Shaping Tomorrow’s Media: Jonathan Ranger Highlights Lessons from China–Nepal Academic Exchange

In this special feature, Editor-in-Chief Sajib Kalakheti sits down with Mr. Jonathan Ranger, a journalism student who recently participated in a high-level academic exchange program linking Chinese and Nepali media institutions. Through this insightful conversation, Mr. Ranger reflects on his transformative experience, the contrasts and connections between media practices in both countries, and the broader significance of cross-cultural collaboration in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. His perspectives shed light on how emerging journalists can help strengthen understanding, dialogue, and professional cooperation across the Himalayan region.

1, As a journalism student, how would you describe your experience participating in the program?

– I would say this program has been an immensely rewarding experience. First of all, both the Chinese side — including the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and Kamba TV — and the Nepali side — Tribhuvan University and Himalaya TV — made thorough preparations for the event, ensuring a high level of organization and hospitality. The staff members from UESTC were particularly attentive, taking excellent care of our transportation, accommodation, and meals.

Secondly, scholars from various countries presented a truly enriching exchange of ideas, offering us, as undergraduate students, valuable insights into the Himalayan region and the evolving field of international communication. We were also honored to have a conversation with Professor Arvind Singhal from the University of Texas at El Paso, who studied under the renowned communication theorist Everett Rogers, the founder of the Diffusion of Innovations theory. For students of journalism and communication like us, it was a rare and inspiring opportunity to engage with such a distinguished scholar.

2, Journalism today has evolved significantly compared to your father’s time. Following in his footsteps, what inspired you to pursue a career in journalism?

– Exactly. Media technologies and forms of journalism have undergone tremendous changes over the past two to three decades with the rise of the internet, mobile devices, and social media. Yet, society’s demand for accurate, high-quality, and just information has remained constant.

My father, a former journalist and now the owner of a media company, has always taught me to approach journalism with compassion for people and an unwavering commitment to ethical standards. Like many of my peers, I see this spirit of public service as one of my main motivations for pursuing journalism as a field of study.

It is also worth mentioning that during our visit to Nepal, we had the opportunity to tour several local media organizations. Despite operating in challenging times, they demonstrated the same professionalism and journalistic integrity that I deeply respect and aspire to uphold.

3, With China’s rapid development and its emergence as a global power, how do you perceive the differences between Chinese media practices and Nepali journalism?

– With China’s rapid development and its emergence as a global power, the media environment has evolved accordingly: in China, journalism increasingly centres on mobile-first digital delivery and integrated media platforms. In Nepal, by contrast, traditional media such as newspapers and television still play a prominent role in many communities, even as digital media gain ground. Of course, that is purely about form rather than value.

I believe this difference reflects how audiences in each country approach media: China’s large-scale digital infrastructure and national ambition favour newer formats, while Nepal’s media landscape remains closer to its roots in print and broadcast, grounded in local context and continuity. For Nepali journalists, engaging with both legacies—traditional and digital—is the path to vitality; for Chinese media practitioners, looking to localised sensitivity and plural voices may be an area of further enrichment.

4, What key insights did you gain from the program organized by Tribhuvan University, and how is your university addressing the current challenges in the field of journalism?

– I gained a richly diverse set of insights from the program organized by Tribhuvan University. Perhaps most importantly, the event revealed how scholars and institutions from different countries operate under distinct paradigms—and how those paradigms lead to different theoretical and methodological orientations. For those of us engaged in the social sciences, this suggests a shift in self-understanding: rather than positioning ourselves as discoverers of absolute truths, we might better view ourselves as observers capable of applying diverse perspectives to the same complex issue. In the context of the Himalayan region’s communication and social-development challenges, having multiple frameworks is invaluable—it helps us understand problems more fully rather than from one narrow angle.

At the School of Journalism and Information Communication of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), which stands among China’s leading fronts for innovation in journalism education, we are responding to today’s challenges accordingly. Our undergraduate curriculum already includes, in addition to traditional news writing and editing, frontier courses such as data journalism, data-mining, large-language-model applications and data science—courses that intersect with engineering disciplines. These offerings not only equip us with skills attuned to the times, but also prompt us to adopt forward-looking thinking about how technology is reshaping journalism. Our hope is that through generational continuity in journalistic practice, the pages of news may keep pace with societal change and respond meaningfully to public demands.

5, Finally, what kind of journalism do you envision for Nepal and Nepali journalists, and how can media exchanges and collaboration with China be further enhanced?

– As neighbouring countries separated only by the Himalayan range, China and Nepal share a deeply rooted friendship and have already made significant strides in cooperation—yet much more remains possible. As an undergraduate student, I may not claim to propose a definitive “vision” for journalism in Nepal. Still, I believe that journalists from both countries—especially the next generation—can play a greater role in bilateral cooperation by sharing lessons on development and governance, and by actively reporting on collaborative outcomes so that scale and benefit of cooperation continue to expand.

From my perspective as a young person, this increasingly globalised world has brought unprecedented proximity and similarity to our generation. We should harness the advantages of technological progress—such as internet infrastructure and emerging artificial intelligence—to seek common ground while respecting differences, and to broaden understanding and collaboration. In China, many people are curious about Nepal’s story; likewise, Nepali media professionals can bring local narratives to Chinese audiences, helping to build a more relatable and appealing image of Nepal among the Chinese public. Such media exchanges and collaboration could contribute to greater stability, unity and shared development in the Trans-Himalaya region.

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