By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Dec. 17: The Rising Nepal, the oldest English national daily of Nepal, has completed 54 years of service to the nation.
Launched in December 16, 1965, The Rising Nepal (TRN), a publication of the Gorkhapatra Corporation, has been the world’s window to Nepal.
Barun Shumsher Rana was the founder editor of TRN.
TRN is dedicated to informing the Nepali public about the national and international affairs. It has been playing a vital role in informing the international community about the provisions of the reigning constitution of the country and the government policy and programme regarding their implementation.
TRN is primarily devoted to serving the readers with news and views of national and international interest. It has been offering a variety of features, including explainers and interviews.
Lately, the daily has developed its seventh page as the topic page, which takes stock of the week’s important stories and perspectives on culture, travel and tourism, development, politics, environment and information technology. With its sister publication, the Gorkhapatra, TRN holds weekly dialogue on contemporary issues.
Prof. P Kharel, former editor of TRN and journalism professor, said until he served as TRN editor, it was the largest circulating English newspaper of the country.
“At the time, the population of Nepal was almost half that of now. And the literacy rate and education level even lower. Still TRN had a sizeable circulation.”
Now there are multiple options for readers, listeners and viewers to be informed and entertained. People have an access to Internet that was not there earlier, said Kharel, adding that the number of broadsheet media had also increased largely in Nepal.
This is the reason why the circulation of TRN and other papers had declined in the recent years, he added.
“TRN has to keep abreast of the present demands. To achieve this goal, TRN should meet the minimum requirements. There should be an adequate number of staff, who need orientation and incentives,” said Kharel.
“The remuneration of the editorial staff in private media is high. But the condition of TRN is different,” said Kharel, adding that the management should also increase its investment to enhance the skills of the staff.
Furthermore, there has to be a thorough review of the contents, he added.
“The private media have their own inherent bias. But TRN can avoid bias and this will be its strength.”
Extending his best wishes, Lok Deep Thapa, senior journalist and former editor of TRN, said he felt proud to have been associated with the TRN.
“TRN has a great future and I hope the younger generation of journalists will carry on the good work. I wish for its brighter future,” said Thapa.
Shyam KC, former editor of TRN, said lately he had noticed many improvements in the paper.
“I see the relevance of TRN because it has a good reach,” said KC, adding that to make the paper competitive, there should be no interference from the government.