ABSTRACT
The Nepali news media industry, having grown continuously since the political upheavals of 1990, has been forced to undergo a third transformation hastened by the outbreak of COVID-19. The most recent digital transition, which began around the new millennium, has reshaped the entire Nepali media landscape as many consumers migrate from print to digital platforms. However, dedicated news portals are outpaced by the social networking platforms whose priorities are only to attract and gratify consumers, and not necessarily inform them. This chapter explores the impact of the pandemic on the Nepali media landscape, in the broader context of the same challenge globally. The chapter focuses its research using the idea that every new technology of communication creates a new environment for producers and consumers. It uses qualitative data collection techniques such as systematic situational analysis, content analysis from a sample newspaper, and key informant interviews with selected experts in the field. It analyzes how digital media technology changes the cause-effect relationship between the media and society, and the challenges and prospects of these changes for journalism in Nepali society.
