MEDIA FRAMING AND WATCHDOG PERFORMANCE IN REPORTING POLITICAL CORRUPTION: A STUDY OF NEPALI NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS (2022-2023)
MEDIA FRAMING AND WATCHDOG PERFORMANCE IN REPORTING POLITICAL CORRUPTION: A STUDY OF NEPALI NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS (2022-2023)

Summary/Abstract: This study examines the watchdog role of the Nepali press in reporting on political corruption amid a democratic transition, institutional fragility, and a weak media market. Following Nepal’s transition to a federal republic, declining public trust in political institutions and the increasing visibility of corruption scandals have heightened concerns regarding media accountability. Although the constitution guarantees press freedom, political pressure, economic constraints, and clientelist media structures continue to influence journalistic practices.Guided by media performance theory and framing theory, this research analyzes how three leading national newspapers – The Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times, and The Rising Nepal – frame corruption scandals. Using directed qualitative content analysis, 896 news articles and editorials published between January 2022 and December 2023 were examined across four framing functions: problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation, and recommendation.The findings indicate that corruption coverage is predominantly episodic, personalized, and heavily dependent on official sources. Reporting primarily focuses on individual-level corruption, with limited attention to systemic or institutional dimensions. Causal frames highlight the lack of accountability and misuse of discretionary power, while structural issues such as citizen exclusion and governance monopoly are seldom addressed. Although corruption is often associated with government instability and financial loss, its wider societal and political implications receive minimal exploration. Recommendations tend to emphasize punitive actions and investigations rather than long-term institutional reform or civic engagement.The study concludes that the Nepali press fulfils a limited watchdog function, constrained by political proximity, media clientelism, and economic pressures. Rather than promoting systemic accountability, corruption is typically framed as isolated misconduct by political actors. These findings underscore the challenges of sustaining public-interest journalism in fragile media systems and contribute to broader discussions on media performance in emerging democracies.

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