NEAJA elects new executive committee

Atlantic City, April 25:

The Second General Convention of Nepal America Journalists’ Association (NEAJA) has elected Nagendra Paudel as its president. Paudel was elected by a margin of 31/22 against Pradip Thapa Magar. Krishna Sharma, Aang Chhiring Sherpa, Sahadev Poudel and Sharmila Uprety were elected unopposed to the posts of senior vice-president, general secretary, treasurer and secretary respectively.

Bishnu Sheetal, Bijaya Poudel and Shekhar Dhungel were also elected unopposed as regional vice presidents for Washington DC region, New York and New England region, and Mid and Western region respectively.

The five executive members – Shiva Bista, Lila B Raut, Nilam Karki, Amit Shah, Bishnu Poudel were also elected unopposed at the two-day convention held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Over 60 active journalists, 30 guests and a dozen of special invitees had attended the convention.

Out-going NEAJA president Girish Pokhrel handed over the NEAJA key to newly elected president Nagendra Paudel after the election commission coordinator Yogesh Upadhyay declared Paudel as the winner.

Earlier in the inaugural session, chief guest Kali P. Pokhrel, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Nepal in USA, had shed light on the need of objective journalism. He also launched “The Prayash”, a NEAJA souvenir publication brought under the successful editorship of Shashwat Parajuli.

NEAJA advisor Tara Baral spoke on the challenges of the ethnic Nepali journalism while CEO of Sagarmatha TV – USA Ram C. Kharel highlighted on the efforts made by Nepali journalists on various fronts including print, audio-visual and online.

NECC chairman Prem Sangraula, ANS president Khem Bhattachan, NRN-USA coordinator Suman Timilsina, and Matthew Handley, the US lawyer who fought for the families of 12 Nepali people who were killed brutally during the first two years of escalating Iraq War, also wished for the success of the convention on the occasion.

NEAJA presented the certificate of appreciation to Handley on behalf of all the Nepali people who were grateful to the service done to the Nepali families of the Iraq War victims.

On the occasion out-going NEAJA general secretary Krishna Sharma and treasurer Gunaraj Luintel had presented the progress and financial reports respectively.

During the closed session there was a brainstorming on the achievements and weaknesses of the first executive committee. Despite differences, all the journalists agreed on the need to take NEAJA on the next step forward.

Outgoing NEAJA executive member Anup Thapaliya had delivered the vote of thanks.

Founded in 2007 in Arlington, Virginia, Nepal America Journalists’ Association (NEAJA) is a network of professional journalists from Nepal residing in North America. An umbrella organization of the Nepalese media houses, the institution seeks to network with all journalists of Nepali heritage, or those professionals who work with Nepali media. We are a not for profit, non-political, professional organizations.

We adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. We also network with many other Nepali journalism organizations and professionals spread across the world. We welcome your participation.

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For more information, to coordinate events or to network, email us at:najausa@gmail.com