Kathmandu, May 15
Basanta Basnet has been appointed the new Editor-in-Chief of Onlinekhabar.com, succeeding outgoing editor-in-chief Shiva Gaunle.
The decision was made during a board meeting of Onlinekhabar Nepal Pvt. Ltd., which also formally accepted Gaunle’s resignation. Basnet had been serving as editor at Onlinekhabar since mid-July 2022 (1 Shrawan 2079).
A seasoned journalist, Basnet has previously worked as a political correspondent at Kantipur Daily and held editorial roles at Nagarik Daily. He has also served as editor at Annapurna Today, news editor at Annapurna Post, editor of Nepal Magazine, and editor-in-chief of Shilapatra.com.
An accomplished author as well, Basnet has penned 72 Ko Bismaya—a political analysis set against the backdrop of the Madhesh Movement—and two novels, Mahabhara and Simsara.
Farewell to Shiva Gaunle
Meanwhile, Onlinekhabar formally bid farewell to outgoing Editor-in-Chief Shiva Gaunle, who had taken on the role in March 2021 (16 Falgun 2077).
The farewell event was attended by Chairperson Dharma Raj Bhusal, Executive Director Suresh Bhusal, and members of the editorial team. Chairperson Bhusal thanked Gaunle for more than four years of leadership and wished him well in his future endeavours.
“Under his leadership, the fast-paced newsroom at Onlinekhabar carved out a distinct identity through in-depth reporting and long-form journalism,” Bhusal said. “The evolving DNA of our newsroom, shaped during this period, will continue to guide us forward.”
In his remarks, Gaunle expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead Nepal’s number-one online news portal during a pivotal phase and said he was pleased to hand over the reins to a capable editor from the next generation.
“This dedicated newsroom has set a new benchmark in investigative and analytical reporting,” he said. “I am confident that Onlinekhabar will continue to grow under new leadership and make an even greater impact.”
Newly appointed Editor-in-Chief Basnet described his time working under Gaunle as a valuable learning experience and pledged to deliver both speed and depth in Onlinekhabar’s journalism moving forward.
