Bengaluru: In a significant move, the Karnataka government has appointed veteran journalist Ayesha Khanum as the new chairperson of the Karnataka Media Academy on Wednesday, July 10. Ayesha Khanum, who has had an extensive career in various news organisations and most recently served as the chief correspondent for South India at Doordarshan, is the first woman from a minority community to hold this prestigious position.

Alongside Ayesha, the government has named three other notable journalists to the academy. The new members include MN Ahobalapathy, a journalist from Chitradurga; K Venkatesh, a senior news photographer from Bengaluru, making him the first photojournalist ever appointed to the academy; and K Ningajja, a journalist from Gangavati.

The recommendation for Ayesha’s appointment came from the Chief Minister's media advisor, KV Prabhakar. Prabhakar emphasized that Ayesha's appointment marks a significant step toward social justice, regional representation, and gender equality. "As Ayesha is from Kalaburagi, which falls in the Kalyana Karnataka region, her appointment upholds social justice, regional justice, and gender equality," Prabhakar stated.

Congratulating the new chairperson and members, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his optimism about the future of the academy. He stated on social media, “Congratulations to Ayesha Khanum and all the new members who have been appointed to the Karnataka Media Academy. I hope that under their leadership, the academy will work meaningfully by organizing programs to improve the professionalism and career skills of journalists.”

This appointment highlights the government's commitment to promoting diversity and enhancing the quality of journalism in the state