Manisha Ganguly
Manisha Ganguly | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 13, 1995 Kolkata, India |
| Occupation(s) | Investigations correspondent, journalist, academic |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Known for | Investigative journalism, open source intelligence, documentaries on conflicts and global affairs |
Manisha Ganguly (Bengali: মণীষা গাঙ্গুলী, born 13 January 1995) serves as an investigations correspondent and head of open source intelligence at The Guardian. Previously, she produced investigative documentaries for BBC News, concentrating on conflicts and global affairs. Residing in London, her doctoral studies explored the influence of automation and artificial intelligence on open-source journalism. In 2021, Ganguly was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list under Media & Marketing.
Early career
In 2012, while still a teenager in Kolkata, Ganguly was chosen from a large pool to intern at The Times of India. After the 2012 Delhi gang rape incident, she began covering violence against women despite encountering online harassment. She co-established the feminist Eye Art Collective and initiated its webzine Eyezine, which focused on women's narratives concerning gender-based violence. This platform played a significant role in documenting the campus rape case that sparked the 2014 protests at Jadavpur University, drawing mass demonstrations and attracting over 100,000 readers within a month. The collective also reported on human rights violations in Kashmir and showcased their work internationally.
Ganguly received a full scholarship to pursue a Master's degree in Journalism at the University of Westminster and moved to the UK, citing India's hostile environment toward women journalists as a motivating factor. Her initial investigative position in the UK was with The Daily Telegraph.
BBC
During her tenure at the BBC, Ganguly's investigative documentaries revealed Russian double-tap airstrikes in Syria and war crimes committed by Turkish-backed factions in the Syrian civil war, abuses during the Libyan conflict, deployment of cluster munitions in Ukraine, as well as human trafficking operations across the Middle East. Additional reports exposed the training of those responsible for journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder, uncovered China’s most prominent MeToo activist who had disappeared, and covered the Covid-19 pandemic's impact in Middle Eastern countries.
In 2022, Ganguly co-led an investigation that documented torture inflicted on Russian anti-war detainees within a Moscow police station, with implicated officers subsequently sanctioned by the European Union.
The Guardian and collaborative investigations
At The Guardian and in partnership with Forbidden Stories, Ganguly contributed to an international probe into Team Jorge—a covert Israeli contractor group led by Tal Hanan—accused of meddling in more than 30 global elections using automated bot networks. This inquiry resulted in the suspension of French broadcaster Rachid M'Barki from BFMTV. She also examined NTC-Vulkan’s Russian disinformation campaigns and cyberweaponry as part of the Vulkan Files investigation.
Ganguly secured the Pentagon Leaks from Discord for The Guardian, which revealed that UK special forces accounted for half of all special forces deployments in Ukraine. As a member of the "Costs of the Crown" team, she analyzed colonial-era plundering connected to the British royal family’s jewelry collection. Her reporting further exposed US and German training programs for Saudi border forces implicated in migrant killings along Yemen’s border.
Her coverage included transnational repression against dissidents residing in Europe, with particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia and Iran. During the Gaza conflict, Ganguly experienced restrictions on her Instagram account by Meta while attempting to organize blood donations for wounded journalists. She spearheaded The Guardian’s investigation into the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion, concluding that it was unlikely caused by a JDAM aerial bomb or airstrike but rather by a malfunctioning weapon release.
Ganguly investigated damage inflicted upon Gaza hospitals, including impacts from Israeli munitions; she assessed destruction resulting from airstrikes on Jabaliya refugee camp and analyzed satellite imagery from northern Gaza. Additionally, she reported on Israel’s receipt of munitions from US War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel amid the conflict. Collaborating with Forbidden Stories and ARIJ, she disclosed that certain factions within the IDF regarded Hamas-affiliated journalists as legitimate military targets.
She also partnered with investigative journalists to reveal over 1,000 unmarked migrant graves along European borders—a project that earned the European Press Prize Special Award.
Academic work and teaching
She earned a PhD from the University of Westminster entitled Future of Investigative Journalism: The Age of Automation, A.I. & Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), where she has also served as an instructor. This doctorate represents the pioneering research dedicated to OSINT's influence on investigative journalism. Ganguly’s dissertation explored the psychological impact, including PTSD and mental health challenges, resulting from exposure to graphic violence during OSINT inquiries in conflict zones. Her doctoral work was recognized as a finalist for exceptional research in media, communication, and cultural studies.
Ganguly has presented lectures and conducted training on OSINT and investigative techniques at various global universities and professional gatherings, focusing particularly on the effects of generative AI, deepfake technology, and the decline of public confidence in journalism.
Media appearances
Ganguly’s expertise has been highlighted across numerous independent media platforms. In 2021, she earned a spot on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” Europe list within the Media & Marketing category.
Her media presence includes interviews and features in outlets such as El Mundo, ARTE, L'Orient Le Jour, BBC Outside Source, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Scoop, Marie Claire, La Repubblica, Monocle Radio, the Global Investigative Journalism Network, and the Coalition for Women in Journalism. In 2022, she took part in a Bellingcat event centered on OSINT.
An advocate for gender diversity and representation within OSINT and investigative reporting, Ganguly stresses the vital role OSINT investigations play in verifying realities on the ground during conflicts and scrutinizing official statements from governments.
Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2023 and the subsequent ban of ElonJet, Ganguly voiced concerns that Twitter was turning "into an inhospitable platform for the OSINT community." She also criticized Musk’s decision to verify the account of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi under Twitter Blue, remarking: "Jamal Khashoggi deserves better." Furthermore, she associated recent changes to verification policies on X with increased disinformation propagated by both legitimate OSINT sources and “OSINT grifters.”
Recognition and awards
Ganguly has been honored with multiple awards, including the 2020 George Weidenfeld Special Preis for Courageous Reporting'. In April 2021, she was recognized by Forbes as part of their 30 Under 30 media list. On an international scale, she appeared in MHP's 30 to Watch under 30 for both 2020 and 2021 and received the Women of the Future Award.
Her accolades include two Amnesty International Media Awards for Best Investigation (2020 and 2023), the European Press Prize Special Award in 2024, and a shortlist nomination for the One World Media Award recognizing Coronavirus Reporting. Additional nominations encompass Outstanding Young Journalist at the Asian Media Awards (2020), Broadcast Awards (2021), three nominations for the Press Gazette's British Journalism Award (2024), as well as two nominations for the UK The Press Awards (2024).