A free press with unhindered power to inform people is a cornerstone for functioning democracy. But, when media engages in seeking profits and tampering its content for its benefit to manufacture public support, so who should watch the watchdog? This paper assesses the impact of media ownership pattern specially the corporate news influences in the flow of news content and brings into understanding the ways such influences can be mitigated to safeguard the public interest in the context of Nepal.

Urbanization pattern does not seem geographically uniform across Nepal. Natural expansion of urban areas due to population growth, planned growth of cities through infrastructural development and reclassification of urban centers has expanded the urban areas in Nepal. Nepal‟s urban centers have been facing several socio-economic and infrastructural problems due to lack of policy measures and institutional harmonization. In absence of a strong policy for the regulation and management of rapidly growing, uncontrolled and haphazard urban development has created numerous problems, including deficiencies in basic urban services, encroachment of public lands, slums and sprawling settlement. This paper tracks the patterns and trends of urbanization in Nepal and identifies some key issues related to unplanned urbanization. The paper also highlights mandates to local government in urban management. Some immediate actionable opportunities to contribute towards proper urban planning and governance are recommended. This research was carried out through in-depth literature review, expert consultation and key informant surveys. The paper recommends institutional cooperation among various actors through effective communication along with the multiple use of urban land, an inclusive urban planning policy, and timely investment in urban infrastructures. Furthermore a decentralized policy synchronizing the administrative and policy duties among the central and local level government authorities seems essential. Addressing urban poverty mainly around the slums through informal economy is needed.

Experts are technically sound individuals who can articulate fellow citizens’ need and are capable of providing evidence and analyzing policy options. Their ability to comprehend the issue comes from their strong theoretical base and the considerable amount of time they spend in gathering experience and knowledge. But there is no single universally accepted way for experts to engage in the democratic process. Finding out how experts can play an effective role in policy making can be a challenge to decision makers as well as researchers. Their capacity and commitment to properly understand the seriousness and far-reaching implication of issues in question shape the reliability and authenticity of their expert knowledge. However, this does not happen most of the time because there are several other factors that shape their expert opinion. Understanding why it does not happen the way it should and what makes their role significant in policy process are explored in this paper. Having a democratic institutional arrangement that provides a different sphere for experts are also important considerations to be made. Thus, the paper explores how proper positioning of experts can enhance their interactive role in the policy process.