Who is Areeba?

Born into a low-income household in Karachi, Pakistan, Areeba defied expectations by becoming a leading journalist and activist in one of the world's most dangerous countries for reporters. As a teenager, she drafted Pakistan's first anti-harassment policy for educational institutions—now used across the country. While completing her Anthropology degree, she worked full-time as a journalist to support herself.

Today, Areeba works as a fact-checker and investigative reporter at Soch Media, Pakistan's first IFCN-signatory organization. She supports her ailing parents and helps put her youngest sibling through college—all while publishing groundbreaking investigations in a country ranked 12th on the Global Impunity Index for journalist safety.

A Life-Changing Opportunity

Areeba has been accepted to Columbia University's prestigious Graduate School of Journalism—a miraculous opportunity that once seemed impossible. While this acceptance represents a tremendous achievement, it comes with significant financial challenges. To fully embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she needs support to cover her educational and living expenses.

This fundraiser goes beyond meeting financial obligations—it's about helping transform a talented journalist's dream into reality. Your contribution will allow Areeba to focus on her studies and maximize the potential of this extraordinary opportunity at Columbia University.

Her Impactful Work

Over five years, Areeba has:

Published over 250 comprehensive fact-checks across multiple domains
Tracked $364 million worth of Pakistani artillery shells in Ukraine despite official denials
Analyzed the Commonwealth Observer Group's misleading report on Pakistan's 2024 elections
Co-founded community libraries in Lahore and Karachi

Why Columbia?

Pakistan has only one journalism school and press freedom continues to erode dramatically. Columbia's journalism program represents a crucial opportunity for Areeba to:

Learn from industry leaders in a program with a strong track record of nurturing Pakistani talent
Gain skills in data-driven investigative journalism and visual storytelling
Return to Pakistan equipped to launch the country's first data investigations organization

The Dream

After Columbia, Areeba plans to create an unprecedented platform in Pakistan focused on data journalism and visual storytelling—making complex truths accessible through compelling visualization in a country where bureaucracies remain opaque and data access is limited.

Financial Need

Total Program Cost:

Tuition and fees: $133,269
Living expenses: $39,514

Cost includes fall, spring, and summer

Already Secured:

Columbia scholarship: $90,000

Still Needed: $84,108 ← Your donation directly supports this amount

The Stakes

In a country where:

Press freedom ranks 152nd out of 180 countries
Seven journalists were killed in just the first half of 2024
Journalists face dire consequences for speaking truth to power

Your contribution will help equip a courageous journalist to fight for transparency and truth in Pakistan's challenging media landscape.

Every donation brings Areeba closer to launching her own investigations platform and reimagining data journalism in Pakistan. To reach Areeba directly: areeba.fatima@sochvideos.com or +923222769198 (WhatsApp/Signal). For questions about this fundraiser, please contact: contact@dropsitenews.com

Support Areeba Fatima's Journey to Columbia Journalism School

100% of donations go directly towards tuition and expenses for Areeba to attend Columbia Journalism School