Women Journalists Challenge Disinformation Through Local Reporting

As disinformation campaigns surge across India’s digital landscape, women journalists from rural regions are fighting back, highlighting how false narratives disproportionately impact marginalized communities.

A powerful coalition of fact-checkers, civil society organizations, and journalists has emerged to counter the rising tide of misinformation that often targets women, religious minorities, and those from lower castes. At the forefront of this effort is Khabar Lahariya, India’s only women-led rural news network, which brings authentic grassroots perspectives to combat misleading narratives.

“When disinformation spreads in rural communities, it doesn’t just distort reality – it entrenches existing power structures,” explains Kavita Devi, co-founder of Khabar Lahariya. “Our reporters bring critical local context that national media often lacks, especially in regions where traditional social hierarchies remain deeply entrenched.”

Founded in 2002 in Uttar Pradesh, Khabar Lahariya has expanded its operations across multiple northern Indian states. The organization’s predominantly Dalit and Muslim women journalists provide essential coverage from areas typically overlooked by mainstream media, where disinformation can fuel tensions along religious and caste lines.

Recent research by the Internet Democracy Project has documented how disinformation often manifests differently in rural settings compared to urban areas. While urban misinformation campaigns frequently spread via social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, rural disinformation travels through community networks, WhatsApp groups, and local power brokers.

“The digital divide remains significant,” notes media researcher Pratik Sinha. “Rural communities often have less access to fact-checking resources and digital literacy training, making them particularly vulnerable to misleading narratives that exploit existing social tensions.”

The consequences of such misinformation can be severe. In 2021, rumors spread via WhatsApp regarding alleged cattle smuggling led to mob violence in several districts of Uttar Pradesh. Khabar Lahariya reporters were instrumental in debunking these claims and documenting the aftermath, highlighting how false narratives often target religious minorities.

“Gender adds another complex dimension to this landscape,” says media scholar Rituparna Chatterjee. “Women journalists from marginalized communities face multiple barriers—gender-based harassment, caste discrimination, and religious prejudice—all while working to counter false narratives about the very communities they belong to.”

The organization’s approach combines traditional reporting with innovative digital strategies. Their journalists, many of whom come from the communities they cover, use smartphones to document stories, record video evidence, and interview local stakeholders. This multimedia approach helps establish factual accounts that counter disinformation.

International recognition has bolstered their efforts. The critically acclaimed documentary “Writing With Fire,” which chronicles Khabar Lahariya’s work, was nominated for an Academy Award in 2022, bringing global attention to the challenges faced by rural women journalists in India.

Despite these successes, significant challenges remain. Digital threats against women journalists have escalated, with reporters from Khabar Lahariya frequently receiving online abuse and threats. The organization has responded by developing security protocols and creating support networks for their journalists.

“The patterns of disinformation we’re seeing reflect broader societal divisions,” observes Meera Devi, a senior reporter with Khabar Lahariya. “False narratives about religious conversion, inter-faith relationships, or caste mobility often trigger real-world violence. Our reporting aims to disrupt these cycles by centering marginalized voices.”

The organization has also expanded its fact-checking initiatives, partnering with national networks like Alt News and BOOM to verify claims circulating in rural areas. These collaborations enhance their capacity to respond rapidly to emerging disinformation campaigns.

Media literacy remains a crucial component of their strategy. Khabar Lahariya conducts workshops in rural communities, teaching residents how to identify potential misinformation and verify sources before sharing content.

As India approaches national elections in 2024, the battle against disinformation takes on renewed urgency. Political parties increasingly deploy sophisticated information operations that target rural voters through hyperlocal messaging.

“The work of rural women journalists has never been more essential,” emphasizes digital rights activist Anja Kovacs. “They provide a crucial counterweight to disinformation campaigns that exploit social divisions for political gain.”

Through their persistent reporting, the women of Khabar Lahariya continue to demonstrate that factual, community-centered journalism remains one of the most effective tools against the spread of disinformation in India’s diverse and complex media ecosystem.