New Delhi: IndiaSpend founder Govindraj Ethiraj is among the four laureates of this year’s McNulty Prize. The prize, awarded by the US-based Aspen Institute, seeks to celebrate “the boldness and impact of individuals who are using their exceptional leadership abilities, entrepreneurial spirit and expertise to address the world’s toughest challenges”.
BREAKING: We are so excited to announce the 2018 #McNultyPrize Laureates: @UbumuntuArtFest & @HopeAzeda, Mehrdad Baghai & @highresolves, @govindethiraj & @IndiaSpend @boomlive_in, and @davegilboa & @WarbyParker’s Pupils Project.
Learn more: https://t.co/JPMnQGPtxz pic.twitter.com/PgXqiuMNdr
— The McNulty Prize (@McNultyPrize) July 18, 2018
According to a press statement issued by the Aspen Institute and late John McNulty’s wife Anne McNulty, Ethiraj “is using a data-driven approach to improve public discourse and transparency in India” through three websites that he has founded – IndiaSpend, FactChecker and BoomLive – which are “focused on debunking misinformation and fake news, fact-checking, and advancing public-interest journalism”.
Congrats to 2018 Laureate @govindethiraj, who founded @IndiaSpend @boomlive_in @FactCheckIndia to improve public discourse and transparency in India by debunking fake news, fact-checking, and advancing public-interest journalism. #McNultyPrize pic.twitter.com/Yp8tAVEqCP
— The McNulty Prize (@McNultyPrize) July 18, 2018
Before founding IndiaSpend, TV and print journalist Ethiraj had worked with Bloomberg UTV and CNBC TV18. He also hosted a weekly show, Policy Watch, on Rajya Sabha TV.
The other laureates are artist and curator Hope Azeda from Rwanda, strategist and author Mehrdad Baghai from Australia and Warby Parker co-founder and co-CEO Dave Gilboa from the US. All four will receive $25,000 to further their work, and the winner will receive $100,000.
“Hope Azeda, Dave Gilboa, Mehrdad Baghai and Govindraj Ethiraj have answered the call to use their talents, resources and platforms to expand the reach of opportunity to people and communities around the world. By removing economic and social barriers, the Laureates are making the world healthier, fairer and more open,” Anne Welsh McNulty, president of the McNulty Foundation and trustee of the Aspen Institute, said in a statement.