Kantipur Media Group (KMG) has appointed Anup Kafle as the ‘Group Editorial Director’. KMG has issued a press release stating that he has been appointed to lead the editorial team of all its publishing and broadcasting houses.

Kafle will lead the editorial team of all digital platforms including Kantipur Dainik, The Kathmandu Post, Kantipur Television, Kantipur FM and will be accountable to the Managing Director of Kantipur Media Group, the press release stated.

Kafle has experience as a digital editor at The Washington Post and an international editor at BuzzFeed News. He was most recently the editor-in-chief of ‘Rest of the World’. ‘Rest of the World’, a non-profit publication that explores the impact of technology on the Global South and emerging economies, won the National Magazine Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Best in Business Award under his leadership.

Kafle, who grew up in Pokhara and started his journalism journey at Nepal's 'The Himalayan Times', served as the editor-in-chief of The Kathmandu Post from 2018 to 2020. 'During his tenure, the Post was known for its more robust and fearless journalism, and through investigative journalism, he brought the Post closer to the reader,' said a statement issued by KMG. Kafle, who has also gained experience reporting in South Asia and the Middle East over the past two decades, has experience working in the role of transforming traditional newsrooms into digital newsrooms along with changing ways of receiving information.

The statement states that Kafle's long experience will be used to transform traditional journalism into digital. KMG Managing Director Sambhav Sirohiya pointed out that all media outlets of KMG need a unified editorial approach and strong leadership, and said, 'The position of Group Editorial Director has been created to fulfill that need. We believe that Kafle will further strengthen and elevate the journalism we have built over the past three decades in this position.''

Managing Director Sirohiya said that this is a very important turning point for Nepal's democracy and media sector, adding, 'Kantipur needs leadership like Kafle at such a time. Because, he has a long relationship with Nepali journalism.''

A statement issued by KMAG stated that all its publishing/broadcasting media outlets have been striving for political stability, good governance, transparency, investment and job creation for three decades, as well as making the concerned bodies accountable for it. The statement said, 'Kantipur, which believes in the principles of independent, fearless, impartial and public interest journalism, has been reaching millions of readers every day through print and digital platforms.''

Newly appointed Group Editorial Director Kafle said that he is committed to taking this legacy of Kantipur to further heights. 'At this time, Nepal is standing at a crucial juncture in its democratic future. The credibility of information is being questioned,' Kafle said, 'It is a rare opportunity for me to create another chapter for Kantipur at a time when there is a great need for independent and responsible journalism. I am very serious and excited about this challenge.'

Kantipur Media Group press release

Anup Kafle appointed as Group Editorial Director of Kantipur Media Group

Journalist Anup Kafle, who spent two decades in international journalism, has returned to Nepal to take the top editorial leadership position of Kantipur Media Group, the country's largest media house.

March 15, 2003

Kantipur Media Group, which has been synonymous with quality and credibility in Nepali journalism for three decades, has appointed Anup Kafle as 'Group Editorial Director'. This position, created for the first time in the history of the organization, is the highest editorial leadership position of the media group. Kafle will lead the editorial leadership of Kantipur Dainik, The Kathmandu Post, Kantipur Television and Kantipur FM. He will report to the Managing Director of Kantipur Media Group.

Before returning to Nepal, he was the editor-in-chief of Rest of the World. Under his leadership, Rest of the World, a non-profit publication that explores the impact of technology on the Global South and emerging economies, won the National Magazine Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Best in Business Award. Kafle has also served as the digital editor at The Washington Post and the international editor at BuzzFeed News.

During his tenure as editor-in-chief of The Kathmandu Post from 2018 to 2020, he built it into one of the country’s most influential and popular publications. During his tenure, the newspaper conducted fearless investigative reporting, even withstanding pressure from powerful interests. The Post’s stories also drew pressure and threats from various quarters. Kafle’s response was always the same – to prepare another investigative report.

This courage was appreciated by readers, and felt by journalists in the newsroom.

As international readers have shifted to digital, Kafle has often played a role in transforming newsrooms digitally. He has been reporting in South Asia and the Middle East for the past two decades. Raised in Pokhara, Kafle began his journalism journey with Nepal’s ‘The Himalayan Times’.

Kantipur Media Group has the reach, resources and institutional capacity to lead. As the political, economic and technological environment in Nepal changes rapidly, readers are also shifting from print to digital, which requires prompt and visionary leadership. Kantipur Media Group wants to use his experience to drive its media organizations forward as they transition digitally.

‘The position of Group Editorial Director has been created to meet the need for a unified editorial approach and strong leadership across all our media. We are confident that Kafle will further strengthen and elevate the journalism we have built over the past three decades,’ said Sambhav Sirohia, Managing Director of Kantipur Media Group.

‘This is a very important turning point for Nepal’s democracy and media sector. At such a time, Kantipur needs leadership like Kafle. He has a deep connection with Nepali journalism,' he added.

Every media outlet published by Kantipur Media Group has been striving for political stability, good governance, transparency, investment and job creation for three decades, as well as making the concerned bodies accountable for it. Kantipur, which believes in the principles of independent, fearless, impartial and public interest journalism, reaches millions of readers every day through print and digital platforms.