2026 FELLOWS

Sonita Iea, Head of Video News, Kiripost Media, Phnom Penh

Sonita leads Kiripost’s newsroom digital transition while covering diverse stories, including socio-economic and diplomatic issues. Combining her documentary expertise with a passion for education, she regularly teaches mobile journalism and digital news concepts in dedicated training programs.

Liu Rangge, Independent Journalist, Guangzhou

Rangge is an independent journalist and long-time contributor to The Aquarian. Her work focuses on how law, governance, and public power are experienced in everyday life. She sees journalism as a form of testimony, bearing witness to the suffering of ordinary people.

Gunjan Sharma, Assistant Editor, Press Trust of India, New Delhi

Gunjan Sharma, Assistant Editor at Press Trust of India (PTI), India’s biggest news agency, is an award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience. She has extensively reported on education, gender, science and technology, human rights and climate change besides ground reportage during several elections. Her ground reportage from conflict hit North Eastern state of Manipur has earned her recognition on international platforms.

Swasti Chatterjee, Deputy Editor (News), BOOM Fact Check, Kolkata

Swasti is a journalist and media trainer from West Bengal, India. She leads BOOM’s India operations and helps guide fact-checking efforts in Bangladesh and Myanmar. She reports on communal disinformation, emerging technologies and the societal impact of information disorder and mentors teens in verification skills.

Ira Guslina Sufa, News Editor, Katadata Indonesia, Jakarta

Ira is a Jakarta-based journalist and editor at Katadata.co.id with more than 15 years of reporting experience. Her work focuses on public policy, corporate governance, and sustainability. She has received multiple national journalism awards and actively contributes to discussions on transparency and public information disclosure in Indonesia.

Johanes Galuh Bimantara, Assistant Editor, Investigation and Data Journalism Desk, Kompas Daily, Jakarta

“To keep original in the era of artificial,” Galuh champions public-interest journalism through investigative reporting. He believes authentic, boots-on-the-ground reporting will endure despite AI-driven disruption. A Kompas Daily journalist for 15 years, he became an investigative reporter in 2021 and investigation team leader in 2025.

Siti Radziah Hamzah, Journalist, Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA), Selangor

Siti Radziah Hamzah is a senior journalist at Bernama, Malaysia’s national news agency. She covers business, economic policy, energy and investment, with more than 15 years of reporting experience. Outside work, she is an avid motorsports enthusiast who recently took part in her first karting sprint and endurance races.

Tushigt-Erdene Davaa-Ochir, Editor-in-Chief, Unread Media, Ulaanbaatar

Tushigt-Erdene is Chief Editor at Unread Media, a leading Mongolian hybrid media company. He focuses on explanatory journalism, visual communication, and newsroom innovation. He transformed Unread Today, a bilingual weekly newspaper, into one of Mongolia’s fastest-growing print publications, drawing younger readers back to print.

Naing Lin Aung, Senior Reporter, Based in Thailand, Bangkok

Naing Lin Aung is a Senior Reporter at Myanmar Now. I have about 15 years of experience as a journalist. I cover economic, armed conflict and environmental issues affecting Myanmar. I believe journalism plays a crucial role in exposing injustice and informing the public.

Saloni Murarka, Nepal Correspondent, World Is One News (WION), Kathmandu

Saloni Murarka is WION’s correspondent in Kathmandu, covering politics, diplomacy, governance, climate change, social issues and cross-border affairs. She has reported on major political developments across Nepal and was invited by UN Somalia to document climate change impacts. An award-winning journalist, she is passionate about people-centred, field-based storytelling.

Aimen Siddiqui, Business Editor, The News International, Karachi

Aimen heads the Business Desk at The News International and covers AI, technology and business. A journalist with over nine years of experience, she recently completed a diploma in AI and Data Science and is a Master Trainer in a Google News Initiative-backed programme, helping journalists use AI effectively. She began her career as an audit intern at a Big Four firm, where she developed a sharp eye for detail, a skill that became invaluable in her journalism career.

Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan, Editor, Sunstar Davao, Davao City

Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan is editor of SunStar Davao in the Philippines and a multi-awarded Filipino journalist with 29 years of experience. A recipient of the 2025 Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards, she leads coverage that amplifies local voices and development issues. She mentors young journalists and champions ethical, community-centered journalism and media leadership.

Janarthanan Krishnasamy, Correspondent, Tamil Murasu, Singapore

Janarthanan began his career as a news content writer for the pioneering digital team at Seithi, Mediacorp’s Tamil news arm, before moving to SPH publications like Tamil Murasu and tabla!, where he reports on health, sports, community, and social issues. With about a decade of experience in daily breaking news, social commentaries, and impactful feature writing, his works have appeared on The Straits Times, The New Paper, CNA, TODAY, and STOMP. He holds a special interest in uncovering heritage stories and remains dedicated to fostering intercultural understanding.

Lee Ji Yoon, Staff Reporter, The Dong-A Ilbo, Seoul

Based in Seoul, Ji Yoon covers U.S. foreign policy and international affairs for The Dong-A Ilbo. She authored “Trumpedia: Decoding Trump Algorithm”, a book on the policies, personnel, and worldview of the Trump administration. Her team won the 2023 Kwanhun Press Award for investigating failures in South Korea’s emergency medical system.

Hansi Amarasiri, Editor – Foreign News, TV Derana (Power House Ltd), Colombo

Hansi Amarasiri is the Editor (Foreign News) at TV Derana, Colombo. A journalist, international relations scholar, and translator, she began her career at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and later served as Assistant Editor at Virakesari Newspapers. She oversees the Foreign News Desk, edits international news content, mentors young journalists, and contributes to media, communication, and international relations through research, critical analysis, and editorial excellence.
Hansi is willing to promote language learning and intercultural communication to strengthen understanding, dialogue, and connections between Sri Lanka’s Tamil – Sinhala speaking communities.

Rathindra Kuruwita, Freelance Journalist, Samut Sakhon

Rathindra is a journalist and researcher with 20 years of experience covering politics, foreign policy, public finance, health, climate and the environment. A columnist for The Sunday Observer and regular contributor to The Diplomat, he writes on how power, policy and regional pressure affect lives in Sri Lanka.

Pratch Rujivanarom, Freelance Reporter, Chiang Mai

Pratch Rujivanarom is a seasoned reporter with over a decade of experience in environmental journalism. Since the beginning of his journalism career in 2015, Pratch has regularly been reporting on various environmental topics such as climate change, natural resources and biodiversity, and environmental justice. He is currently working as a freelance reporter with the main focus on environmental issues in the Mekong Region.

Tran Vo, Senior Journalist, BBC World Service, Based in Bangkok Thailand

Tran Vo is senior journalist of BBC World Service based in Bangkok.  Tran’s key role is to enhance the regional journalism of six languages (Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Burmese, Indonesian and Korean). Before joining regional team, Tran was a journalist for BBC Vietnamese for nearly four years covering Vietnam politics, Vietnam-Cambodian relations.