Merab Vilomina Manu, Knowledge Hub
January has been an exciting month for the Knowledge Hub. To begin with, we are pleased to announce that the NBR Media Project has received funding and been launched. Through this initiative, the year-long pilot will enhance the skills and field experience of novice journalists from the NBR.
Developing a new generation of community-based journalists in the NBR:
This initiative aims to bridge gaps between Adivasi and local communities’ lived experiences, storytelling priorities, and practical realities of journalism. Selected NBR journalists will receive comprehensive training, gain guided field experience, and conduct field-based research with partner organisations across regions.
Recruitment began in January with encouraging results. We have received a number of applications from qualified candidates representing diverse regions within the NBR and will soon be selecting the initial cohort of journalists!
Empowering Adivasi and local voices to challenge mainstream media narratives:
Participants benefit from a curriculum covering journalism foundations, multimedia production, digital literacy, publication processes, pitching, editorial skills, and mentorship support. In addition to classroom learning, journalists undertake field assignments across the NBR to apply their skills through real-world reporting in diverse community contexts.
By the end of this pilot year, we aim to capacitate a small cohort of local individuals interested in journalism. Beyond technical skills, we want participants to build an independent community capable of guiding future collectives, expansions, and collaborations. Ultimately, these journalists will train others like themselves, helping disrupt power imbalances within mainstream media narratives through community-led storytelling efforts.
