Kunal Majumder (born 13 February 1984) is an Indian journalist and academic. He investigates and documents issues related to press freedom and advocates for journalist safety as India's representative at the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Kunal Majumder
Born (1984-02-13) 13 February 1984 (age 40)
Jharia, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India
Alma materJamia Millia Islamia
Occupation(s)Journalist, academic
OrganizationCommittee to Protect Journalists

Majumder has worked as a journalist with Tehelka, Indian Express Group, Rajasthan Patrika Group and Zee Media Corporation. He later served as a visiting faculty member at AJK Mass Communication Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

He has been honored with the UNFPA-Laadli Award for Gender sensitivity and the Statesman Award for Rural development. Additionally, he holds a fellowship from the Knight-Wallace Fellowship for journalists for the year 2024–2025.[1][2]

Education

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Born and brought up in Jharia, Dhanbad, Jharkhand (then Bihar), Kunal did his graduation in English literature and post-graduation in convergent journalism from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi in year 2007 and 2009 respectively.[3][4][5] During his master's degree he did journalism exchange semesters at Sciences Po, Paris and FCP, Helsinki.[5]

Career

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As a journalist

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Majumder began his career in journalism as a business correspondent at Tehelka in 2009. He later worked as a senior correspondent, principal correspondent and assistant editor at Tehelka.[6][7][8] In 2014, he joined Rajasthan Patrika and worked for its English news website The Catch.[8][9][4] He also worked for Zee Media Corporation in their online portal DNA.[10][11]

Kunal became an editor when The Indian Express Group introduced "inUth.com," a multi-platform, video-focused digital destination for Indian millennials, on October 9, 2016.[12][13] After this, he worked as a correspondent with the committee to Protect Journalists where he worked for the freedom of the press and documented the cases related to this India. Currently, he has been India representative at CPJ since 2022.[14][15][5]

As an academic

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In January 2021, Majumder started teaching in AJK Mass Communication Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi as a visiting faculty. He is also an adjunct professor at Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication, Rajasthan.[3][16]

Work

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Kunal is working for CPJ since June 2018 that main works to promote press freedom and defends the rights of journalist.[17] While working with CPJ, Kunal has tracked the issue of curbing journalists' rights in India, making it a key issue for the free press. His commentary and reporting on the repeated arrests of journalists in Kashmir this year have been an important source and reference of discussion on the issue of press freedom globally.[15][18][19][20]

He has advocated for journalist safety at the ground level in India in front of the state.[21] The protection kit for journalists has been launched by CPJ and The Hindu under his leadership during the coverage of Loksabha election 2024.[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Meet 2024–2025 Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellows". Wallace House Center for Journalists. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Alumnus from India selected for prestigious fellowship". European Union. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Haridev Joshi University". hju.ac.in. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Meet 2024–2025 Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellows". Wallace House Center for Journalists. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Our People". Committee to Protect Journalists. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Kunal Majumder". Tehelka. 25 July 2024.
  7. ^ "'Media houses are sitting on plots leased at Re 1'". IJR. 21 November 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b Johari, Sneha (18 May 2015). "The Patrika Group to launch English news website called Catch". MEDIANAMA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Kunal Majumder". www.catchnews.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Kunal Majumder | DNA India". www.dnaindia.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  11. ^ Saikia, Arunabh (11 July 2014). "DNA does it again". Newslaundry. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Indian Express Group announces the launch of 'InUth.com'". The Indian Express. 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  13. ^ Majumder, Kunal. "Kunal Majumder, Author at InUth". InUth. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Harassment against journalists in India has escalated: N. Ram". The Hindu. 10 October 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Kashmir: Asif Sultan, the journalist caught in 'revolving door' of arrests". 11 March 2024. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Meet 2024–2025 Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellows". Wallace House Center for Journalists. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  17. ^ "What We Do". Committee to Protect Journalists. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Indian court grants bail to Kashmiri journalist after years in jail". DAWN.COM. AFP. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Kashmir journalist Asif Sultan gets bail over two months after re-arrest under PSA". Newslaundry. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  20. ^ Yousuf, Kamran (12 August 2024). "India's volatile Kashmir feels sting of media crackdown". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Indian journalist Jyotiranjan Mohapatra attacked with sword in Bhubaneswar". Committee to Protect Journalists. 23 February 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Safety guide launched for journalists covering Lok Sabha elections". The Hindu. 8 March 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.