Subscribers will now get full access to Republica, Nagarik and The New York Times in one digital bundle
KATHMANDU, Oct 17: The long-standing print partnership between Republica Daily, published by Nepal Republic Media (NRM), and the world-renowned New York Times has reached new heights.
According to the agreement reached on Wednesday, the two publishing houses have now agreed to promote bundled subscriptions of NRM's two flagship publications--Republica and Nagarik-- and The New York Times. The print partnership between Republica and The New York Times began in 2011.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, along with Nepal Republic Media Chairman Binod Raj Gyawali and The New York Times President Stephen Dunbar Johnson, officially launched the digital subscription collaboration between Nepal Republic Media and The New York Times at a special ceremony held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
This collaboration introduces digital subscriptions for NRM’s Republica Daily and Nagarik Daily, and The New York Times, aimed at providing high-quality news content through Nepal's first digital paywall collaboration. Readers and viewers now have enhanced access to both local and global news, ensuring a seamless experience across various platforms.
Two-day Huawei Digital Nepal Conclave 2022
Speaking at the ceremony to launch this initiative, Deputy Prime Minister Paudel expressed his belief that the digital collaboration between Nepal Republic Media and The New York Times will bring a new dimension to Nepal’s media landscape. Paudel highlighted the importance of collaboration to address the challenges facing the media industry in the digital age. He expressed confidence that the partnership with The New York Times would allow Nepal Republic Media to provide quality news content to Nepali readers with greater accessibility.
“This initiative would make Nepali journalism more sophisticated in terms of technology and skills, helping connect Nepal to the global market. While leveraging technology, journalism must remain rooted in its core values and principles,” he said.
While stating that the government is creating necessary policies to make mass media dignified, impartial, and professional, Minister Paudel said that the government is expecting cooperation from the media sector. "The government is ready to provide support to create the right ideas and to institutionalize democratic practice and democracy. Forgetting or deviating from the basic aspects of journalism can spread false or misleading information. Journalists should be aware of that. It is also necessary for journalism to play a special role in minimizing false or misleading information that can be spread through various media, including social media," he said.
Also addressing the function, US Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R Thompson, said that the collaboration between Nepal Republic Media and The New York Times will strengthen the relationship between the US and Nepal. He commended the cooperation and expressed confidence that it would elevate the standards of quality journalism.
Ambassador Thompson also noted that the partnership will give readers in both countries access to world-class news content. While highlighting the role of the US Embassy in the development of media sectors in Nepal, he emphasized the importance of quality journalism to eliminate confusion in news and provide accurate and fair information to citizens.
New York Times International President, Stephen Dunbar Johnson, who arrived in Kathmandu to launch the digital collaboration, expressed his happiness about the collaboration with Nepal Republic Media. He remarked on the evolution of the partnership that began in 2011 and has now advanced into a digital bundle.
This bundle provides digital subscribers of Nepal Republic Media with full access to a variety of New York Times content, including news, sports, cooking, podcasts, and the Athletic, a premier online sports portal. Johnson congratulated NRM's leadership team and expressed optimism about the future of the partnership.
Chairman of Nepal Republic Media Binod Raj Gyawali highlighted that the longstanding partnership with The New York Times has reached new heights. He emphasized how this collaboration will enable Nepal Republic Media to provide high-quality digital content to its readers and viewers both within Nepal and internationally.
Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Republic Media Sambridhi Gyawali said that this partnership has created new revenue opportunities for local media that have traditionally relied on advertising. She said that the collaboration allows readers and viewers to access special content from Republica Daily, Nagarik Daily, and The New York Times.
Gyawali further explained that New York Times has 10.8 million online subscribers, and 80 percent of its customers in the US alone pay $300 per year. However, Nepal Republic Media is offering similar access to its readers for just Rs 3,500 annually. She also reaffirmed the company's commitment to delivering the highest quality content to its audience.
Director of Nepal Republic Media Shova Gyawali noted that the 13-year long partnership between the Nepal Republic Media and The New York Times will help general readers to access quality news content.
