First Draft Media

First Draft Media is a new kind of publisher, for people who want journalism that really matters to their lives.

We create and support independent publications that help you understand the world with depth, context, and care—especially where information is distorted, censored, or ignored. Our journalism is socially conscious and commercially sustainable. We believe that good journalism should both serve the public and survive on its own terms.

Our publications are conscioulsy commercial. Through our growing family of publications, we bring you reporting and analysis that is often missing from mainstream media: stories from underrepresented communities, nuanced perspectives on complex regions, and clear explanations of how global development affect your everyday decisions.

Since launching in March 2025, we’ve built several distinct publications for different audiences: – IranDraft offers Persian- and English-language analysis that goes beyond headlines to explain what’s really happening in and around Iran. – People’s Represented is a monthly magazine telling stories of and by communities that are too often overlooked. – DoorDesi is a weekly newsletter for Indians in the diaspora, breaking down the most important news from India—and what it means for your investments, remittances, and life abroad.

Behind the scenes, we also work with technologists and journalists in exile to develop tools that help independent media reach people in heavily censored and authoritarian environments. This means safer access to information, better storytelling, and journalism that can reach you even when others are blocked. At First Draft Media, we believe journalism should do more than inform—it should empower.

We’re building media that respects your intelligence, reflects your reality, and earns your trust. By putting audiences first and building sustainable news products, we’re helping ensure that independent journalism doesn’t just exist, but endures.