Citadel Dispatch CD187: ANJAN SUNDARAM - INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
Dec 16, 2025
Anjan Sundaram, an independent journalist and founder of the Stringer Foundation, shares his journey from Yale and Goldman Sachs to war reporting. He discusses how social media has transformed journalism, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking over raw footage. Anjan critiques the low pay for freelancers and explores sustainable funding through philanthropy and innovative models like Bitcoin. He elaborates on launching the Stringer Prize to recognize global journalists and highlights the need for a diverse and sustainable independent media landscape.
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Verify Facts And Seek The Other Side
- Stick to verifiable facts and try to reach the other side when criticizing someone.
- Those two practices distinguish journalists from raw footage streamers, Anjan argues.
Big Reach, Small Pay
- Anjan often places underreported stories in major outlets but receives tiny fees like $500 per piece.
- He highlights the lack of institutional safety nets for independent journalists in danger.
Prizes Multiply Impact
- Philanthropy can amplify journalism by offering prestige and unrestricted support rather than tiny story fees.
- Prizes and fellowships mobilize and inspire journalists more effectively than equivalent small grants, Anjan says.