The relationship between the media and the military in Nepal was rocky, unfriendly and in trouble in the past. The army officials used to keep journalists at a distance. Nepal Army used to think that they should do their jobs behind closed doors rather than making them transparent and public. Similarly, journalists used to think that army officer were unfriendly and

rigid who did not share any information. However, the old mindset of both the military and media persons is gradually changing and the media-military relation is becoming warm and cordial. This comes as a breather in the democratic set up.

In the present context, the relation between the media and the national is becoming friendly and warm. Recently, Nepalese Army conducted a defense correspondent orientation program for two-dozen journalists from the different media houses.

There may be reasons that the army wants to keep many of its activities and information secret claiming them to be matters of national security, while the media’s primary duty is to inform the people about what is happening in the army. Altering the old mindset, NA high-ranking officers have shared much information about the structure of NA and other different activities during the orientation program that this scribe attended.

Similarly, NA provided the opportunity to the journalist to visit the different army barracks and the army posts, mainly at the western division. Probably, it is the first time the army let journalists visit the barracks to let them know how they are functioning.

The program gave the journalists the opportunity to know what the high-ranking army officers think about the current political situation.

During the week-long program, army officers spoke openly with the journalists and shared information. High-ranking army officers reasoned that the military and the media can work and go together to promote and secure the national interest. The orientation program was the brain child of the new Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung, and was backed by Defense Minister Bidhya Bhandari.

Nepalese Army started to improve ties with the media only after 2001 when the NA was mobilized against the insurgency. NA established the directorate of public relations in 2001 to build the relationship.