Pant elected to leadership team of global media development network GFMD

 Kathmandu, July 17 – Laxman Datt Pant, Founder and Executive Director of Media Action Nepal (MAN), has been elected to the Steering Committee of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) — the world’s largest network of journalism support and media development organizations.

His election was confirmed during GFMD’s General Assembly held on July 16, where 17 new members from around the world were inducted. This year, 54 candidates ran for the committee, double the number from the previous election held four years ago. Voting was held from June 12 to July 14, with 76% of GFMD's 215 members casting their votes.

Pant is the first-ever Nepali to be elected to the committee and will represent the Asia, Pacific, and Oceania region. A respected communication expert and global media rights advocate, Pant said the role would allow him to bring Nepal’s and South Asia’s media concerns to the global stage.

“It’s an honor to represent both Media Action Nepal and the wider Asian media community in global discussions on press freedom, media development, and journalist safety,” Pant said.

Strong Track Record in Media Advocacy

Under Pant’s leadership, Media Action Nepal has worked to promote independent and responsible journalism through research, training, rights monitoring, and advocacy. The organization is affiliated with major global coalitions like:

  • Media Freedom Coalition–Consultative Network (MFC-CN)

  • ACOS Alliance

  • Civil Society Coalition of the Forum on Information and Democracy

  • GFMD itself

From 2022 to 2024, Pant served as Co-Chair of the MFC-CN, helping coordinate collaboration between 51 countries, over 150 civil society organizations, and global institutions like UNESCO.

Pant also teaches media as an adjunct professor at Tbilisi State University in Georgia and has led several international initiatives on media education, journalist safety, and policy reform.

What's Next

The new GFMD Steering Committee will serve a four-year term starting with an in-person meeting in Kuala Lumpur on November 20, 2025, during the Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC). At that meeting, members will elect the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Treasurer, who will join the Executive Director to form GFMD’s top leadership team for 2025–2029.

“I look forward to bringing an Asian perspective on how media can operate during crises, build resilience, and respond to emerging threats,” Pant added.

Global Representation on the Committee

Other newly elected members include prominent figures from around the world:

  • Catherine Gicheru, Africa Women Journalism Project (Kenya)

  • Zoe Titus, NMT Media Foundation (Namibia)

  • Nasr ul Hadi, PROTO (India)

  • Milka Domanovic, BIRN (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

  • Lina Kushch, National Union of Journalists of Ukraine

  • Lars Boering, European Journalism Centre (Netherlands)

  • Adriana Garcia, Abraji (Brazil)

  • Courtney Radsch, Center for Journalism and Liberty (USA)

  • Angie Holan, International Fact-Checking Network (USA)

  • Toby Mendel, Centre for Law and Democracy (Canada)

  • Caroline Vuillemin, Fondation Hirondelle (Switzerland)

  • Quinn McKew, ARTICLE 19 (UK)

  • Simon Bishop, BBC Media Action (UK)

  • Rawan Damen, ARIJ (Jordan)

  • Shireen Al Khatib, MADA (Palestine)

  • President of Media Institute of the Caribbean (Jamaica/Trinidad & Tobago)

Pant’s election is seen as a significant step forward for Nepal's representation in global media policy and advocacy.

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