The role of Nepali media and social media is fundamental in preserving Nepali identity and cultural heritage in the UK because at community-wide communication level it has proven to be a crucial social and socialising element in the daily life of most members of the community, especially younger UK Nepalis and community leads and activists.
In the UK Nepali world, news journalists comprise a key and greatly respected group of individuals de-facto providing a bond not only from the community back to Nepal, but also, uniquely providing news and perspectives on current affairs in the UK, in the UK Nepali community, and back into Nepal. By definition UK Nepali news journalists cover the matters of moment to all sections of Nepali society from the most marginal and often overlooked, through to those that represented very large numbers (from conservative, traditional to pan-national contemporary and progressive/inclusive and social justice orientated).
There are many UK Nepali news houses and agencies (these have in all cases links back to national, respected parallel media agencies of major to niche, in Nepal) and a spirit of camaraderie amongst them all. In the UK the Federation of Nepali Journalists UK) – FNJUK: http://fnjuk.org/ — includes representatives from most of those agencies, including for example E-Kantipur and WeNepali, through founders and leads such as Mr Nabin Pokherel, Mr Naresh Khapangi Magar.
Below — FNJUK members and officers with H.E. Dr Durga Bahadur Subedi at the Embassy of Nepal
The BBC through BBC Nepal (online) also plays a role in regard to Nepal related news sharing, but its presence has been diminished to a certain degree when a couple of years ago through a cost-cutting rationalisation exercise decided despite strong UK Nepali community representation (including from the UKNFS) to end its provision of a dedicated news journalist post.
Social Media:
Social media is perhaps even more important than traditional online news channels, as it involves the crucial personal, social interaction factor so important to a still largely first generation diaspora community that sees micro (100-) to macro (20,000+) UK Nepali communities geographically distanced in England and the UK, and of course the great need of comparable real-time, video, text messaging, audio/phone and even online news views and announcement direct social interaction. Social media is also used for official communication from the Government of Nepal and Embassy of Nepal, as well as for job and study opportunities posts.
Facebook has been now for many years, and remains by far the most popular and preferred social media for UK Nepali community members (and for Nepalis in Nepal itself):
We conclude this section of the information resource with reference to an audio interview with FNJUK co-founder and E-Kantipur news lead Mr Nabin Pokherel (below).
In the interview three questions were asked, on the importance of the UK Nepali news media, importance to the UK Nepali community of social media conveying news of importance to the community, and on the role of initiatives such as Miss Nepal UK contest.
The key responses for each were in brief that the UK Nepali news media respects and supports the diversity of the UK Nepali community; that social media provides an essential independent platform where the mainstream general UK news media presents an inaccurate, picture of sometimes brushing aside the often substantial issues on support and inclusion where integration experienced by the community is concerned. Nabin’s response to the Miss Nepal initiative, indicated how through such competitions and in other ways the UK Nepali community is forging its own identity, as a Nepali one that includes both Nepali and broader indigenous British values perspectives and creativity.