President Paudel urges Nepali media to uphold press freedom on World Press Freedom Day

President Ram Chandra Paudel has extended his best wishes to the Nepali media, urging them to fully exercise and protect their constitutional rights to deliver truthful information to the public fearlessly. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (May 3), 2026, President Paudel conveyed his greetings to all journalists, brothers, and sisters in Nepal and abroad, emphasizing the importance of independent journalism in uncovering the truth and disseminating facts to establish accurate and truthful narratives in society.

Highlighting that press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, President Paudel remarked on the significant role the press has played in various democratic movements. He noted that press freedom is crucial for exercising the constitutional right of citizens to be informed, and the more impartial, independent, and robust the press is, the stronger the democratic system becomes.

In his message, President Paudel stated, “Ensuring press freedom requires a safe environment for journalists to carry out their work. Our constitution guarantees full press and expression freedom. From gathering information to dissemination, journalists must be able to engage freely and unhindered, ensuring the voices of all classes and communities are heard.”

President Paudel also acknowledged the challenges posed by the increasing use of social media and the potential for misinformation and misleading information to confuse citizens and weaken existing systems. He expressed hope that World Press Freedom Day would provide the Nepali press with additional energy, encouragement, and inspiration to face these challenges and deliver truthful, factual, and reliable information to the people.