Even as mainstream “legacy” media faces a crisis of trust, small and independent start-ups across India plough new furrows catering to larger audiences, armed only with cheap digital technology and a hunger for the truth
Mooknayak, meaning hero or spokesperson of the mute, was the first newspaper launched by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Today, its heir apparent, The Mooknayak, carries on his legacy by reporting stories that mainstream media avoids.
Regional media have emerged as a bulwark against a centralising and hyper-nationalist polity and mediascape
Local journalists, whose ground reports from the boondocks often get ‘picked up’ by mainstream media, lament lack of recognition and remuneration, especially during elections
Independent journalists are always in the government’s line of fire in the Northeast state
WhatsApp, local ads and loyal patrons ensure small independent news media setups in Goa don’t succumb to pressures of money and muscle of the rich and powerful
Small, independent media platforms are becoming the voice of Muslims, away from the majoritarian narrative
Dozens of Dalit journalists have started their own YouTube channels and websites to become the voices of the community.
Journalists from regional, women-run media talk about the daily hurdles they face while covering issues concerning rural women that often go unreported
Founded in 2014 by award-winning journalist P. Sainath, PARI focuses on rural journalism that mainstream media usually ignores, including the farm crisis, resource conflicts, healthcare and issues of Adivasis, Dalits and women
Empowered with access to the internet and burgeoning social media platforms, the rise of new platforms run by Dalit youth and others indicate the emergence of a distinct space where stories about marginalisation and caste atrocities are being told.
Small, tech-driven, nimble, independent news media are like voices talking back from the abyss, challenging the government and the legacy of mainstream publications
Journeying through Uttar Pradesh in poll season and trying to make sense of the sounds and sights
Across UP’s hinterland, young YouTubers were busy scraping a living by recording campaign songs in record time for the assembly polls
Split in opposition votes among TMC, AAP and RGP was unexpectedly large, a factor that crushed Congress’s aspirations and brought BJP to power
Much of the Punjab assembly polls were fought on new media outlets. It was another matter that these proliferating outlets rarely added value to the discourse
Banaras is the home of Shiva, and like everywhere else, he resides almost everywhere—from under a peepal tree to the big temples.
