Journalism in India

Attracting everyone, from gap year students to highly experienced journalists, a placement on the monthly Sivakasi Times is whatever you want it to be.

Set up in 2002 by Teaching & Projects Abroad , in collaboration with the local business community, this is the first-ever English language newspaper or magazine produced in the area to serve the bustling city of Sivakasi and its neighbouring towns. It is sent free to schools and other institutions and is also available on the street. The Sivakasi Times is really at home because Sivakasi is the capital of India 's printing industry.

The magazine is run by volunteers with our Indian team who have experience working as journalists across the South of India. This means that volunteers with no experience can be involved in the entire process from writing, researching, editing, photography and layouts to the final printing stage. On the other hand, volunteers with a host of experience can bring their specialised knowledge and assistance to the paper and even act as mentors for the less experienced.

Each magazine has its own theme. Recently this has ranged from the problems of water-supply and environmental controversies to women's issues and sport. Volunteers are involved from the first meetings about what to include in the month's issue to helping to get the finished copies to local distributors.

The magazine gives volunteers a real opportunity to get involved, whether it be interviewing a local politician or finding out local opinions on the latest Indian cricketing debate.

You may have to travel to meet a local farmer who is upset by a government decision, or you may be sitting on the editorial board deciding what to include this month. Every day is different.

To read a more detailed information about this project, you may visit our Internship Journalism in India specialized website.