| Type | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Bhutan Observer Pvt. Ltd. |
| Founded | June 2, 2006 |
| Language | English,Dzongkha |
| Headquarters | Thimphu,Bhutan |
| Circulation | All over Bhutan |
| Website | bhutanobserver |
TheBhutan Observer wasBhutan's first private bilingualnewspaper. It was launched as a private limited company by parent company Bhutan Media Services (BMS), and began publishing on June 2, 2006, inThimphu. ItsDzongkha edition was calledDruk Nelug, and the newspaper maintained an online service in English until 2013.[1][2]
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 onGross National Happiness.[3][4] The former Executive Editor,Sonam Kinga, was one of several relatively young individuals to make an early entry into newlydemocratic Bhutanese politics in 2007, winning a seat and leadership position in the kingdom's firstNational Council elections.[5][6]
As Bhutan began developing its private media sector, fledgling media outlets including theBhutan 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.
TheDzongkha edition,Druk Nelug, was published in compliance with government media language requirements.[2][8] WhileDzongkha 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 aBhutan 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 theBhutan 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 DzongkhaDruk Nelug and English languageBhutan 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, theObserver requested that the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) allow it to discontinue publication ofDruk Nelug; that request was denied. The newspaper said it would abide by the government's decision, but that theDruk Nelug might be reduced to a symbolic publication due to its commercial infeasibility.[8]
On August 1, 2013, theBhutan Observer announced the end of its printed edition. It continued as an online publication which also ended in 2016.[13][14]
Bhutan :
Member of theNational Order of Merit [in Gold] (17 December 2011).[15]Kingdom of Bhutan... [population] 637,000... [Dzongkha speakers number] 160,000 in Bhutan (2006).