With Nirmala Sharma elected to preside as President over Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), the media-sphere has entered a dream-arena marked by trust in female leadership in a highly important pillar of democracy. It took Nepal nearly 69 years to break the glass-ceiling of gender–inequality and have a ladyin the key-chair of the press-world. It is historic, indeed, and deserves special admiration. All media persons who are dedicated to the cause of gender equality, equity, and social inclusion should feel great this time. Female journalists – reporters, editors, broadcasters, producers, photographers and others in the communicator-sector –specially get in Nirmala’s victory one more inspiring example to prove “a woman can compete, and do” if “she” is not denied opportunity. The competitor who lost to Ms Sharma in a democratic voting-process could take his attempt as a meaningful race undertaken decently towards the broad cause that the FNJ has stood for. The new FNJ President has before her a number of tasks: driving confidently the democratic national institution; managing organizational tasks as per the socio-political dynamics obtaining in the country; safeguarding journalism as a professional career; contributing to the cause of media houses dedicated to public cause; empowering huge multi-task work-force in Print, Radio, TV, Online, a number of information outlets attached one way or the other to Social Media. Energizing efforts for truth and blocking the flow of fake-news or misinformation should also constitute a task for her. New media ecology of Nepal expects much from the journalistic competence and leadership-experience of Ms Sharma. Nepali society particularly the general people in the public sphere has for a long time been looking for a non-partisan approach – a neutral mode of press operation by journalists – from the media persons. For this a line of demarcation between media and politics should be drawn. Contributing towards that cause would be a great achievement which will in turn be instrumental in enabling institutions of democracy in a balanced manner. Boosting the image of FNJ and motivating journalists in all provinces to contribute more constructively (and critically when necessary) to the advancement of Nepali society is a goal no new leader of media persons can ignore or sideline. The same could serve as significant fuel for the new leadership in her journey forward.
