Profile

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.

Publications
Professional Experience
2025 Jan – 2025 May
Investigative Fellow at Drop Site, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
  • •Covered U.S. foreign policy and First Amendment topics, conducting over 30 interviews both in-person and by phone.
  • •Monitored social media and news platforms from the Middle East for breaking news updates.
    • Washington DC, US
  • •Researched and identified AI technologies to automate social media posting and assist in news production.
    • 2024 Aug – 2024 Dec
    Teaching/Research Assistant, Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University
  • •Served as a Teaching Assistant for the Gaza: History, Politics, and Ethics class led by Dr. Nader Hashemi, Director of ACMCU.
  • •Designed and led weekly interactive discussions for 20 students, promoting engagement and knowledge exchange on complex subjects.
    • Washington DC, USA
  • •Assessed assignments and offered constructive feedback to enhance student progress and learning outcomes through Canvas and during in-person/online office hours.
  • •Managed and improved online learning platforms via Zoom, ensuring smooth communication and effective virtual collaboration.
  • •Coordinated a visit for students and faculty to the Museum of the Palestinian People.
    • 2024 Jan – 2024 May
    Researcher, The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
  • •Conducted an in-depth content analysis over one semester, reviewing more than 3,000 Facebook posts to evaluate anti-Muslim rhetoric by key US Presidential candidates from October 2023 to May 2024.
  • •Created a detailed fact-sheet titled 'Militant Monk' on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
    • Washington DC, US
  • •Tracked and analyzed anti-Muslim trends in India and the US.
    • 2023 Sep – 2023 Dec
    Tech and Public Policy Fellow, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University
  • •Researcher at Beyond the Screen, co-founded by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, in collaboration with Project Liberty.
  • •Authored four articles and presentations examining national security risks associated with social media misinformation, such as conspiracy theories, deepfakes, and astroturfing, effectively translating complex policy issues into clear and actionable communications for various audiences.
    • Washington, US
    1 / 5
  • •Conducted extensive literature reviews on over 100 academic papers and news articles to provide evidence-based policy recommendations and support strategic public affairs initiatives.
    • 2023 Feb – 2023 Jun
    Growth Manager and Fact-Checking Editor, Zan Times

    Zan Times is a women-led, investigative newsroom covering human rights violations in Afghanistan.

  • •Secured an $18,000 grant from Doctors Without Borders to enhance newsroom technology infrastructure, enabling journalists’ access to essential digital tools.
    • Remote (India), Canada
  • •Developed and led fact-checking training programs for 15 journalists in Afghanistan, with a focus on leveraging Google Image Search, Google Advanced Search, and Google Sheets for investigative reporting and information verification.
  • •Collaborated closely with editorial leadership to craft impactful stories and foster strategic partnerships with organizations such as Google and the Centre for Information Resilience.
  • •Designed and implemented a comprehensive social media strategy and employee performance evaluation workflows using Notion, optimizing internal communication and operational efficiency.
  • •Conducted interviews with journalists, diplomats, and subject matter experts from Afghanistan to inform high-impact stories, strengthening media relations and stakeholder engagement.
  • •Conceptualized and pitched the “Public Afghan Women Archive” project, demonstrating initiative in campaign management and cross-functional collaboration.
    • 2019 Nov – 2023 Feb
    Senior Fact-Checker, Alt News

    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.

    Ahmedabad, Remote, Kolkata, India
  • •Debunked over 550 instances of misinformation across diverse topics—including politics, economics, health, military, sports, religion, technology, and culture—demonstrating exceptional productivity and expertise in public affairs communications.
  • •Demonstrated advanced skills in multimedia analysis, utilizing keyword search, reverse image search, geolocation, and social media intelligence to verify content and support fact-based reporting.
  • •Conducted interviews with more than 1,500 individuals from government officials, police officials, politicals, journalists, PR professionals at tech companies, university professor, religious heads and many others across India and the world strengthening stakeholder engagement and media relations.
  • •Led cross-functional collaborations by co-authoring stories with peers and freelance journalists, and providing foundational fact-checking training to interns and junior staff.
  • •Built and managed effective data workflows to document and centralize critical evidence for investigative projects, ensuring streamlined internal communication and knowledge management.
  • •Researched and identified newsroom technologies—including Canva Pro, Hunchly, and DanaMojo—to enhance content production and operational efficiency.
  • •Led weekly team meetings and initiated conversations around mental health support, fostering a collaborative and supportive workplace culture.
    • 2018 May – 2019 Oct
    Reporter, The Hindu

    The Hindu is an English-language daily newspaper, in circulation since 1889.

    Vizag, India
  • •Authored over 100 articles spanning technology equity, civic accountability, cultural preservation, and in-depth human interest profiles, effectively communicating complex issues to diverse audiences. 
    • 2 / 5
  • •Focused 83% of coverage on Andhra Pradesh communities, addressing critical issues such as rising suicide rates and waste management, and amplifying underrepresented voices at the local level
  • •Conducted more than 200 in-person interviews, consistently engaging multiple expert sources per story to ensure accuracy, credibility, and comprehensive coverage. 
  • •Developed a specialization in technology journalism, reporting on major trends such as US-China technology relations, the YouTube subscriber battle, gadget reviews, start-up innovation, and emerging technologies.
  • •Collaborated closely with editorial teams, photographers, and pagination specialists to deliver high-quality, visually engaging stories in Vizag and across multiple cities such as Chennai, Benagluru, Hyderabad and Vijayawada
  • •Authored compelling human interest profiles, including the youngest girl to summit Mount Everest, Poorna Malavath, and palliative care pioneer Dr. M.R. Rajagopal, highlighting stories of resilience and social impact.
  • •Invited by Macau Tourism for a press junket, where I wrote two feature stories: a personal account of bungee jumping from the world’s highest commercial jump and a comprehensive guide on top experiences in Macau, demonstrating versatility and first-person storytelling skills.
    • 2017 May – 2018 Apr
    Fundraising and Communications Officer, S3IDF

    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.

    Bengaluru, India
  • •Identified, managed, and co-authored over 15 successful grant applications within a year, setting an organizational record and demonstrating strong fundraising and project management skills.
  • •Developed a proprietary database analyzing the corporate social responsibility initiatives of 100+ companies, including Fortune 500 firms, to inform strategic partnerships and funding opportunities.
  • •Collaborated directly with the CEO of S3IDF India and the Programs Team to align fundraising and partnership strategies with organizational goals.
  • •Managed multi-platform social media communications (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), enhancing stakeholder engagement and brand visibility.
  • •Led cross-border C-suite meetings between India and US offices, and coordinated with external partners such as Hasiru Dala, Vijaya Bank, waste management entrepreneurs, and farmer producer organizations to advance collaborative initiatives.
  • •Established a partnership with the Amani Foundation to host international fellows passionate about rural development, strengthening talent pipelines and program impact.
  • •Represented the organization at the 2017 ASEAN India Millet Festival, identifying and engaging new partner organizations to expand the network and support strategic objectives.
    • 2016 May – 2016 Nov
    Trainee Journalist, WION

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

    New Delhi, India
  • •Produced 30+ short videos,, including the documentary “Changing Lives, One Dribble at a Time,” effectively translating complex stories into engaging multimedia content for diverse audiences.
  • •Operated the Breaking News Desk and managed the news ticker, ensuring timely and accurate dissemination of high-impact information across digital platforms.
    • 3 / 5
    Projects
    2025
    News Website AutoScraper
  • •Designed and implemented an automated web scraping tool using Python and the AutoScraper library to systematically extract and structure news articles from the WAFA News Agency website. In addition to scraping the headlines, the tool annotates the headlines based on keywords.
  • •Using AI, developed reusable scripts for large-scale data collection, enabling efficient, real-time aggregation of news content for research and analysis on Middle East media coverage and information flows.
    • 2025
    Human Rights Researcher & Conflict Analyst
  • •Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the 2025 Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement using Dr. Matthew Levinger’s four-step conflict analysis framework, systematically examining the roles of primary actors, dividers and connectors, drivers of conflict, and windows of vulnerability and opportunity.
  • •Assessed the negotiation process, agreement contents, and implementation failures, highlighting the humanitarian impact, shifting power dynamics, and limitations of the ceasefire in addressing the root causes of the conflict.
    • 2024
    Documenting Human Rights Violations in Gaza
  • •Analyzed over 1000 social media posts on X (formerly Twitter) using the Pandas library to systematically identify and document attacks on water infrastructure in Gaza, focusing on reports by journalists and prominent regional accounts. My study found that Israeli airstrikes and bombings are the primary methods for targeting water systems. The study also documented over 12 different types of water infrastructure that have been attacked, including wells, desalination plants, and distribution networks.
  • •Conducted independent research examining public statements by Israeli officials, applying legal and content analysis frameworks to assess evidence of genocidal intent, with particular attention to the mental element of genocidal connection. My research paper was selected for presentation at “Protecting Journalists in Conflict Zones: Challenges and Strategies During the Israel-Gaza Conflict,” a conference collaboratively organized by the International Communication Association.
    • 2024
    Defending Digital Autonomy, Why E2EE Deserves Second Amendment Safeguards

    Authored a research paper for Dr. Laura DeNardis’s seminar arguing that end-to-end encryption should be recognized as protected under the Second Amendment. The paper, reviewed by Tor Director Esra’a Al Shafei, integrates constitutional analysis, legal precedent, and digital rights advocacy and cites over 25 scholarly and legal sources to support its claims. 

    2023
    Food Waste Reduction Policy, MacDill Air Force Base
  • •Successfully pitched to work on the Department of Defense-sponsored initiative to reduce operational waste at MacDill Air Force Base, coordinating with military leadership, kitchen staff, and logistics teams to audit food procurement processes. 
  • •Delivered a scalable waste-reduction framework that saves ~200,000 USD annually while aligning with USDA surplus food donation programs to address Tampa-area food insecurity.
    • 2023
    Lexical Analysis of Artifacts in National Archives
  • •Led a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of National Archives artifacts to identify systemic biases in historical narratives, translating findings into actionable insights for policymakers and cultural institutions.
  • •Authored a peer-reviewed paper adopted by the 2024 ASALH Conference (founders of Black History Month), driving dialogue on equitable archival practices.
  • •Published condensed findings in Georgetown University's online magazine The Footnote, reaching readers in academia and public history sectors.
    • 2022 – 2023
    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

    4 / 5
    Education
  • •Activities and societies: Roundtable Speaker at the Association for the Study of African American Life and History 2024 Conference, Peer reviewer at Gnovis Journal, Justice Committee Member for the GradGov
    • Lede Program, Columbia School of Journalism
  • •Awarded merit-based scholarship for a 10-week, not-for-credit professional program focusing on coding, data analysis, and visual storytelling for journalists.
  • •Skills: Python, Jupyter Notebook, Pandas, Scraping, DataWrapper, MapBox, and QGIS
    • New York, USA
    Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism, Asian College of Journalism

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

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

    Chennai, India

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

    BA English Literature, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

    Specialization Women's Studies. Electives included in Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Travel and Tourism, Russian Folk Tales, and

    Capstone Project 'English Language Teaching Through Literature'

    Vadodara, India

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

    Languages
    EnglishHindiGujarati
    Skills
    Python — Jupyter Notebook, Pandas, Beautiful Soup|Photography — My portfolio|Open Source Investigation|Data Visualization — Charts I created over the past year are available here.  Tools: DataWrapper, Flourish, Raw Graphs, Canva. |Media Literacy Training — Passionate about journalism, I have experience in training journalists.
    5 / 5