Mitali Mukherjee appointed new head of RISJ
Acclaimed Indian journalist Mitali Mukherjee has been named as the new Director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ).
Mitali has been Acting Director since previous Director Rasmus Nielsen stepped down last October. She will take up her appointment with immediate effect.
Her appointment was announced earlier today by Alan Rusbridger, Chair of the Institute’s Steering Committee, and Professor David Doyle, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, which RISJ is part of.
Mitali is a respected journalist with more than 20 years’ experience in print, television and digital media and has led the RISJ’s Journalist Programmes since September 2022, representing the Institute in conferences and events around the world.
Under her leadership, the Institute has added new sponsors to their flagship Fellowship Programme and secured funding for the Oxford Climate Journalism Network. Mitali was a Chevening fellow for the South Asia Journalism Fellowship 2020, a Raisina Asian Forum for Global Governance Young Fellow 2019 and a 2017 fellow of the Australia India Youth Dialogue.
In 2020, she was nominated for the prestigious Red Ink Awards in India for two of her business stories.
Responding to her appointment, Mitali said:
“I am honoured to take on the role of Director at the Reuters Institute and to be leading an exceptional team of colleagues. Our core mission is to explore the future of journalism worldwide through debate, engagement, and research, and I am looking forward to working with the Department of Politics and International Relations, the Thomson Reuters Foundation and industry partners to build on our achievements and mission. In a time of unpredictability and shift across the world, we are, and will remain, international in our reach and impact.”
Announcing the appointment, Alan Rusbridger said:
“I’m thrilled that Mitali will succeed Rasmus Nielsen as Director. She has been outstanding in her two terms as acting director and she has a clear and compelling vision for the next stage. The Reuters Institute was always intended to be a bridge between academic research into the future of journalism and the profession itself. Her directorship comes at a time of both great danger and extraordinary transformation. The Institute will have a unique role to play in this transformation and couldn’t be in better hands.”
Professor David Doyle said:
“The Department is delighted that Mitali will be the new Director. Mitali has an incredibly exciting vision for the Institute and I am looking forward to working with her to achieve this vision. I have no doubt that Mitali will build on the tremendous success of the Institute and take it to new heights as the new Director.”
