TBI Young Journalists Program
Published on The Better India
A free, rolling journalism programme where students aged 15 to 21 report stories of changemakers for publication on The Better India, earning a TBI Certificate after five published articles.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Rolling — no fixed programme end date
Time needed
Depends on the time taken to make the entry
Eligibility
Open to school and college students aged 15 to 21 across India. No prior journalism experience required. Students must be able to independently identify a story, conduct basic interviews, and produce content in one of the four accepted formats.
- Age range
- 15 to 21 years
- Prerequisites
- Ability to identify and report a story about a changemaker, innovator, or social entrepreneur
- Ability to write in English (articles) or produce video/multimedia content in the accepted formats
- Basic interviewing ability to speak with story subjects
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Certificate
TBI Young Journalist Certificate
A TBI Young Journalist Certificate is awarded after five stories are published on The Better India platform.
Recognition
Published on The Better India
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Enrollment
- Open all year
Online · The Better India Platform
How to apply
- 1Identify a story about a changemaker, innovator, entrepreneur, or unsung hero in your community
- 2Produce your story in one of the four accepted formats: article (600-800 words), short video (50-55 sec vertical), social post (300 words), or multimedia piece
- 3Email your story to tbiyoungjournalist@thebetterindia.com with subject line 'Young Journalists [Story Format]', your name and institution, a 100-word story brief, and the complete story content
- 4TBI editorial team reviews submissions and publishes qualifying stories on the platform
Rules and guidelines
- Story submissions must be about real changemakers, innovators, entrepreneurs, or unsung heroes
- Articles must be 600-800 words with five supporting images
- Videos must be 50-55 seconds in vertical (9:16) format
- Social media posts must be 300 words with three images
- Subject line must follow the format: 'Young Journalists [Story Format]'
- Email must include name, institution, 100-word brief, full story, format, and names of interviewed subjects
About this opportunity
The TBI Young Journalists Program is an open, rolling initiative by The Better India that invites school and college students aged 15 to 21 to submit original journalism for publication on India's largest positive news platform. Students identify and report stories about changemakers, innovators, social entrepreneurs, and everyday heroes from their communities across India, producing content in one of four accepted formats.
Accepted formats include short-form vertical videos (50-55 seconds at 9:16 ratio), articles of 600-800 words with five supporting images, social media posts of 300 words with three images, and multimedia content pieces. The programme covers nine story categories: Sustainability, Agriculture, Changemakers, Culture, Travel, Food, History, Startups, and Innovation and Technology.
To submit, students send their story directly to tbiyoungjournalist@thebetterindia.com with a subject line specifying the story format, a 100-word story brief, the complete story as an attachment or Google Doc, and the names of any interviewed subjects. The programme is entirely free to participate in and operates on a continuous rolling basis with no fixed cohort dates or application deadlines.
Students who have five of their stories published on The Better India platform receive a TBI Young Journalist Certificate. Published work appears on a platform with a monthly reach of over 200 million readers across India and internationally.
What your child will do
- Story identification and source identification in local communities
- Interview and field research
- Article writing (600-800 words) with images
- Short-form vertical video production
- Social media content creation
- Multimedia journalism production
- Submission and editorial review cycle
Mentors and faculty
TBI editorial team reviews and provides feedback on submitted stories.
Languages
Academic details
Difficulty: Beginner
Frequently asked questions
Is prior journalism experience required to participate?
No prior journalism experience is required. Students need the ability to identify a story, conduct basic interviews with story subjects, and produce content in one of the accepted formats. The program is designed to nurture budding journalists.
What is the typical timeline for a submitted story to be reviewed and published?
Due to the rolling nature of the program, review and publication timelines can vary. The editorial team strives to process submissions efficiently, and participants will be notified of their story's status once reviewed.
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