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Archit is an investigative journalist with over seven years of experience. He integrates computational research, open-source intelligence (OSINT), Critical Discourse Analysis from the Lancaster School of Linguistics, and data visualization to uncover complex narratives. In addition, his belief in traditional journalistic practices — calling sources — often completes the story. His work focuses on documenting human rights violations, decolonization, cyber policy, climate change, immigration, content analysis, survey research, and dis/misinformation.

Achievement Unlocked
2024 SepPittsburgh, US
First Roundtable Paper Presentation

Presented my Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) research paper at the annual conference of the 'Association for the Study of African American Life and History,' the organization responsible for establishing Black History Month.

2015Pune, India
Name A Newborn

While traveling from Pune to Vadodara, I met a stranger who shared he was soon going to be a grandfather. We bonded so well; he asked me to share some unique names for his child. To my surprise, one of the names I suggested was selected.

Education
New York, USA
Columbia School of Journalism, Lede Program

Awarded $11,000 scholarship for a 12-week, not-for-credit profession program focusing on coding, data analysis, and visual storytelling for journalists.

Skills: Python, Jupyter Notebook, Pandas, Scrapping, DataWapper, MapBox, and QGIS

Washington DC, India
Georgetown University, MA (STEM) Communication, Culture, and Technology

CCT is an interdisciplinary program focused on studying the impact of the internet on society, and society on technology. He was awarded a merit-based scholarship worth $73,600.

Classes: Intro to CCT, Critical Discourse Analysis, Hacking for Defense, Fundamentals of Technology, Global Cyber Policy, and Social Network Analysis, Water Politics in MENA, Survey Research Methods, Genocide in Palestine, Python For Policy Makers, Migrants Sahara-Sahel Region, and Peace Agreements.

Chennai, India
Asian College of Journalism, Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism

Trained in print, online, and radio, with a specialization in broadcast journalism.

Electives: Reporting on Health, Ecology and Environment, and Arts and Culture

Special Coverage: Captured an Indian Navy's rescue operation during the '2015 Chennai floods' & sent footage to India Today & CNN News 18.

Vadodara, India
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, BA English Literature

English Literature classes, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Travel and Tourism, Russian Folk Tales, and Women's Studies.

Capstone Project 'English Language Teaching Through Literature': The project emphasized integrating modern tools like social media platforms to enhance teaching methodologies while addressing foundational linguistic concepts and global language evolution. Designed approaches for teaching poetry, plays, and short stories to undergraduate students at the MS University.

Activities: Led the activities at the Literary Society, where we had workshops, movie screenings, and presentations followed by group discussion.

Professional Experience
2023 Sep – presentDistrict of Columbia, US
Georgetown University, Multiple Roles (Part-Time)

Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding

  • Investigative Media Fellow at Drop Site News, a non-aligned, investigative news organization co-founded by journalists Jeremy Scahill, Ryan Grim, and veterans of The Intercept.
  • Teaching Assiatant for Dr Nader Hashemi's class Gaza: History, Politics, and Ethics. Accoutable for conducting weekly discussions, fostering critical thinking and engagement among students in DC and Doha, Qatar campus.
  • Reseacher at Bridge Initiative, a multi-year research project that connects the academic study of Islamophobia with the public square.
  • McCourt School of Public Policy

    Tech and Public Policy Fellow 2023: Researcher at Beyond the Screen, co-founded by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen in partnership with Project Liberty’s Institute. As a fellow, I examined and mitigated the potential harm to national security that arises from social media platforms.

    2023 Feb – 2023 JunRemote (India), Canada
    Zan Times, Growth Manager and Fact-Checking Editor

    Zan Times is a women-led, investigative newsroom that covers human rights violations in Afghanistan with a focus on women, the LGBTQ community, and environmental issues.

    Growth Manager:

  • Find new revenue streams, such as grants, sponsorships,
  • Developing and implementing strategies to increase the capacity of newsroom
  • Building Institutional partnerships for growth and investigative journalism
  • Fact-Checking Editor:

  • Reviewing and fact-checking reports sent by the editor-in-chief or managing editor before publication to ensure accuracy and integrity.
  • Train reporters in fact-checking and develop guidelines for newsroom
  • Pitched The Project Idea: Public Aghan Women Archive
  • Publications

  • Investigation: Who is the real Zarifa Ghafari?
  • 2019 Nov – 2023 FebAhmedabad, Remote, Kolkata, India
    Alt News, Senior Fact-Checking Journalist

    Alt News, an Indian non-profit fact-checking website, was founded in 2017. In 2022, the Peace Research Institute Oslo recognized Alt News as a deserving contender for a prize aimed at tackling religious extremism and intolerance in India.

  • Authored over 600 fact-check reports, including multiple exclusive investigative and long-form analyses. In the process, I have reported on topics such as politics, communal violence, technology, defense, and health, including COVID-19.
  • My work generated over 6 million visitors to the Alt News website. Many of them were republished by leading news outlets like The Wire, Deccan Herald, The News Minute, etc.
  • Business development initiatives:
  • Secure access to Hunchly, a market-leading web capture tool for online investigations
  • Secure Canva Pro, an industry-leading design tool, for the newsroom without any cost through their non-profit program.
  • Created a template and workflow to produce #AltNewsReels on Instagram, which can be posted across social media platforms.
  • Secure Balsamiq, UI wireframing tool for the newsroom
  • 2018 May – 2019 OctVizag, India
    The Hindu, Reporter / Sub-Editor

    The Hindu is an English-language daily newspaper, in circulation since 1889, known for its high-quality journalism and editorial integrity.

  • Covered a wide range of civic issues from the Visakhapatnam bureau in Andhra Pradesh, while establishing a niche in technology reporting. Conducted interviews with people from all walks of life, providing readers with an in-depth understanding of the region's cultural and social fabric.
  • Authored over 100 reports, including breaking news stories, investigative features, and human-interest pieces. Used my skills in research, writing, and editing to deliver well-researched, accurate, and compelling content to readers.
  • Selected works

    2017 May – 2018 AprBengaluru, India
    S3IDF, Fundraising and Communications Officer

    Small Scale Sustainable Infrastructure Development Fund (S3IDF) is an NGO based out of Boston and Bengaluru that supports livelihoods in agriculture & waste management by establishing formal and innovative financial linkages.

  • Tracked and managed fundraising opportunities
  • Co-drafted multiple grants, including applications for the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Titan, Nestle, and Mennonite Economic Development Associate.
  • Created a database of CSR companies that shared a similar vision to that of S3IDF.
  • Managed social media accounts and authored blogs based on field visits as part of my communication responsibilities at S3IDF.
  • Served as a contact point for weekly updates between the Boston-based US team and the project team in India.
  • Created a partnership between S3IDF and Amani Institute, a social impact incubator for individuals, which enabled S3IDF to host interns from all over the world.
  • Reported to the S3IDF India CEO, Samit Aich, who previously served as the CEO of Greenpeace India.
  • Publications

    2016 May – 2016 NovNew Delhi, India
    WION, Trainee Journalist

    World One News (WION) is a is a multinational English-language news channel owned by the Essel Group and is part of the Zee Media network of channels.

  • Produced over 30 videos, including a feature documentary 'Changing lives, one dribble at a time'
  • Hired by the founding team of WION from the Asian College of Journalism.
  • Worked in Production and Assignment Desks and contributed to the successful launch of the TV channel.
  • Produced numerous web and TV video packages while on the production desk, with a notable mini-documentary on a Noida-based basketball academy for underprivileged children.
  • Sourced news from various wires and social media platforms, updated ticker, and provided voiceovers for TV and web content.
  • Developed an operational understanding of software such as Dataminr, Adobe Premiere, Avid Media Composer, and Media Management Software Dalet
  • Projects
    Open-Source Investigations

    Reporting on several human rights violations as part of an investigative journalists' collective from Europe and India — Amra Dorjbayar, Archit Mehta, Ben Heubl, Brecht Castel, Kalim Ahmed, and Alberto Olivieri. We worked on a series of OSINT investigations from April 2022 to February 2023. Our work was published in the UK-based Centre for Information Resilience and the Belgium-based magazine Knack.

    Selected works

    References
    Ryan Grim, Co-Founder, Drop Site News
    Dr Nader Hashemi, Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University
    Dr Marwa Daoudy, Seif Ghobash Chair in Arab Studies, Georgetown University
    Organisations
    2023 – 2025
    Georgetown Pivot Program, Mentor

    Launched in 2018, the Georgetown Pivot Program is a professional development program for career-oriented individuals who have previously been incarcerated.

    2023 – 2025
    Gnovis

    For the past 24 years gnovis has published an annual peer-reviewed scholarly journal under Georgetown University's Communication, Culture, and Technology department.

    2017 – 2018
    Wildlife SOS, Volunteer

    Formed in 1995 Wildlife SOS rescues and rehabilitates wildlife in distress and preserves India’s natural heritage.