Kuensel

Started in the present tabloid format by Kinley Dorji, who graduated from Columbia University New York with a masters degree in journalism, "Kuensel", (which loosely means clarity), was the sole newspaper in Bhutan up until April 2006 when it was joined by the "Bhutan Times" and Bhutan Observer in June 2006.

Kuensel is published in two language editions: Dzongkha (the national language) and English, on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a total weekly circulation of more than 30,000 copies and an average weekly readership of 130,000.

Kuensel was founded in 1967 as an internal government bulletin. In 1974 a press machine was bought from India and installed in Thimphu. Soon Dzongkha letter blocks were prepared by the Japanese technicians and the bulletin was published in Dzongkha as well.

In 1986 Kuensel was reformatted under the same title and published weekly as Bhutan's only newspaper by the Ministry of Communications' Department of Information. Kuensel had a total circulation in 1988 of 12,500 and was published in Dzongkha, Nepali, and English.

In 1992, a royal edict de-linked Kuensel from the government and made it an autonomous corporation to allow for the professional growth of the media. It stopped receiving government subsidy in 1998. Today, the newspaper is subsidized by commercial printing and advertisements.

In 1996 the size of the paper was expanded from 12 to 16 pages in Dzongkha and English and to 20 pages in 1999. In February 2005 Kuensel began publishing a 12-page edition twice on week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In 2006 the Wednesday edition was increased to 14 pages and the Saturday edition to 18 pages with a colour pull-out lifestyle section called CityBytes.

Kuensel is published from the capital, Thimphu, and Kanglung, Trashigang, in eastern Bhutan. The editing and layout work is done in Thimphu and sent over to Kanglung via the Internet.

The setting up of a press in Kanglung in December 2005 has ensured that the paper is available in all the dzongkhags on the day of publication.

The paper is distributed throughout the country by a string of sales agents appointed in all the dzongkhags, dungkhags and towns, while subscribers overseas are fed through mail service/e-mail. Subscribers also get a PDF version of the paper.

Kuensel Corporation Limited., started an online version of the paper in 1999 (kuenselonline.com) the year Internet first came to Bhutan. It has grown to become the most popular site on Bhutan with daily news updates on the happenings in the kingdom and an equally active discussion forum. In 2006, kuenselonline.com had an average of 3,000 visitors a day with more than 15,000 registered members.

In 2006 Kuensel Corporation ltd., divested 245,000 shares of a face value of Nu. 100 a share, constituting 49 percent of the paid up capital, to the public. 51 percent of the corporation is held by the government. In May 2007 Kuensel Corporation Limited., held its first annual general meeting with its shareholders. The AGM also elected two members from the public shareholders to the five-member board of directors. The other three members are government appointees.

The corporation has a 14-member editorial team headed by a chief editor, a language editor, a news editor, a deputy editor, a chief reporter and bureau correspondents in Trashigang, Phuentsholing, Zhemgang and Bumthang and five reporters in Thimphu.

Most of the reporters have basic training with Strait Times of Singapore and the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, India. Some reporters have done internships with papers in the Philippines and with the mainstream newspapers in India. Two of the present staff have received international postgraduate degrees in journalism.

While radio has the widest reach in Bhutan and international cable television has become a staple in many Bhutanese homes, Kuensel is read by the literate population and decision-makers. It has continued to see a gradual increase in circulation over the years.

With a growing literacy rate and the country in the midst of social, economic and political change, the Bhutanese print media is increasingly being challenged to improve content, quality and overall professionalism.

External links

* [http://www.kuenselonline.com/ Kuensel Online]