39. Tracing Digital Journalism Intervention in Upgrading Community Media

Community media are grassroots-media that works in service of, for, about and by a community. Alternatively, it could comprise unconventional, oppositional, participatory and collaborative media practices that have been developed in the journalistic context of ‘community media’. While most community media are centred in one geographical area thereby limiting its spread, it is digital journalism that brings the community together irrespective of the place. From disaster to pandemic, from cultural interchange to political upheaval, often communities now rely on information that is more accessible and digitalised. Digital media has been extremely crucial in archiving the art, literature and historical significance of a community. At the same time digital journalism acts as a binding force that keeps both the internal and diaspora community connected. Digital journalism provides a foreground for getting into a diverse and sustainable communication. Instances of uncovering lost heritage, preserving endangered languages and providing an international voice against community apartheid and raising funds for community crises are not few and far in between. Compiling together such stories of digital journalism intervention in community development would be extremely crucial to understand the strengths and combating the challenges in a global scenario.