Project Overview

The Rural Visual Journalism Network (RVJN) is a component of the Press Freedom 2.0 programme in Bangladesh and is an initiative of Drik supported by World Press Photo. RVJN is designed to address specific issues faced by media and give voice to rural citizens of Bangladesh.

The programme takes into account factors such as high illiteracy rates; the fact that rural communities in Bangladesh have less access to information sources; and the dramatic rise of penetration of radio, mobile phone usage and TV. The disadvantaged representation of women and children in the media sector and the limited press freedom in the country remain a constant matter of concern, and will therefore be focus areas in the programme of Press Freedom 2.0. The use of quality visual media in Bangladesh, where literacy rates are low can be an effective tool as an alternative education.

Challanges

To make RVJN sustainable beyond the term of the project by disseminating the stories to national and international media. Strengthen and keep the rural correspondents motivated in their role as the information intermediaries through the production of quality stories. The trained rural correspondents are on contract with DrikNEWS for the regular supplying of multimedia stories. They will be financially supported by the project.

Objective

Over the five years of the project (2011-2015), the objective is to develop a network of professional photographers, non-governmental organisation (NGO) workers, and citizen journalists trained to produce multimedia (photography, video, and text) stories covering all 64 districts of the country.

Drik Wins Manthan Award for the “Rural Visual Journalism Network”

Dhaka, 3 December 2012: Drik celebrates its win in the Manthan Award 2012 for the innovative Rural Visual Journalism Network (RVJN), an initiative that trains district correspondents to use Apple iPod Touch technology to produce multimedia stories from rural Bangladesh. The RVJN Project Manager, Muhammad Aminuzzaman, accepted the award in the “e-news and media” category, at a gala ceremony in the Habitat Centre in New Delhi, India on 1 December 2012. - See more at: here