The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) in collaboration with the Federation of Nepalese Journalists carried out joint fact finding in different regions of Nepal to study the present state of Nepalese media and media persons. The study was necessitated in the aftermath of February 1, 2005 royal takeover, which besides other curbs on the fundamental rights of the Nepalese citizens has suspended and restricted the right to information and freedom of expression. The joint monitoring teams of SAFMA and FNJ, which included senior media persons, conducted their task in some 36 districts of the Central, Eastern, Western, Mid and Far Western regions of Nepal.

Some of the main findings of these teams were: Ban on FM radio stations about news broadcasts and the subsequent unemployment of a large number of journalists working with them; continuing harassment of journalists working outside capital Kathmandu by state functionaries and the Maoists; drastic reduction in advertisement revenue both by the state and private sector; loss of revenue for the printing presses and the loss of employment opportunities; citizens deprivation of their right to know and the right to participate in decision making etc.; and exclusion of committed journalists from the profession.

The reports of teams who conducted the monitoring and fact- finding task are included herewith;