Media in Nepal: The right, the wrong, and the messed-up--V

continuation of the series of post on the situation of Nepali media
The Supplement Addition-II 

Thankfully, for the readers, the onslaughts stopped. The old TKP went to republica, and CityPost was merged with the main paper as the new team realised there simply was not enough content to fill in the pages.]

 The Age of Real Supplements


True competition among the english papers started after Republica started printing. Whereas TKP had had no serious direct competition, Republica rose as a formidable opponent who could take away the readers as well as the advertisers. Those at Republica realised too that simply being a new newspaper was not going to get them readers and advertisers; something new had to be done. So, almost simultaneously, the two papers decided to bring a full-issue weekly supplement heavy on articles, like the NYtimes' Sunday Times. And thus began the age of The Week and On Saturday.




The two supplements mark perhaps the greatest height of English print journalism in Nepal. Despite some minor lapses, both of the papers have maintained a remarkable standards in the quality of write-ups and photographs to be included in the supplements. The Week, which comes out every week, has tried to wade into fashion among urban youths, high-brow photography to neo-natal maternal health care whereas On Saturday has published several exclusive excerpts from recently published books, done a series on eco-friendly lifestyle in Kathmandu, arts, and so much more. Despite getting complaints from some readers that the pieces on the supplements are 'too long', the papers have received considerable good critical response.


Unfortunately, the supplements have apparently failed to gain mass appeal. I know as a fact that On Saturday has not been a marketing coup it was supposed to be, and the management has decided to give the team a year's trial to prove themselves. From what I hear, news at The Week is not so good either: because of all the negative comments that were received from readers complaining about the 'weird' articles published, the team has been making the issue look more and more like the usual one.

I would give them at least one more year to see where it goes, and I hope for the best, but I fear things might not go where I wish they did.


This is the last post of THE SUPPLEMENT ADDITION sub-series. Until now, I have covered only the English print media, but from now onwards I will probably look towards the Nepali media too. Media in Nepal: The right, the wrong, and the messed-up series continues.