Humans of FactShala

FactShala has successfully entered into the third year of its journey to build resilience against misinformation. This initiative has benefitted millions of people, touching regions and communities across the length and breadth of the country. While the data speaks volumes, how do you measure the scale of impact on an individual level? That is where storytelling comes in.

With Humans of FactShala, we want to introduce the world to a range of unique and inspiring stories about the efforts of our trainers which has translated into empowering people, in turn strengthening media literacy within their communities.

Join us as we bring to life the journeys of our #communitychangemakers across the media literacy spectrum.

Media Literacy for the Elderly

Dr. Pragya Kaushik is a media educator hailing from Hisar, Haryana. She also serves as a guest faculty at SD College and Government Polytechnic Institute. For Pragya, media literacy isn’t just a part of her work—it’s the core. Her PhD thesis highlighted the importance of media literacy awareness for school-going children and suggested integrating it…

Initiating Classroom Dialogue on Media Literacy

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a multitude of challenges worldwide. People grappled with illnesses, and personal losses, and the rampant spread of misinformation concerning food supplies, death tolls, and vaccines, among others, only made matters worse. Geetika Vashishata, an Adjunct Faculty member at Manipal Institute of Communications in Manipal, Karnataka, and a media educator, had an…

Creating a Ripple Effect of Media Literacy

In Kashmir’s Baramulla district, about 20 young girls from Gund Khawaja Qasim and nearby villages gather once or twice a month in a friendly space called Darbar in local parlance. Here, they share, interact, and discuss issues concerning them and their community. This initiative was started by Maryam Yousuf, a Computer Applications graduate from Government…

Using Media Literacy to Combat Drug Use

Dr. Nidhi Sharma is an Assistant Professor at GNDU College Jalandhar. Living in Punjab has provided her with an up-close view of the state’s intricacies and a better understanding of its issues. Her motivation to join Factshala was driven by a clear goal: to leverage the platform to reach marginalised communities and raise awareness of…

Transforming Transgender Narratives

Arulselvi is a Research Scholar at Anna University’s Department of Media Sciences in Chennai. She also serves as a Youth Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific Region in UNESCO MIL ALLIANCE (formerly known as GAPMIL). Her fervour for media and information literacy drives her to continuously seek innovative approaches to help individuals navigate the overwhelming flow and…

Empowering Women: Media Literacy and Beyond

Nimage Gotta – This Kannada phrase is frequently spotted in social media forwards circulating in Bengaluru. Roughly translated as ‘Do you know?’, it is often accompanied by health claims, tips, and tricks such as “Pouring boiled onion juice in your ears can reduce ear pain” or “consuming organic coconut oil helps prevent cancer” or “eating…

Village Walks for Media Literacy

In September, the quiet, narrow lanes of many villages in Jharkhand came alive as women and young girls dressed in vibrant, colourful attires, took to the streets holding banners in yellow, orange, and white. The banners, consisting of media literacy tips, caught the attention of the villagers, sparking conversation and curiosity in the rural communities.…

When Retail Therapy Met Media Literacy

Malls are not just bustling centers of commerce; they’re lively worlds of their own. Within their walls, you’ll find excited shoppers indulging in retail therapy and leisurely browsing through displays. But beyond shopping and leisure, can malls also serve as hubs for promoting social causes and raising awareness about topics such as media literacy? Seema…

Incorporating Media into the Military

On a bright, sunny August morning, a sharp-looking cohort of 40 Gentlemen Cadets assembled in a hall at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. However, it wasn’t just for another club meeting or a routine military training session. Instead, they had gathered for a FactShala training workshop led by trainer Dr. Taha Siddiqui, turning the morning…

Extending Media Literacy Beyond the Classroom to the Post Office

Saniya is a media student of Carmel College [Autonomous] Mala, Thrissur district, Kerala. She may be twenty years old but her dreams and ambitions soar beyond her age. Juggling various roles, she is not just a student but also serves as a Project Assistant at the NGO Kites India, a Communications Specialist at Tale8, and…

Empowering the Youth to Embrace Media Literacy

Dr. Afsana Rashid resides in Kashmir’s capital city – Srinagar. She has worked with prominent national and local newspapers such as The Tribune, Kashmir Times, and Milli Gazette, and is also part of academia as an Assistant Professor at the Media Education Research Centre, University of Kashmir. Despite a rich and extensive professional journey, Dr.…

Reaching the Unreachable

Kamala hails from Jammapudur, a village that lies at the foothills of the lush green Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu. It is an interior village primarily inhabited by farmer families. Young and ambitious at 50, Kamala routinely goes on the field as part of her association with an NGO, where she works closely with the…

Celebrating the Way to Media Literacy

Residing in Feroke City, Calicut District, is Fathima, a twenty-seven-year-old aspiring journalist. She is a student at Media One Academy, Kozhikode, Kerala, an institute dedicated to imparting theoretical ability and industrial readiness to journalism students. Among the many activities that the Academy hosts for the students was a media and information literacy workshop that FactShala…

An Effort to Help the Marginalized Fight Misinformation

Sultan Ahmad is a journalist living in Delhi. For over eight years now he’s been working with Gram Vaani, a social tech company incubated out of IIT Delhi, that uses technology to create participatory media platforms that are accessible and adaptable. Dedicated towards community media, Sultan has traveled across the country, conducting grassroots training to…

Road to Right Information: Lajjawati’s Journey Against Health Misinformation

“one of the most common apprehensions among the people was that if you give the dose to children between the ages of 15 and 18, they will not be able to have kids in the future” Lajjawati, a social impact worker, resides in Uttar Pradesh’s city of love – Agra. She works at The Agra…