The Bhutan Observer was Bhutan's first private bilingual newspaper. It was launched as a private limited company by parent company Bhutan Media Services (BMS), and began publishing on June 2, 2006, in Thimphu. Its Dzongkha edition was called Druk Nelug, and the newspaper maintained an online service in English until 2013.[1][2]
Phuntso Wangmo, CEO of Bhutan Observer, and Needrup Zangpo, Editor-in-Chief, with the National Order of Merit, awarded by His Majesty, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, on December 17, 2011.
The newspaper employed about 60 people in editorial, commercial, administrative, and managerial departments. The editorial department won several national journalism awards for the best editorial, best Dzongkha issue, best editorial cartoon, and the most valuable story on Gross National Happiness.[3][4] The former Executive Editor, Sonam Kinga, was one of several relatively young individuals to make an early entry into newly democratic Bhutanese politics in 2007, winning a seat and leadership position in the kingdom's first National Council elections.[5][6]
As Bhutan began developing its private media sector, fledgling media outlets including the Bhutan Observer faced scrutiny by public figures over novice reporting, misquoted sources, and viewpoint biases with the effect of presenting overly sensational and negative coverage in articles.[7] Language of publication has also become a significant issue, as government language requirements strain publishers' budgets.
The Dzongkha edition, Druk Nelug, was published in compliance with government media language requirements.[2][8] While Dzongkha is the national language, it is not spoken natively among the majority of Bhutanese.[9] Among the general population, Dzongkha abilities have improved, but still need development according to a Bhutan Observer editor. Despite language reforms and improved public competency, many Bhutanese find English easier to read, speak, and write.[10]
Amid concerns of the long term sustainability of the Bhutan Observer and other media's Dzongkha editions, the government in 2007 began to subsidize the translation of English language advertisements into Dzongkha, and granted exemptions from sales tax and import duties. The tax breaks were set to expire after a period of five years, but may be renewed.[11] Both the Dzongkha Druk Nelug and English language Bhutan Observer were heavily subsidized by government advertisements within a marketing industry subject to significant government control on a policy basis.[12] In 2011, nearing the five year mark and having neither approached sustainability nor obtained tangible government support, the Observer requested that the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) allow it to discontinue publication of Druk Nelug; that request was denied. The newspaper said it would abide by the government's decision, but that the Druk Nelug might be reduced to a symbolic publication due to its commercial infeasibility.[8]
End of Print Publicationedit
On August 1, 2013, the Bhutan Observer announced the end of its printed edition. It continued as an online publication which also ended in 2016.[13][14]
^. Kuensel online. 2006-02-01. Archived from the original on 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^ ab. Bhutan Observer online. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^"Journalists Decorated with Awards". AFPA News online. 2009-05-05. Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^. Bhutan Broadcasting Service online. 2007-05-04. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^Raj, Mitra (2007-04-15). . Bhutan Times online. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^Gyelmo, Dawa (2011-06-17). "NC Opposes NA's Decision of Removal". Kuensel online. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^Pelvar, Sonam (2008-09-17). . Bhutan Times online. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^ abTenzin, Tashi (2011-04-21). "Proposal to Drop Dzongkha Edition Shot Down". Kuensel online. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^"Languages of Bhutan". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16 (online) ed.). SIL International. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Kingdom of Bhutan... [population] 637,000... [Dzongkha speakers number] 160,000 in Bhutan (2006).
^Pelvar, Sonam (2008-10-01). . Bhutan Times online. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^Tshering, Kinley (2007-05-13). . Bhutan Times online. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^Wangmo, Phuntsho (2013-08-01). . Bhutan Observer online. Archived from the original on 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
^"Bhutan Observer suspends their print edition". Bhutan Broadcasting Service online. 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
^. Archived from the original on 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
December 07, 2023
bhutan, observer, bhutan, first, private, bilingual, newspaper, launched, private, limited, company, parent, company, bhutan, media, services, began, publishing, june, 2006, thimphu, dzongkha, edition, called, druk, nelug, newspaper, maintained, online, servic. The Bhutan Observer was Bhutan s first private bilingual newspaper It was launched as a private limited company by parent company Bhutan Media Services BMS and began publishing on June 2 2006 in Thimphu Its Dzongkha edition was called Druk Nelug and the newspaper maintained an online service in English until 2013 1 2 Bhutan ObserverTypeNewspaperPublisherBhutan Observer Pvt Ltd FoundedJune 2 2006LanguageEnglish DzongkhaHeadquartersThimphu BhutanCirculationAll over BhutanWebsitebhutanobserver wbr com wbr btPhuntso Wangmo CEO of Bhutan Observer and Needrup Zangpo Editor in Chief with the National Order of Merit awarded by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on December 17 2011 The newspaper employed about 60 people in editorial commercial administrative and managerial departments The editorial department won several national journalism awards for the best editorial best Dzongkha issue best editorial cartoon and the most valuable story on Gross National Happiness 3 4 The former Executive Editor Sonam Kinga was one of several relatively young individuals to make an early entry into newly democratic Bhutanese politics in 2007 winning a seat and leadership position in the kingdom s first National Council elections 5 6 As Bhutan began developing its private media sector fledgling media outlets including the Bhutan Observer faced scrutiny by public figures over novice reporting misquoted sources and viewpoint biases with the effect of presenting overly sensational and negative coverage in articles 7 Language of publication has also become a significant issue as government language requirements strain publishers budgets Contents 1 Druk Nelug 2 End of Print Publication 3 Honours 4 See also 5 ReferencesDruk Nelug editThe Dzongkha edition Druk Nelug was published in compliance with government media language requirements 2 8 While Dzongkha is the national language it is not spoken natively among the majority of Bhutanese 9 Among the general population Dzongkha abilities have improved but still need development according to a Bhutan Observer editor Despite language reforms and improved public competency many Bhutanese find English easier to read speak and write 10 Amid concerns of the long term sustainability of the Bhutan Observer and other media s Dzongkha editions the government in 2007 began to subsidize the translation of English language advertisements into Dzongkha and granted exemptions from sales tax and import duties The tax breaks were set to expire after a period of five years but may be renewed 11 Both the Dzongkha Druk Nelug and English language Bhutan Observer were heavily subsidized by government advertisements within a marketing industry subject to significant government control on a policy basis 12 In 2011 nearing the five year mark and having neither approached sustainability nor obtained tangible government support the Observer requested that the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority BICMA allow it to discontinue publication of Druk Nelug that request was denied The newspaper said it would abide by the government s decision but that the Druk Nelug might be reduced to a symbolic publication due to its commercial infeasibility 8 End of Print Publication editOn August 1 2013 the Bhutan Observer announced the end of its printed edition It continued as an online publication which also ended in 2016 13 14 Honours edit nbsp Bhutan nbsp Member of the National Order of Merit in Gold 17 December 2011 15 See also editBhutan Broadcasting Service Bhutan Times Kuensel Media of BhutanReferences edit Two Private Newspapers to Start in April Kuensel online 2006 02 01 Archived from the original on 2013 06 05 Retrieved 2011 10 01 a b About Us Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2011 09 30 Retrieved 2011 10 01 Journalists Decorated with Awards AFPA News online 2009 05 05 Archived from the original on 2012 07 21 Retrieved 2011 10 01 Media Award The Winners Are Bhutan Broadcasting Service online 2007 05 04 Archived from the original on 2012 03 28 Retrieved 2011 10 01 Raj Mitra 2007 04 15 I Am Capable Bhutan Times online Archived from the original on 2012 03 31 Retrieved 2011 10 01 Gyelmo Dawa 2011 06 17 NC Opposes NA s Decision of Removal Kuensel online Retrieved 2011 10 01 Pelvar Sonam 2008 09 17 Media Under Scrutiny Bhutan Times online Archived from the original on 2012 03 31 Retrieved 2011 10 01 a b Tenzin Tashi 2011 04 21 Proposal to Drop Dzongkha Edition Shot Down Kuensel online Retrieved 2011 10 01 Languages of Bhutan Ethnologue Languages of the World 16 online ed SIL International Retrieved 2011 10 01 Kingdom of Bhutan population 637 000 Dzongkha speakers number 160 000 in Bhutan 2006 Pelvar Sonam 2008 10 01 Befriending Dzongkha Despite the Desperate Battle against English Dzongkha Simplification Continues Bhutan Times online Archived from the original on 2012 03 31 Retrieved 2011 10 01 Tshering Kinley 2007 05 13 Government to Support Print Media Bhutan Times online Archived from the original on 2012 03 31 Retrieved 2011 10 01 Wangdi Phuntsho 2010 04 16 Draft Circulated for Feedback Kuensel online Retrieved 2011 10 01 Wangmo Phuntsho 2013 08 01 Publisher s Note Bhutan Observer online Archived from the original on 2013 08 17 Retrieved 2013 08 16 Bhutan Observer suspends their print edition Bhutan Broadcasting Service online 2013 08 06 Retrieved 2013 08 16 His Majesty awards National Order of Merit Archived from the original on 2017 05 02 Retrieved 2017 05 02 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhutan Observer amp oldid 1183504644, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
