As we publish our final edition of 2025, it is a moment to pause, not to celebrate ourselves, but to reflect on what it has meant to report from Mokokchung and Nagaland through a year that was demanding, complex and deeply revealing.
Journalism, especially at the district level, is rarely glamorous. It is slow work, often uncomfortable, sometimes isolating, and almost always under-resourced. Yet, 2025 reaffirmed why this work matters.
Over the past year, Mokokchung Times has continued to document governance, politics, conflict, community life and everyday realities with one guiding principle: public interest. We reported on issues that affected ordinary citizens, asked difficult questions of those in authority, and gave space to voices that are often overlooked. From governance gaps and political claims to livelihoods, culture, youth initiatives and community resilience, our effort has been to remain consistent, factual and fair.
One of the clearest indicators of this journey has been the response from readers. In 2025, our reporting reached over 6 million people on Instagram, along with millions more on Facebook, X, and our website. For a district-based publication, this reach is not incidental. It reflects a growing demand for grounded, accountable journalism that does not sensationalize but also does not look away.
Beyond reporting, Mokokchung Times has also partnered in initiatives that strengthen community engagement, including support for sports such as the Nagaland Football Association and many other local events. We remain grateful for the recognition and trust the community has placed in us through these collaborations.
At the same time, reach and partnerships alone are not our measure of success. The real value of journalism lies in trust. It lies in whether people believe that a publication reports without fear or favor, whether it treats subjects with dignity, and whether it remains rooted in the community it serves. That trust is built slowly, story by story, often under difficult circumstances.
The challenges remain real. Independent journalism in Nagaland continues to operate under financial constraints, limited institutional support, and increasing pressures in an environment where speaking truth can invite discomfort. Reporting responsibly on sensitive issues requires restraint, courage and constant self-reflection. It also requires community backing, not only in words, but in sustained support.
Mokokchung Times is not separate from the community. It exists because of it. Our stories come from villages, towns, institutions, churches, schools, offices and streets. The responsibility to keep this platform alive and credible cannot rest on a newsroom alone. It requires readers who engage critically, contributors who value accuracy, and a community that understands the role of journalism in a healthy society.
As we close 2025, we do so with gratitude to our readers, contributors, sources and critics alike. Criticism, when honest, has helped us reflect and improve. Support, when steady, has helped us continue.
The year ahead will bring its own challenges. We enter it with the same commitment: to report responsibly, to question power, to document community life honestly, and to remain accountable to the people we serve. Mokokchung Times will resume publication on January 8, 2026, and we look forward to continuing this journey with our readers.
For Mokokchung Times, journalism is not about good news or bad news. It is about telling the story of our society as truthfully as possible. We thank the community for walking with us so far, and we ask for your continued trust, engagement and support in the year ahead.
~ Editorial team
Mokokchung Times
