The Bhutanese (newspaper)

The Bhutanese is an independent newspaper published in Bhutan, founded in February 2012 by the journalist Tenzing Lamsang. From the outset it positioned itself around in-depth and investigative reporting, and it has since become one of the country's better-known private papers and a recurring reference point in debates over press freedom in Bhutan.^[1]

The paper appeared first on a bi-weekly schedule, published on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and from August 2013 settled into weekly Saturday publication. Its founding pledge placed explicit emphasis on investigative journalism — a relatively rare editorial stance in Bhutan's small and largely advertising-dependent media market.^[1][2]

Founding and editorial focus

The idea for the paper took shape in 2011, conceived as a title that would concentrate on investigation and analysis rather than daily news bulletins. The Bhutanese went on to break a number of stories on governance, corruption and public finance, building a reputation for adversarial reporting at a time when much of the Bhutanese press relied heavily on government and corporate advertising.^[2]

Advertising ban

In August 2012, only months after launch, The Bhutanese was subjected to an advertising ban — an effective economic embargo that critics characterised as retaliation for its investigative coverage. The episode became a frequently-cited example in discussions of the structural pressures on independent media in Bhutan, where advertising revenue, much of it from the state and state-linked bodies, is a decisive factor in a paper's survival.^[1]

Tenzing Lamsang

The paper's founder and editor, Tenzing Lamsang, began his career at The Indian Express in New Delhi before returning to Bhutan to work at the national newspaper Kuensel and then at Business Bhutan, launching The Bhutanese in 2012.^[3] He has received multiple national journalism honours, including the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Journalism Award in 2023, and is among the most prominent figures in Bhutanese journalism.^[3]

References

1. "The Bhutanese." Wikipedia.
2. "The story behind The Bhutanese paper." The Bhutanese.
3. "Tenzing Lamsang." Bhutan Echoes (Drukyul's Literature Festival).