Speak Up, Step Up

President Obama shared his thoughts on the future of journalism at the White House Correspondents Dinner:
"Today’s technology — (applause) — today’s technology has made it possible for us to get our news and information from a growing range of sources. We can pick and choose not only our preferred type of media, but also our preferred perspective. And while that exposes us to an unprecedented array of opinions, analysis, and points of view, it also makes it that much more important that we’re all operating on a common baseline of facts. It makes it that much more important that journalists out there seek only the truth."

Even though he was talking to seasoned journalists, it resonates with what community media is all about- using modern technology to create news that can be shared with the outside world while giving hope and truth to people within the community.  The Community Producers and Reporters we train create films and radio for the people in their language and about their lives.  They are from marginalized and deprived communities and never presented the opportunity to speak for themselves.  It is important for you and I to read about child trafficking and education disparities in West Bengal (read this Mother Jones article for more insight) but what if the women of these villages were able to gather and offered a platform to strategize on their own terms?  No longer are they waiting for you and I to feel moved by a piece of journalism or for politicians/ international aid orgs to catch wind of the next big cause, they are talking and solving issues themselves.  Sustainable- innovative- a better use of everyones time- I love it! The films and radio segments I hear produced by Drishti Community Units talk about the lack of water or education access or caste issues or female rights- all the things we hear about India in the west.  The differences is this journalism doesnt ask me, the viewer, what can you (the outsider, the westerner) do about it, it doesnt tell the locals to sit around and wait for the government to fix it, every time, it demands that the people of that village find the solutions, immediately- as in directly after the film is over.  After every viewing community members scream, debate, draft, and collaborate to figure out the next step they must take to better their community. So really, community media views the marginalized, the forgotten, not as powerless victims waiting for a hand-me down solution, but as active citizens eager for better conditions.

I asked Khaleel to tell me, in his own words, about his Community Unit based in Jaipur... here is what he had to say:

"AINA TV (Mirror TV) shows the community in its entirety.  We disclose the problems we face and offer possible solutions.  The discussions held after each screening inspire people to actively work towards creating change in their neighborhood."