Palki Sharma, the face of India’s global news commentary, has resigned as the Managing Editor of Firstpost. Her departure, reported by Exchange4media and communicated internally at Network18, marks the end of a transformative chapter where she launched the flagship show Vantage and solidified Firstpost’s position in the digital-first international news space. Known for her “India-first” perspective on geopolitics, Sharma is now expected to embark on her own independent media venture. In her wake, Firstpost has appointed Binoy Prabhakar as Chief Content Officer to spearhead the platform’s editorial future.
The “Independent Venture” Buzz
Industry sources suggest that Sharma’s next move mirrors a growing trend among top-tier Indian journalists (such as Barkha Dutt and Faye D’Souza) who have pivoted to independent, creator-led media models. By launching her own venture, Sharma likely aims to:
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Direct Audience Engagement: Leverage her massive social media following without institutional constraints.
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Global Distribution: Focus on a global audience via cross-platform digital distribution.
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Creative Autonomy: Explore long-form documentaries or niche geopolitical deep-dives.
The Indian Digital News Landscape (2026)
As of early 2026, the digital news ecosystem in India has matured into a “star-led” economy. High-profile exits like Sharma’s often lead to significant shifts in viewership, as audiences frequently follow the anchor rather than the platform. For Firstpost, the challenge under Binoy Prabhakar will be to institutionalize the success of Vantage while diversifying the platform’s content to mitigate the loss of its most recognizable face.
