Opinion | Disaster, royalty and revolution: What makes Nepal newsworthy?
Summary
Nepal’s international news profile has often been shaped by disaster, royalty, revolution and Everest, from the royal massacre and Maoist insurgency to the 2015 earthquake and recent floods. The article argues that the Bhotekoshi/Trishuli floods became especially newsworthy because of their scale, vivid social media coverage and global climate context.
Key Points
- Nepal has historically appeared in foreign media mainly through politics, Everest, disasters and dramatic upheavals rather than routine news.
- The 2001 royal massacre, the Maoist insurgency, the 2006 political changes and the 2015 earthquake each drew major international coverage.
- The Bhotekoshi/Trishuli floods stood out for their visual impact, social media circulation and relevance to the global climate debate.
- The author reflects on the trauma experienced by survivors and the difficulty of journalists interviewing people after disaster.
.png)