From Radio Nepal to the Frontiers of Digital Media

Philadelphia — From the newsrooms of Nepal to the academic world of the United States, Sonika Lamichhane has built a career at the intersection of journalism, education and media research.

Now a fourth-year PhD student in Communication, Culture, and Media Studies at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Lamichhane is pursuing research into some of the most pressing challenges facing today’s information society, including misinformation, digital literacy and artificial intelligence.

Her journey began in Nepal, where she combined teaching with hands-on experience in journalism and broadcasting. She started her professional career as an instructor at St. Xavier’s College in Kathmandu, while also developing her experience in the media industry.

Lamichhane went on to work as a newsreader and editor at Radio Nepal, where she spent more than six years. Her years in broadcasting provided her with first-hand experience of the responsibilities involved in communicating information to the public and the important role journalists play in shaping public understanding.

Her commitment to education and academic excellence has also been recognised through several prestigious honours. In 2018, she received the Bidya Bhusan B, one of Nepal’s prestigious academic honours, presented by the President of Nepal. She also received a gold medal from the Education Minister after achieving the highest grades in her master’s degree.

For Lamichhane, however, academic recognition is not simply an achievement to look back on. Her current doctoral research reflects a continuing interest in how people understand, evaluate and respond to information in an increasingly digital world.

Her research focuses particularly on misinformation, digital literacy and artificial intelligence. At a time when people encounter an unprecedented volume of information through social media, digital platforms and AI-powered technologies, she is examining ways to help the public become better equipped to distinguish reliable information from misleading or false content.

Her work is rooted in a broader question: How can societies develop an educated and informed public in an increasingly complex digital information environment?

The question connects closely with her earlier experience in journalism. Working in news media gave her an understanding of the importance of accuracy, responsibility and public trust, while her academic career has allowed her to examine these issues from a deeper research perspective.

From the classrooms of Kathmandu and the studios of Radio Nepal to the doctoral halls of Drexel University, Lamichhane’s journey reflects a continuing commitment to education, journalism and the public’s right to reliable information.

As technology continues to transform how people access and consume news, her research places her within an emerging generation of scholars seeking to understand — and help shape — the future of communication.

For Lamichhane, the goal extends beyond studying the changing media landscape. It is about helping people develop the knowledge and critical skills they need to navigate it.