INTRODUCTION EXECUTIVE BOARD BRANCHES MEMBERS AGENCIES MEDIA SITUATION LEGAL PROVISIONS ACTIVITIES HISTORY NEPAL INFORMATION MEDIA MISSIONS Country Paper Mission Solidarity Mission Statement PUBLICATION WHAT'S NEW? NEPALI VERSION With over 5000 dynamic members practicing journalism across the length and breadth of Nepal, FNJ represents the entire media fraternity of the nation. They belong to every sphere of the modern media – print, electronic and cyber. The half-a-century old umbrella organization of professional mediapersons in Nepal is a fervent exponent of PEACE, DEMOCRACY AND COMPLETE MEDIA FREEDOM. FNJ firmly believes that without a functioning democracy, the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of the Nepalese people and press freedom remain exposed to danger. Headquartered at Media Village in Kathmandu, FNJ is a full member of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) (www.ifj-asia.org and www.ifj.org). Background The inception of Nepal Journalists Association (NJA) on March 29, 1956 was the first attempt ever made at providing professional leadership to Nepalese mediapersons. This was the first time that journalists in Nepal were organized under a common umbrella. Established by noted journalist cum freedom fighter Krishna Prasad Bhattarai who later became the country's prime minister after the restoration of democracy in 1990, the NJA was formally converted into the present-day Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) on June 25, 1996. Introduction The Federation is the only professionally representative association of the entire media fraternity in Nepal. The guardian organization of all working journalists in Nepal has wide representation across the length and breadth of the country and envisions a well-informed society where freedom of expression and a complete press freedom are upheld and exercised in a democratic environment. Alongside, the Federation remains committed towards democracy, human rights and international brotherhood. In fact, the organization played a key role in the restoration of democracy in 1990. As far as the current state of affairs is concerned, the FNJ has time and again demanded an immediate restoration of the democratic system with an immediate end to all violations of the citizens' fundamental rights. Objectives To bring all professional journalists working in the country under a common umbrella and provide them an efficient and professional leadership.
To safeguard the welfare of all working journalists and protect their rights and amenities.
To engage in the development of a responsible and accountable media and promote the idea of press freedom.
To maintain friendly relationship with other national and international media organizations and exchange representatives with them.
To conduct study, investigation, seminars, trainings, symposium etc. on subjects related to journalism.
To take other necessary steps for the betterment of the media world. Network FNJ's strength lies in its well-developed network the roots of which spread to the four corners of the Himalayan kingdom. With its 79 branch offices and associate organizations across the nation, the FNJ undoubtedly is an organization to reckon with. It is the only umbrella organization of all Nepalese mediapersons representing the entire print as well as visual media in the country. The FNJ has over 5000 active members across the country. It is particularly for this reason that the present establishment looks at the FNJ as its major opponent. Any activity called for by the headquarters finds reverberations throughout the kingdom. For instance, at the present juncture, a nationwide movement for the restoration of a complete press freedom and democracy is on at the center as well as at the district offices. The area of work The foremost function of FNJ is to preserve and promote MEDIA FREEDOM in Nepal and to evolve a disciplined media culture. It also carries out different programs to promote professional journalism and protect the rights and privileges of all professional journalists in the country. Promoting media ethics is yet another area the umbrella organization perseveres in. It also conducts trainings in order to enhance the expertise of working journalists so that they can keep up the pace with international standards. Moreover, FNJ has always been instrumental in formulating and implementing acts and policies related to the media. It is solely for FNJ that the provisions pertaining to press freedom was incorporated in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990. In short, FNJ plays the role of a Press Police by ensuring the well being of the mediapersons and also of the concerned entrepreneurs. Committees Welfare Fund Committee
Press Freedom Monitoring Committee
Communication Facility Subcommittee
Women Journalists Committee
Counselling Committee
Foreign Relations Committee
Organizational Committee
Working Journalists Law Implementation, Monitoring and Legal Support Committee
Financial Committee
Policy and Program Committee
Local Media Promotion Committee
Newspaper Promotion Committee
Am Freitag forderte der Präsident der „Federation of Nepalese Journalists“ (FNJ) bei einem Treffen mit dem Ausschuss, der eine Übergangsverfassung erarbeiten soll, dass der Schutz der Pressefreiheit in die Präambel der Verfassung aufgenommen wird. Der Journalistenvereinigung FNJ gehören nach eigenen Angaben mehr als 5.000 Mitglieder an, die in Nepal als Journalisten tätig sind.

Der Präsident der Journalistenvereinigung, Bishnu Nisthuri, sagte, die Pressefreiheit müsse so geschützt werden, dass sie zu keinem Zeitpunkt in der Zukunft von irgendeiner Organisation eingeschränkt werden könne. Zudem forderte Bishnu Nisthuri die Schaffung eines unabhängigen Presserates. Mahendra Bista, Generalsekretär der FNJ, verlangte vom Verfassungsausschuss, alle bestehenden Regelungen zu beseitigen, die Einschränkungen für Medien enthalten. Andere Journalisten, die an dem Treffen teilnahmen, sagten, die Regierung dürfe die Medien in keiner Weise kontrollieren. 

Nachdem König Gyanendra im Februar 2005 die Macht in Nepal übernommen hatte, war von der Regierung eine einwöchige Blockade aller Telefon- und Internetverbindungen verhängt worden. Medien unterlagen in dieser Zeit einer starken Zensur. Am 28. April war nach Protesten gegen den König das Parlament wieder eingesetzt worden, das den König in einer seiner ersten Sitzungen faktisch entmachtet hat. Nun soll eine neue Verfassung erarbeitet werden und dann über Neuwahlen der Weg zu einem parlamentarischen Neuanfang des Landes eingeschlagen werden.