Techies launch news website for ordinary Indians
By Bala Shah

The mainstream media in India has played an important role as a pillar of democracy, but for many reasons it is restricted on what it brings to the public attention.  Traditional media is more focused on big issues like Governments and businesses houses.  Like all large organizations, there are hierarchies and a news article may go through 3 levels before it makes it to the print edition.  Last but not the least,  are strong advertising revenue bonds between some big newspapers and business houses which prevent ‘free and fearless’ reporting. 

What mainstream media cannot or will not do, blogs and citizens journalists step in.  Website Purdafash,  started by IIT and IIM graduates,  offers the average Indian (or “aam admi”) a voice to report on corruption and other problems they encounter.  Purdafash is an example of social entrepreneurship,  where the founders hope to serve the public as well as raise revenue through advertising once the viewers reach a critical mass.  Currently,  the most popular stories are exposes about auto rickshaw meters being tampered with,  workers being exploited,  Assam zoo’s inability to look after animals and even one about a Mumbai supermarket conning its patrons.

purdafash.com is simple to use.  You register at the website, and can then upload photos and videos along with your report.  Citizen journalists can also upload any sting operations done in public interest.  Individually or collectively,  people can launch campaigns to ensure solutions are found.  If need be Purdafash will work with freelance journalists to uncover stories if the sources are not comfortable doing the reporting themselves.

Who are the people behind Purdafash?

Siddhartha Banerjee, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer graduated from IIT in 2007.  While at IIT,  he did  a few courses in Computer Science/IT  and taught himself Perl, PHP, C,  Java and Linux.  Siddhartha  has also done an internship at Singapore Management University in 2007 which involved  programming a part of marketing tool software.

Areeb Khan,  co-founder and CEO,  graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia with a silver medal and went to work in a flourishing startup Nagarro Inc. In the 2 years that he spent at the company, he rose to become the Head of India Marketing team before deciding to pursue his MBA from IIM Calcutta. During his two years at IIM Calcutta, he was instrumental in getting off the ground IIM Calcutta's flagship marketing festival- CENSUS and was part of the core team that turned around the Annual Entrepreneurship festival from being a small, intra campus event into an All India event. He was also awarded the Best Project Award by the Social Work Group at IIM Calcutta and People for Animals for developing a Business that would improve the lives of rural India.

Siddhartha and Areeb  met when working at Trilogy, an IT product and services company headquartered in Austin.

Nazia Erum is the third member of the Purdafash team and one who brings a journalistic perspective to the complementing technology, management and social work skills in the team.  Nazia Erum graduated in  Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, Delhi University and has interned at media organizations like Asian Age and Tehelka and assisted reported from Hindustan Times and PTI.  Nazia was the finalist in the Gateway awards 2007 where her ad film was nominated among the top 3 among all the South-Asian entries.

Does India need such citizen’s journalism?  The answer is a resounding yes.   Currently Merinews and Mynews do this role,  but a portal like Purdafash managed by educated, experienced managers would be a welcome addition. Paradoxically,  the greatest danger to such niche citizen journalism  will be its success.  If they get a huge viewership and revenue, old media will step in and offer such services. Ironical is it not?