This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/11/india-citizen-journalists-video-volunteers

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
India's citizen journalists tell a few home truths India's citizen journalists tell a few home truths
(6 days later)
Neeru Rathod, 25, is a graduate from Sayala village in the Surendranagar district of India's western state of Gujarat. She became a community video producer at 17.Neeru Rathod, 25, is a graduate from Sayala village in the Surendranagar district of India's western state of Gujarat. She became a community video producer at 17.
While her father, a mason, and her mother, a housewife, supported Rathod's decision, her relatives and neighbours were aghast. "They were uncomfortable with the fact that a young woman was going from one village to another with a video camera, talking to all kinds of people about local problems, confronting government officials, and demanding a change in the way things are run," Rathod says. "But I was adamant".While her father, a mason, and her mother, a housewife, supported Rathod's decision, her relatives and neighbours were aghast. "They were uncomfortable with the fact that a young woman was going from one village to another with a video camera, talking to all kinds of people about local problems, confronting government officials, and demanding a change in the way things are run," Rathod says. "But I was adamant".
In 2011, she became a correspondent for IndiaUnheard, a community news service run by Video Volunteers (VV). Now Rathod is a celebrity of sorts in Sayala. Neighbours and relatives acknowledge that her IndiaUnheard documentary about the village's water shortage has solved a long-standing problem.In 2011, she became a correspondent for IndiaUnheard, a community news service run by Video Volunteers (VV). Now Rathod is a celebrity of sorts in Sayala. Neighbours and relatives acknowledge that her IndiaUnheard documentary about the village's water shortage has solved a long-standing problem.
"Summers meant water crises. Women would either walk long distances to get water or depend on water tankers," Rathod says. She interviewed women and took up the issue with the village headman. Initially, he did not acknowledge the problem. But when Rathod showed him the video footage, he authorised a new water pump for the village."Summers meant water crises. Women would either walk long distances to get water or depend on water tankers," Rathod says. She interviewed women and took up the issue with the village headman. Initially, he did not acknowledge the problem. But when Rathod showed him the video footage, he authorised a new water pump for the village.
VV was set up by Jessica Mayberry in 2002. The organisation identifies, trains and empowers correspondents to report on the challenges facing communities that lack a voice. "This format works well in communities with high levels of illiteracy. We can teach people the technology in a matter of weeks, while it takes years to teach reading and writing," Mayberry said in an interview.VV was set up by Jessica Mayberry in 2002. The organisation identifies, trains and empowers correspondents to report on the challenges facing communities that lack a voice. "This format works well in communities with high levels of illiteracy. We can teach people the technology in a matter of weeks, while it takes years to teach reading and writing," Mayberry said in an interview.
The project, which runs on donations and regularly fundraises, is working towards a paid model – VV hopes TV channels will pay to air their stories.The project, which runs on donations and regularly fundraises, is working towards a paid model – VV hopes TV channels will pay to air their stories.
Initiatives like VV are also important because, although 70% of the country's population lives in villages, the mainstream media is seldom interested in non-urban stories. "The Indian media lacks diversity, both in terms of who is producing the content and what is being produced," says VV director Stalin K, who has been involved with the organisation since its inception.Initiatives like VV are also important because, although 70% of the country's population lives in villages, the mainstream media is seldom interested in non-urban stories. "The Indian media lacks diversity, both in terms of who is producing the content and what is being produced," says VV director Stalin K, who has been involved with the organisation since its inception.
Sectors of Indian society are neglected by the mainstream media for a variety of reasons, he says – from being the wrong caste, gender or ethnic group, to being the wrong religion or speaking the wrong language. "These people need to talk for themselves, rather than being talked for. VV enables them to do this," says Stalin K.Sectors of Indian society are neglected by the mainstream media for a variety of reasons, he says – from being the wrong caste, gender or ethnic group, to being the wrong religion or speaking the wrong language. "These people need to talk for themselves, rather than being talked for. VV enables them to do this," says Stalin K.
In recent years, two initiatives have sought to give rural citizens a voice of their own. CGNet Swara allows anyone with a telephone connection to report and listen to stories of local interest, while Gaon Connection is India's first rural newspaper.In recent years, two initiatives have sought to give rural citizens a voice of their own. CGNet Swara allows anyone with a telephone connection to report and listen to stories of local interest, while Gaon Connection is India's first rural newspaper.
Newer technologies, meanwhile – which many hope will break barriers – do not always help. In a 2007 research paper, Inverting the frame: a community video initiative in India (pdf), Namita Singh, a scholar of the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences, suggests that technology often excludes "the lower class", who often lack access to interactive debating, SMS and blogging. Newer technologies, meanwhile – which many hope will break barriers – do not always help. In a 2007 research paper, Inverting the frame: a community video initiative in India, Namita Singh, a scholar of the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences, suggests that technology often excludes "the lower class", who often lack access to interactive debating, SMS and blogging.
Such exclusion leads to two problems. It means most people are unaware of their rights as citizens because of a lack of information, and it means neither government nor media have access to the views of poor people, which compromises policy decisions. "If information flowed upwards, issues like rural corruption or gender inequality could be tackled more effectively," says Stalin K.Such exclusion leads to two problems. It means most people are unaware of their rights as citizens because of a lack of information, and it means neither government nor media have access to the views of poor people, which compromises policy decisions. "If information flowed upwards, issues like rural corruption or gender inequality could be tackled more effectively," says Stalin K.
VV has 206 full-time, salaried community correspondents across 23 of India's 28 states. When a correspondent begins work for VV, they get 1,500 rupees (£15) for each video. The amount increases after two years. Correspondents also get 5,000 rupees for every impact video. To date, correspondents have produced 900 videos on topics such as child marriage, temple prostitution, insurgent conflict and atrocities against Dalits. There have been more than 300,000 live outdoor screenings in slums and villages, and the videos are also available online.VV has 206 full-time, salaried community correspondents across 23 of India's 28 states. When a correspondent begins work for VV, they get 1,500 rupees (£15) for each video. The amount increases after two years. Correspondents also get 5,000 rupees for every impact video. To date, correspondents have produced 900 videos on topics such as child marriage, temple prostitution, insurgent conflict and atrocities against Dalits. There have been more than 300,000 live outdoor screenings in slums and villages, and the videos are also available online.
Potential co-ordinators undergo two weeks of training on video production, research, storytelling and news reporting, ways of involving the local community, and public speaking skills. Invitations to join are sent out through NGO networks, but Stalin K and his team – eager to recruit from socially and economically marginalised communities – also visit remote areas to recruit correspondents. Potential community correspondents undergo two weeks of training on video production, research, storytelling and news reporting, ways of involving the local community, and public speaking skills. Invitations to join are sent out through NGO networks, but Stalin K and his team – eager to recruit from socially and economically marginalised communities – also visit remote areas to recruit correspondents.
VV wants to ensure that at least 50% of its reporters are women. But it is a difficult process in a conservative society, where women have to struggle twice as hard to be part of such a project. "During our interview and selection workshop rounds, we meet many women with immense potential and drive to work. Sadly, some drop out because of family pressure," says Manish Kumar, VV's chief trainer.VV wants to ensure that at least 50% of its reporters are women. But it is a difficult process in a conservative society, where women have to struggle twice as hard to be part of such a project. "During our interview and selection workshop rounds, we meet many women with immense potential and drive to work. Sadly, some drop out because of family pressure," says Manish Kumar, VV's chief trainer.
Then there are those such as Rohini Pawar from Maharashtra, who joined as a correspondent, despite opposition from her family, and now travels across India to train new recruits.Then there are those such as Rohini Pawar from Maharashtra, who joined as a correspondent, despite opposition from her family, and now travels across India to train new recruits.
Stalin K is upbeat about the future. His aim is to have at least one reporter in each of India's 671 districts. It is crucial that voices from conflict areas such as Kashmir and the north-eastern states become part of the mainstream conversation, but Stalin K is alive to the difficulties involved.Stalin K is upbeat about the future. His aim is to have at least one reporter in each of India's 671 districts. It is crucial that voices from conflict areas such as Kashmir and the north-eastern states become part of the mainstream conversation, but Stalin K is alive to the difficulties involved.
"We believe that the key to finding solutions to any problem is to listen to unmitigated and unmediated voices of the people who live the realities that need changing," he says. "We believe in the power of the voice.""We believe that the key to finding solutions to any problem is to listen to unmitigated and unmediated voices of the people who live the realities that need changing," he says. "We believe in the power of the voice."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.