Dear Reader,

On this World Press Freedom Day, we are incredibly proud to announce that Scroll reporter Ayush Tiwari has been honoured with the 2025 Asian College of Journalism award for investigative journalism. The jury specifically praised the “broad canvas” and “dogged pursuit” displayed in his exhaustive series on India’s cybercrime epidemic.

This investigation went far beyond simple headlines, tracing the harrowing journey of Indians trafficked into “scam compounds” in South East Asia and documenting the trauma of those who lost their precious life savings to these invisible networks. By connecting the dots between human trafficking and digital theft across international borders, Ayush’s work gave voice to thousands of victims.

This milestone continues a tradition of excellence at Scroll. In 2023, Arunabh Saikia had won the same prestigious award for his investigation titled “Adani power stations get coal from Hasdeo Arand mine allocated to Rajasthan”.

These accolades serve as a reminder that truly impactful journalism requires time, courage and significant resources. Moving beyond the surface of a story to hold powerful systems accountable is only possible because of the financial independence provided by our readers.

As we celebrate this recognition today, we invite you to invest in the future of our newsroom. Please support our ability to produce the next great investigation by becoming a Scroll Member and helping us keep independent journalism alive and thriving.

Regards,
Team Scroll