Bhutan Times will be circulated on Sundays and Bhutan Observer on Fridays.

Bhutan Observer will publish their newspaper both in English and Dzongkha and Bhutan Times will publish in English only.

However, within a year from its launch, Bhutan Times will also have to publish in Dzongkha, said an official from the ministry of information and communication.

A selection committee formed under the ministry selected the two private firms after going through about 10 variables including professional competency, public service agreement, editorial independence from ownership, frequency of publishing, coverage density plan, and diversity of content among others.

Speaking to Kuensel the information and communication minister, Lyonpo Leki Dorji, said that the private newspapers will be solely owned by Bhutanese and published in Bhutan.

“They are free enterprises and there is no government commitment or subsidies,” Lyonpo Leki Dorji told Kuensel.

“The two private newspapers will encourage competition among newspaper companies, and like in all other services, customers will benefit from better services and value,” he said.

“Newspapers will play an important role once the draft Constitution is endorsed in 2008,” he said, adding that the media was indispensable in educating and informing people after the change in the political system. “Private newspapers are encouraged to improve coverage,” said Lyonpo Leki Dorji.

Meanwhile, the draft Media Act will be submitted in the forthcoming National Assembly session in June for endorsement.