Kathmandu, April 17
Journalist Umesh Chauhan has been appointed Group Editor of Nepal’s leading media houses, Himalaya Television Network and Onlinekhabar.com. Previously operating as separate and autonomous entities, Himalaya Television and Onlinekhabar have now decided to move forward under a group structure by adopting a “newsroom convergence” model.
A joint meeting of the boards of both organisations decided to entrust Chauhan with leading the development and implementation of the group’s editorial strategy. As Group Editor, he will be responsible for formulating a unified editorial strategy, strengthening coordination between newsrooms, enhancing collaboration, and making the content ecosystem more effective.
Chauhan was welcomed on Friday by the entire newsroom, including Group Chairman Dharma Raj Bhusal, Himalaya Television Executive Director Shyam Kadel, Onlinekhabar Executive Director Suresh Bhusal, Onlinekhabar Editor-in-Chief Basanta Basnet, and Himalaya Television Editor Madhusudan Panthi.
With around 25 years of experience in journalism, Chauhan is a seasoned media professional with expertise in both print and broadcast media. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Tribhuvan University and a master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Purbanchal University. He has previously served in leadership roles as Editor at Naya Patrika Daily and Editor-in-Chief at Kantipur Daily.
Group Chairman Bhusal stated that Himalaya Television and Onlinekhabar have adopted the newsroom convergence model to work under a unified editorial direction by sharing planning, content, and presentation.
“We have taken this initiative to enhance our capacity to produce quality content through strategic editorial collaboration between the two institutions,” he said. “We are confident that Chauhan’s extensive experience will boost productivity and creativity, help develop timely new news products, and strengthen our digital future.”
Chauhan said that the group has already begun initial preparations to transform both the content and presentation of news, and plans will be unveiled gradually based on time and context.
“A newsroom is not just a factory that produces news; it is, in essence, a public service lab that tests governance. The effectiveness of journalism is determined not only by public issues but also by presentation and platforms,” said Chauhan. “As audiences globally shift toward digital platforms and audio-visual content becomes increasingly impactful, coordination between Onlinekhabar and Himalaya Television is a significant initiative for us, and we will turn it into a meaningful and powerful platform.”
