South Asia Journalism Collective Launched at GIJC25
This Week, Big News from NIMJN!
A new chapter for South Asian journalism is here!
NIMJN is one of the founding members of the South Asia Journalism Collective (SAJC), announced at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The goal is to share skills, resources, and support systems while defending press freedom in one of the most complex and diverse regions in the world.
Who is in SAJC?
SAJC brings together five leading media organisations representing the South Asian region, creating a united front for investigative journalism across national boundaries. The founding members are:
Center for Investigative Reporting, Sri Lanka
Digitally Right, Bangladesh
Media Unlimited, Pakistan
Nepal Investigative Multimedia Journalism Network, Nepal
The Reporters’ Collective, India
Together, we represent journalists reaching over 2 billion people, reflecting the scale and potential of this collective network.
Reporting across South Asia is complex and often risky, with journalists facing limited resources and challenging conditions. Yet, the region consistently produces strong investigative work. SAJC aims to build on this by creating a collaborative space for cross‑border reporting and supporting newsrooms tackling issues that go beyond national boundaries.
Endorsement from Global Media Community
The formation of SAJC was welcomed by the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN). GIJN’s Executive Director, Emilia Díaz-Struck, described SAJC as a timely initiative, stressing that in difficult times for press freedom in many countries, collaboration and solidarity among journalists are more important than ever.
“During these complex times, collaborations and partnerships are key to strengthening the capacity of journalists to hold powers to account and conduct investigations of public interest that are valuable for citizens around the world,” Díaz-Struck said.
“We are excited to see that journalists from South Asia have joined forces to advance their work as a community in the region and celebrate the birth of the South Asia Journalism Collective. We see this as a powerful and timely initiative and look forward to seeing it grow and develop.”
During GIJC25, the founding members of SAJC also participated in a panel on “Reporting on Conflict and Collaborating in a Disinformed World” and a South Asia networking session focused on resource sharing, safety, and the defense of media freedom.
This is a step toward deeper collaboration and a more connected, informed region.
Rajneesh Bhandari– Founder and Chief Editor, Nepal Investigative Multimedia Journalism Network (Nepal), Kamal Siddiqi– Director, Media Unlimited, former Director, Center for Excellence in Journalism (Pakistan), Miraj Chowdhury – Founder, Digitally Right; former Bangla Editor, Global Investigative Journalism Network (Bangladesh), Mayank Aggarwal– Editor, The Reporters’ Collective (India), and Dilrukshi Handunnetti– Co-Founder and Director, Centre for Investigative Reporting-Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka) are instrumental in convening and shaping the future of the South Asia Journalism Collective (SAJC).
Read the full press release to learn more about SAJC and its vision for cross-border investigative journalism.