Background

Despite the increase in the use of digital media and growing conversations around youth raising their voice, students in public schools and NGO-run schools across the country continue to face multiple barriers when it comes to accessing opportunities for structured journalism and publication. India has over 1.4 million schools, out of which 70% are government-run. However, they have no infrastructure for media and journalism platforms, which are mostly present only in urban, private institutions. NGO-run schools, while expanding access to education, lack any grounding in economic literacy, leaving students ill-equipped to understand or navigate the media structures that determine whose voices are heard. Because of this disparity, inequalities continue to persist in who gets a voice in society and who doesn’t.  

Language acts as another barrier in this situation. According to the 2011 Census, only about 10% of Indians report English as a first, second, or third language. This means that a large number of students can engage primarily in their regional languages. But if we look at India’s structured journalism training ecosystem, it is mostly centered around the English language, and the students who feel more comfortable talking in their regional languages often lack the necessary guidance, infrastructure, and network to pursue journalism more professionally. 

Due to this, student-led journalism in rural areas remains unexplored despite it being one of the most powerful tools to encourage the practice of critical thinking and instill a sense of agency amongst young people. There is a strong need for accessible training resources, guidance and support to enable these students to share their stories and voices with the country.