As the Kantipur Publications marked its 25th anniversary on Monday, editors said the Kantipur Media Group outlets thrived on editorial freedom they enjoyed in the post-1990 period and the management that trusted their ability to make judgments.

Speaking at the publication’s silver jubilee celebration, held at the KMG central office in Thapathali, Kathmandu, Kantipur Daily Editor-in-Chief Sudheer Sharma said that the glorious journey of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post was a result of the support they received from the publisher.

“The continuous support, we received, created history for the Kantipur Publications, which is the only private house publishing broadsheets for a record 25 years [in the country].”

Akhilesh Upadhyay, editor-in-chief of The Kathmandu Post, remarked that the publication house was ahead of other media houses in the country because of editorial freedom. “We always got higher editorial independence, compared to other media houses,” he said.

“We have completed this journey because of our firm commitment to democracy, editorial freedom and pluralism. Our devotion to honesty and ethics of journalism has brought us where we stand today.”

Addressing the annual celebration, KMG Chairman and Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya said the 25th anniversary was a historic occasion for the private media sector, especially those publishing broadsheets. “Unlike previous anniversaries, this is a historic moment not only for Kantipur, but all the private houses publishing broadsheets. We have created a new record by celebrating the silver jubilee,” said Sirohiya.

Recalling early days of the publications, which started from a six-room building in Thapathali with limited resources, Sirohiya shared his happiness at his ability to expand all forms of media under the KMG.

“We had begun our journey with Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post. Now, we have several other print outlets, our own radio and TV stations as well as a digital department,” added CMD Sirohiya. He recalled that there was no model to replicate when Kantipur embarked on its journey, no policy and no management style that could be followed at that time. “The country’s open policy paved our way in journalism from the private sector. But we always faced obstacles. Our reporters faced death threats during the armed conflict and after the king’s takeover. The Army came into our newsroom but we continued to disseminate right information to our readers,” said Sirohiya.

Stressing the role of journalism in the newly adopted federal system, Sirohiya said Kantipur Publications would be more dedicated to the country’s development than reporting factional politics.

Sirohiya stressed that the KMG would strive to practise credible journalism with readers and public interest at the core. He praised everyone’s contribution and thanked editorial, management, circulation and finance teams, readers, advertisers and well-wishers for their efforts and support.