From Academy to Artificial Intelligence Policy: Advancing Gorkhapatra as the State’s Publishing House
News Summary
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- The Gorkhapatra Institute has embarked on plans to elevate Gorkhapatra Daily as the official state publishing house.
- The institute has launched the Gorkhapatra Academy focusing on enhancing journalistic standards and research.
- For the first time, the institute is initiating national issue debates through a public-private partnership, preparing to provide recommendations to the government.
March 26, Kathmandu – The Gorkhapatra Institute has announced efforts to advance Gorkhapatra Daily, known as the government’s official gazette, as the state publishing house. In response to changing circumstances, the institute aims to maximize editorial independence while centering the voice of citizens and has begun initiatives for necessary legal and policy reforms.
Led by executive chief Lal Bahadur Airy, the institute has reportedly initiated dozens of improvement measures. According to the institute, efforts are underway to strengthen financial health sustainably and produce tangible outcomes focused on research and development to preserve the historical identity of Gorkhapatra Daily.
Prioritizing research and development, the Gorkhapatra Institute has established the Gorkhapatra Academy. The Academy concentrates on enhancing the quality of human resources working at Gorkhapatra, institutional development, and the overall growth of journalism through research. It offers training programs, fellowships, and various events across different journalistic disciplines.
The institute has embraced the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) during this period. AI-related policies have been introduced across the institute’s various publications. To restore Gorkhapatra’s credibility among younger generations, the institute is providing specialized multimedia content for news, information, and public service materials on platforms such as WhatsApp, Viber, and Messenger.
For the first time in its 125-year history, the institute has initiated debates on national needs and policies through public-private partnerships. Following the Genji movement on September 8 and 9, the Academy hosted a program titled ‘Recovery and Resilience’ aimed at boosting morale. The policy recommendations generated during this event are planned to be formally submitted to the government, the Gorkhapatra Academy stated.
Due to effective market strategies, the institute’s business has recently doubled, and it currently operates profitably. The commercial department noted that despite government institutions generally operating at a loss and burdening the government, the Gorkhapatra Institute has shown a twofold growth in advertising markets and continues to be profitable, a fact confirmed by the Ministry of Finance’s institutional review report.
As part of the initiative to transform the institute into a state media organization, Managing Director Airy has already submitted a draft act to the ministry. The institute has targeted its publications under a ‘Citizen Voice First’ policy, prioritizing issues relevant to the public.
Over the past six months, 178 contractual and daily-wage employees of the institute have received social security benefits. Additionally, the institute has implemented the Journalist Labor Act, establishing basic salary standards for journalists as mandated by law.
For the first time, the institute has conducted an Organization and Management (O&M) survey which has been approved and implemented. This initiative has laid the foundation for instituting new positions, optimizing unnecessary workforce reductions, and filling vacancies. After an eight-year hiatus, recruitment and promotion activities have also progressed. The institute reports providing promotion opportunities to nearly all deserving employees while continuing new recruitments.
