Date: May 20, 2026 (2083/02/06 BS)

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has been conducting a pressure campaign against the government's discriminatory decision. While failing to take positive initiatives in favor of working journalists, the government, under the guise of cost-cutting, has decided to provide all levels of government notices (advertisements) exclusively to state-controlled media.

The FNJ, which has been agitating for about a month and a half, is launching additional pressure campaigns after the government ignored repeated calls to correct its anti-press and anti-expression freedom stance, stop controlling access to information, take initiatives for working journalists, and eliminate discrimination in the distribution of government advertisements.

Additional Pressure Programs:

• From May 21, 2026 (Jeth 7) for one week: All three tiers of the Federation's structure will conduct a signature collection campaign.

• May 25, 2026 (Jeth 11, Monday): The Central Committee will submit a memorandum to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairperson of the National Assembly, and the chairpersons of parliamentary thematic committees. Provincial and district chapters will send the memorandum via email or post.

• May 28, 2026 (Jeth 14, Thursday): All structures of the Federation will coordinate to ensure that all newspapers, television channels, radio stations, and online media outlets across the country keep a black space in their editorials or an appropriate location as a sign of protest against the government's move. The media houses will implement the blackout on this day.

If the demands are not met through this week-long pressure campaign, the agitation will continue, and even more powerful programs will be introduced.

Prior to this, the Federation had held discussions with former FNJ presidents, editors of national dailies, weeklies, and online news portals, as well as leaders of parliamentary parties. Following this, the Central Committee meeting of the Federation formulated additional pressure programs, under which all provincial committees held discussions with their respective Chief Ministers to clarify the Federation's stance and secure commitments, while all district chapters submitted memorandums to the Prime Minister through their respective Chief District Officers. The center held a press conference to make its concept public, and all media houses expressed their opposition to the government's discriminatory decision through editorial solidarity.

Similarly, protest materials were shared publicly on social media platforms by journalists and members of the Federation, and the FNJ engaged in discussions and lobbying with national and international communities. At the request of the FNJ, and in coordination with the Municipal Association and the National Association of Rural Municipalities, district chapters submitted memorandums through the Central Committee and District Coordination Committees, urging all local levels to defy the federal government's decision.

Ram Prasad Dahal

General Secretary