Hi, I'm Aysha Khan.

I’m a journalist fascinated by how people are working for justice, in ways large and small.

As senior editor at the nonprofit news site Next City, I publish solutions-oriented news stories about how people are building more equitable, accessible and sustainable cities, covering everything from urban farming to tenant organizing. But I'm trained as a religion reporter: My in-depth coverage of American Muslim communities has been published by Religion News Service, a nonprofit wire where I spent several years as a staff journalist, as well as in the Washington Post, Associated Press, Boston Globe and other national outlets.

I hold degrees in journalism from the University of Maryland and in Islamic studies from Harvard Divinity School. I've been a fellow with the International Center for Journalists, GroundTruth Project, Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, Muslim Women & the Media Training Institute, and Journalism & Women Symposium.

Reporting and writing

I've filed stories from London to Las Vegas, covering a Uyghur woman's battle to release her father from Chinese detention, how Muslim app developers see data privacy as an act of faith, the Muslim women confronting spiritual abuse, and Pakistan's weaponization of its blasphemy laws against minority Muslims in the U.S.

My reporting has appeared in the Washington Post, the Associated Press, the Boston Globe, USA Today, NBC News, Religion News Service, ThinkProgress, Vice News, American Journalism Review, Religion & Politics magazine, Sojourners, and dozens of other national, regional and local publications.

I'm available for freelance reporting and editing on stories related to religion, religious freedom, digital culture, surveillance, digital and privacy, civic tech, civil rights, social justice, and the South Asian diaspora.

Read my work

How to reach me

For all general inquiries: ayshabkhan at gmail dot com

To pitch me stories for Next City or to discuss media partnerships and collaboration: aysha at nextcity dot org

For secure or particularly sensitive communications, message me via the Signal app if you have my phone number or can request it without drawing attention. Enable disappearing messages if you suspect your phone may be seized or examined. Otherwise, email me at ayshak at protonmail dot com so our messages can be encrypted end-to-end. It's best to send your message from another Protonmail account; you can sign up for free here. Do not include identifying information in your address or subject line. Email me using a device you own personally, and use your home WiFi network or a public network such as that of a coffee shop or library. If you send me PR at this address, consider yourself blacklisted.