Palki Sharma Steps Down from Firstpost, Plans to Launch Her Own Media Venture
Senior journalist Palki Sharma has decided to step down from her role as Managing Editor of Firstpost. She plans to launch her own independent media venture, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The development was shared with employees during a town hall meeting held on Thursday evening. During the meeting, it was announced that Palki Sharma will continue to remain with the company until March, ensuring a smooth transition.
The announcement was made by Santosh Menon, who is the Chief Content Officer at Network18. He informed staff that while Sharma is stepping down from her leadership role, she is leaving on amicable terms and will continue working with the organisation for the next few months.
Along with Sharma’s exit, several leadership changes were also announced. Binoy Prabhakar, who was earlier associated with Hindustan Times Digital, will take over as the new Chief Content Officer of Firstpost. Additionally, Rakesh Rai, who currently serves as Executive Editor at Firstpost, will be promoted to the position of Managing Editor at News18.com.
At Menon’s request, Palki Sharma also addressed Firstpost employees during the town hall. She spoke about her three-year journey with the organisation and confirmed her decision to start a new venture of her own. According to sources, she described the decision as emotional but necessary for her personal and professional growth.
In a follow-up email sent to employees across the Network18 platforms, Menon praised Sharma’s contribution to Firstpost. He said it was with a heavy heart that the organisation was sharing this leadership update, acknowledging the impact Sharma had during her tenure.
During her time at Firstpost, Sharma played a key role in launching the prime-time show Vantage. The show quickly became popular for its focus on global events explained from an Indian perspective. Sharma anchored the programme with clarity and confidence, earning appreciation from viewers and industry peers alike.
Menon also highlighted that Sharma helped build a strong editorial team and promoted a culture of high journalistic standards within the organisation. He thanked her for her dedication and wished her success in her upcoming entrepreneurial journey.
Speaking about the appointment of Binoy Prabhakar, Menon described him as a highly experienced editor with a strong background in leading media organisations such as The Economic Times, The Indian Express, and Network18’s own platforms including Moneycontrol and CNBCTV18.com. He added that Prabhakar will guide Firstpost through its next phase of growth and editorial expansion.
Before joining Network18, Palki Sharma was widely known for her work at Zee Media. She was a popular anchor on the English-language international news channel Wion. In September 2022, after spending more than five years at the channel, she announced her exit on X, formerly known as Twitter.
However, her departure from Zee Media was not smooth. The company reportedly moved court against her, stating that she had not served the mandatory 90-day notice period required under company policy. Despite the controversy, Sharma continued her media journey and later joined Firstpost, where she became one of the most recognisable faces of the platform.
With her decision to step down now, industry observers are keenly watching what shape her new venture will take, especially given her strong following and influence in digital news journalism.