed another sorry aspect of working journalists in Nepal-– exploitation by employers.
“The percentage of working journalists who have not been paid the minimum salary by media organisations is 37,” says the annual report of minimum wage fixation committee of the ministry.
Not that the minimum salary is princely. The Working Journalists Act says it should be NRs 5,200 (Rs 3,250) – less than the price of a good pair of sneakers.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
One third of journalists are not paid the salaries promised and 14% don’t get paid regularly.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
One third of journalists are not paid the salaries promised and 14% don’t get paid regularly.
{{/usCountry}}
There’s more. Nearly half of working journalists don’t have appointment letters.
This gives employers freedom to show journalists the door at will. If they fall sick or wish to enjoy a vacation, journalists in 36% media houses will have to forego part of their salaries as they have no provision for leave.
“With inflation making it impossible to make ends meet, it’s not surprising to see many journalists compromising on ideals,” said a senior journalist friend.
The report urges the government to deprive errant media houses of advertisements – a tactic that could work – if used.
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
