Maldives Independent is back!
The award-winning Maldives Independent is thrilled to announce its relaunch, exactly five years after suspending operations on January 31, 2020.
31 Jan, 11:42 PM
JJ Robinson
The award-winning Maldives Independent is thrilled to announce its relaunch, exactly five years after suspending operations on January 31, 2020.
Formerly known as Minivan News, the Maldives Independent was founded in 2004 during the early days of the country’s democracy movement. Over its 15-year history, it became internationally recognised for its fearless and credible journalism, earning the Index on Censorship’s Press Freedom Prize in 2017.
The publication has faced grave challenges—including the tragic abduction and murder of journalist Ahmed Rilwan in 2014 and the assassination of contributor Yameen Rasheed in 2017. Despite a state investigation, justice remains elusive, with the commission tasked with their cases dissolved in 2024 under the current administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
Throughout its history, the Maldives Independent has been a training ground for many journalists, who have gone on to work with global media such as Al Jazeera, the BBC, The Financial Times, New York Times, Foreign Policy Magazine, Reuters, the Washington Post, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and Himal Southasian.
Q&A:
Who’s behind the relaunch?
The Maldives Independent is now wholly owned and operated by a team of its former Maldivian journalists. It also has an advisory board composed of former editors, media industry experts, and startup professionals to help guide this new chapter.
What will we be publishing?
We’re back with a focus on original stories, in-depth features, and sharp analysis—covering everything that matters to Maldivians. Expect a mix of news, investigations, and perspectives from across Maldivian society.
🔹 Two newsletters: A weekly roundup of key stories and analysis, and a daily briefing that puts the news in context. (Sign up here!)
🎙️ A weekly podcast featuring expert guests, conversations, and interviews.
📺 A YouTube channel is on the way! Stay tuned.
📚 Our archives are now available, and you can catch up on the last five years in our recap. (Read it here!)
Why did the Maldives Independent shut down?
Like many independent media outlets, we relied on advertising revenue to sustain operations. But with declining ad revenues and no state or political funding, it became increasingly difficult to remain financially viable without compromising our independence.
How will we sustain ourselves this time?
We believe independent journalism should be for the people, supported by the people.
That’s why we’re asking our readers to directly support us:
💡 Join our membership programme – Coming soon! A small monthly contribution helps keep our journalism free and independent. Members will receive an exclusive newsletter, invitations, and perks.
🤝 International media development assistance – We’ll seek funding from reputable organisations that align with our editorial values.
📢 Advertising & sponsorships – But only when it meets our strict independence guidelines.
Every bit of support will be reinvested back into our journalism.
What are our editorial values?
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of fairness, accuracy, and independence. Our principles include:
✔️ Right of reply
✔️ Transparency & accountability
✔️ Clear, prompt corrections when needed
We subscribe to the Journalism Trust Initiative by Reporters Without Borders—an industry standard for ethical journalism. (Read our full editorial policy here.)
Will we use AI?
No AI-generated journalism here. All content will be produced by human journalists. However, we may use AI for behind-the-scenes tasks like tagging articles or proofreading. (Read our Responsible AI Use guidelines here.)
We’re excited for this next chapter. Thank you for your support. Let’s build a stronger, independent Maldivian press—together.
🔗 Follow us on social media:
— The Maldives Independent Team