Across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, community media has evolved as a powerful tool over the last decade for self-representation, knowledge circulation, and place-based awareness. Over the past decade, community led media initiatives have strengthened a vibrant ecosystem of indigenous and local storytellers, journalists, and media practitioners. From print to radio, film to digital mesh networks, these platforms have enabled communities to document their worlds, shape narratives, and respond to changing socio-ecological realities
The IPLC News Desk incubates beginner journalists and aims to serve as an autonomous collective. This project was launched in 2026 with encouraging progress. The year-long pilot project will work to enhance the skills and field experience of emerging journalists from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR).
Radio Kotagiri 90.4 MHz has long served as a platform for diverse community voices: women, children, migrants, tea estate workers, agriculturalists, health professionals, educators, and other citizen groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the station was at the forefront disseminating information and public awareness, working closely with government bodies, institutions, and individuals. The station also actively contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals, in collaboration with programmes across the Keystone Foundation, including Biodiversity Conservation and Community Wellbeing.
One of the earliest and longest-running community media initiatives, Nilgiris Seemai Suddhi emerged as a multilingual, community-led newsletter created by indigenous barefoot journalists and editors. “Seemai” (cultural boundary) and “Suddhi” (news) reflect its core purpose: to circulate knowledge within and across communities in locally meaningful ways. The newsletter is an archive of community memory and political voice.
1. Kwol Radio introduced an innovative Wi-Fi mesh-based community media network in the Aracode region.
2. Sagavazhvu Radio, since 2023 has been operational in Indira Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar in Kotagiri region. Building on earlier models, Saghavazhu Radio focuses on human–wildlife interactions and coexistence strategies.
Community media efforts have been strengthened through regional, national, and global networks, enabling knowledge exchange, collaboration, and resource mobilisation.
Recognising the importance of visual storytelling, Keystone collaborated with Green Hub to run a year-long audio-visual fellowship for indigenous youth.
