How Mongabay Indonesia grew into a trusted environmental voice
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How Mongabay Indonesia grew into a trusted environmental voice
Ridzki Sigit is Mongabay Indonesia’s program director. He joined the environmental journalism platform in 2012. Under his leadership, the news outlet has flourished, producing more than 25,000 articles, videos, and podcasts. Ridzki takes pride in Mongabays role in supporting Indigenous communities and protecting fragile ecosystems. He emphasizes creativity, passion and collaboration as essential for building a motivated, resilient team prepared to tackle Indonesia’s complex ecological challenges. For him,mongabay represents more than journalism — it is a mission, a legacy, and a responsibility to protect Indonesia’s irreplaceable natural heritage for future generations.
When Ridzki Sigit first joined Mongabay in 2012, the environmental journalism platform had yet to establish itself in the language of his native Indonesia. The concept was unconventional: a remote, international team with no physical office, focused solely on environmental coverage — a niche area in the Indonesian media landscape at the time. Yet Ridzki saw opportunity rather than uncertainty. Today, as Mongabay Indonesia’s program director, he leads one of the country’s most influential environmental news outlets, recognized widely beyond Indonesia’s borders.
Mongabay Indonesia was launched to improve transparency and accountability in Indonesia’s troubled forest sector. I envisioned journalism driven by local voices, communicating in Indonesian to achieve policy changes and empower communities. Within months, it became essential reading even for policymakers.
Ridzki’s path to journalism was unconventional. Initially trained in forestry and management, he began his career researching natural resources and creating documentary films with Perkumpulan Kaoem Telapak, a prominent Indonesian environmental NGO. His experience at Kaoem Telapak and its production arm, Gekko Studio, shaped his storytelling abilities and deepened his commitment to environmental issues, qualities he brought to Mongabay.
Under Ridzki’s leadership, Mongabay Indonesia has flourished. With a core team and more than 70 contributors nationwide, it has produced more than 25,000 articles, videos, and podcasts. Its investigative reporting has achieved tangible impacts, exposing corrupt land deals involving major agribusinesses in Papua and raising international awareness about threats to species such as the Javan rhino. Ridzki takes pride in Mongabay’s role in supporting Indigenous communities and protecting fragile ecosystems.
Looking ahead, Ridzki emphasizes creativity, passion and collaboration as essential for building a motivated, resilient team prepared to tackle Indonesia’s complex ecological challenges. His approach blends professional rigor with genuine personal relationships, strengthening Mongabay’s growing network of environmental journalists.
Today, Ridzki remains deeply passionate about his work. When not overseeing investigative reports, he dives to document Indonesia’s remarkable marine biodiversity, reflecting his lifelong dedication to nature. For him, Mongabay represents more than journalism — it is a mission, a legacy, and a responsibility to protect Indonesia’s irreplaceable natural heritage for future generations, including his own daughter.
Read the full interview with Ridzki Sigit here
Banner image: Ridzki Sigit in Jambi province in 2022. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay.
How Mongabay Indonesia grew into a trusted environmental voice
Ridzki Sigit is Mongabay Indonesia’s program director. He joined the environmental journalism platform in 2012. Under his leadership, the news outlet has flourished, producing more than 25,000 articles, videos, and podcasts. Ridzki takes pride in Mongabays role in supporting Indigenous communities and protecting fragile ecosystems. He emphasizes creativity, passion and collaboration as essential for building a motivated, resilient team prepared to tackle Indonesia’s complex ecological challenges. For him,mongabay represents more than journalism — it is a mission, a legacy, and a responsibility to protect Indonesia’s irreplaceable natural heritage for future generations.
When Ridzki Sigit first joined Mongabay in 2012, the environmental journalism platform had yet to establish itself in the language of his native Indonesia. The concept was unconventional: a remote, international team with no physical office, focused solely on environmental coverage — a niche area in the Indonesian media landscape at the time. Yet Ridzki saw opportunity rather than uncertainty. Today, as Mongabay Indonesia’s program director, he leads one of the country’s most influential environmental news outlets, recognized widely beyond Indonesia’s borders.
Mongabay Indonesia was launched to improve transparency and accountability in Indonesia’s troubled forest sector. I envisioned journalism driven by local voices, communicating in Indonesian to achieve policy changes and empower communities. Within months, it became essential reading even for policymakers.
Ridzki’s path to journalism was unconventional. Initially trained in forestry and management, he began his career researching natural resources and creating documentary films with Perkumpulan Kaoem Telapak, a prominent Indonesian environmental NGO. His experience at Kaoem Telapak and its production arm, Gekko Studio, shaped his storytelling abilities and deepened his commitment to environmental issues, qualities he brought to Mongabay.
Under Ridzki’s leadership, Mongabay Indonesia has flourished. With a core team and more than 70 contributors nationwide, it has produced more than 25,000 articles, videos, and podcasts. Its investigative reporting has achieved tangible impacts, exposing corrupt land deals involving major agribusinesses in Papua and raising international awareness about threats to species such as the Javan rhino. Ridzki takes pride in Mongabay’s role in supporting Indigenous communities and protecting fragile ecosystems.
Looking ahead, Ridzki emphasizes creativity, passion and collaboration as essential for building a motivated, resilient team prepared to tackle Indonesia’s complex ecological challenges. His approach blends professional rigor with genuine personal relationships, strengthening Mongabay’s growing network of environmental journalists.
Today, Ridzki remains deeply passionate about his work. When not overseeing investigative reports, he dives to document Indonesia’s remarkable marine biodiversity, reflecting his lifelong dedication to nature. For him, Mongabay represents more than journalism — it is a mission, a legacy, and a responsibility to protect Indonesia’s irreplaceable natural heritage for future generations, including his own daughter.
Read the full interview with Ridzki Sigit here
Banner image: Ridzki Sigit in Jambi province in 2022. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay.