Palki Sharma leaves journalism after two and a half decades; netizens say India has lost a powerful global voice

Palki Sharma, the news and current affairs anchor, is all set to return to entrepreneurship after more than three years at Network18, where she was Managing Editor, according to sources that spoke to BestMediaInfo.com. 

Her departure is a major transition from the newsroom to the business world, which is not new to her.

Her previous entrepreneurship stint 

Palki Sharma had previously turned entrepreneur in April 2016, launching a designer saree label named Reyva. The brand was known for its modern power dressing concepts and used traditional Indian weaves such as Chanderi and Kota silk. 

Operating between 2016 and 2019, Reyva partnered with ethnic e-commerce platforms such as Jaypore and organized exhibitions at various locations. Although her journalistic commitments eventually took over, her current decision to leave indicates a fresh impetus to operate beyond the newsroom.

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Her career

In her most recent stint at Network18, Sharma anchored the monologue-based show Vantage on Firstpost.com and CNN-News18.

Launched on January 26, 2023, the show rapidly gained a fan base for its strong emphasis on international news through an Indian perspective. This was Sharma’s second stint with Network18, where she had previously been associated with the group in other editorial capacities.

Prior to Network18, Sharma was associated with WION, where she anchored the prime-time show Gravitas, earning international recognition for her commentary on global geopolitics. With nearly two-and-a-half decades of experience, her career spans organisations including ITV Network, Network18, Doordarshan News, and The Hindustan Times.

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The announcement

Announcing her exit, Santosh Menon, head of editorial and content for digital operations of News18, wrote in a memo, “It is with a heavy heart that I share an important leadership update at Firstpost. After a remarkable tenure as Managing Editor, Palki Sharma has decided to step down.”

He further added,“During her time with Firstpost, Palki played a vital role in launching our prime-time show, Vantage, and contributed significantly to shaping its editorial tone. She anchored the show with clarity, insight and an unwavering commitment to presenting global news through an Indian lens, earning widespread acclaim. Beyond her role on air, Palki helped establish a strong editorial team and fostering a culture of journalistic excellence. We thank her for her contribution and wish her the very best in her future entrepreneurial pursuits.”

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Netizens react 

Following the news, netizens expressed strong reactions online.

“She is the only voice India has in international forums ...I see many global youtubers use her clips to talk about India.Its would be a great loss for India's journalism.”

Another wrote, “nooo, she has amazing speaking and presenting skills, Indian govt should have hired her for presenting the govt on global stage.”

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