The Mooknayak

Last updated
The Mooknayak
Available in2 languages
List of languages
English, Hindi
Founded2021;3 years ago (2021)
Country of originIndia
Founder(s) Meena Kotwal
URL www.themooknayak.com

The Mooknayak is an online news website founded in 2021 that focuses on social justice for Dalits and marginalized communities. [1] [2] [3] Its name, which means 'the leader of the voiceless' honors the Mooknayak newspaper founded by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in 1920 and reflects the work of its founder, Dalit journalist Meena Kotwal. [4] [5] [6]

The Mooknayak covers stories related to Dalits and other marginalized groups in India. [5] [7] [8] Kotwal has described it as "a Dalit-centred newsroom." [6]

Kotwal founded the online version of The Mooknayak in 2021, [1] and by 2023, the organization employed 15 journalists, including 9 full-time. [6] News articles are written in English and Hindi, and journalists produce videos for the associated YouTube channel. [9] By March 2023, the YouTube channel had 50,000 subscribers. [1]

The Mooknayak online news outlet is crowdfunded and has received approximately $12,000 from the Google News Initiative and around $6,000 from a YouTube training program. [5] [6]

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References

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  3. Team, N. L. "UN rights experts write to govt about inaction over threats to Mooknayak founder". Newslaundry. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  4. Kotwal, Meena (27 May 2022). "Keeping Ambedkar's Legacy Alive, One Story At A Time". Outlook . Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Singh, Karan Deep (March 6, 2023). "With Stories of Her Oppressed Community, a Journalist Takes Aim at the Walls of Caste". The New York Times . Retrieved 25 April 2023.
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  8. Pasricha, Anjana (6 December 2023). "In India, News Outlet Gives Voice to Low Castes". Voice of America. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  9. Bhat, Adil (29 June 2023). "India: Dalit journalists give a voice to the marginalized – DW – 06/29/2023". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved 6 February 2024.