TRC Investigative Reporting Fellowship
The Reporters’ Collective (TRC) is delighted to announce Meenakshi Kapoor as the winner of the 2nd TRC Investigative Reporting Fellowship. Meenakshi, a TRC Fellow for the next two months, will be working with the TRC team to produce top-grade investigative work in English. Her work will be published by The Collective in English and Hindi, and made available for co-publication by regional newsrooms.
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Journalism’s key job is to tell the truth and seek out facts that hold those in power accountable to citizens. In India, the space for this kind of journalism has shrunk because speaking truth to power is bad business. The Collective wants to reclaim that space by building a nonprofit newsroom that invests in reportage, and reports without fear or favour.
We are a collective of like-minded journalists recognised for our deep, original and time-intensive reporting, which often requires scouring thousands of public records and spending months digging for information.
Our work has won recognition in India and internationally. Since 2020, we’ve published 102 investigations on a wide range of issues. We have investigated corruption in governments and conglomerates, political malfeasance meddling in our economy, technology’s damaging impact on democracy, pandemic deaths and beyond.
To learn about our work, click here.
The Fellowship
Announced last month, our second round of fellowship was open to candidate(s) with at least two years of reporting experience to tackle an ambitious investigative project they propose. This fellowship is funded by citizens who champion our work.
Selecting just one out of the 35 applications was rather tough. We assessed each application on different parameters, including originality and exclusivity, our mandate, availability of evidence, and feasibility of the story pitched.
We had invited proposals by journalists from across the country to share their story ideas aligning with the following themes:
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A word from our past fellows
In a time when the reporting environment is increasingly abysmal — with many outlets choosing to play it safe and align with those in power — this fellowship stands out as a rare space that encourages honest, independent journalism.
This fellowship went way beyond just the financial support that was crucial for pursuing the story on the ground in a meaningful way. It gave me the rare chance to explore an issue I deeply care about, with the perfect balance of freedom and support.
It was a truly rewarding experience that supported both my personal growth and professional development.
- Meenakshi Kapoor TRC FELLOW
In an era where journalism often dwindles to fleeting social media snippets, chasing a gritty story demands raw courage.
In my first meeting with The Reporters’ Collective (TRC), I found myself surrounded with a cadre of seasoned journalistic minds, their eyes glinting with the fire of countless scoops.
They guided me with unwavering support to plunge headfirst into the murky depths of the inter-state liquor trade.
While editing copy has been reduced to mere grammar tweaks in many newsrooms, TRC’s battle-hardened team wove my raw findings into a masterfully narrated investigative saga.
- Kashif Kakvi TRC Special Grantee
As a long-time follower of The Collective’s work, being awarded the inaugural TRC Investigative Reporting Fellowship was a remarkable opportunity.
This prestigious fellowship enabled me to delve deeply into a subject of immense significance to millions of Indian youth. It gave me the resources and support to explore this critical issue thoroughly.
- Suchak Patel TRC FELLOW
At a time when Indian journalism has been reduced to sheer sycophancy of the political masters, working with The Collective, I felt that it is possible to produce critical and in-depth stories based on empirical facts.
I realised that journalism is not just about setting certain narratives which please one or another but it is more about dealing with piles of data and digging out something relevant and impactful.
- Alok Rajput TRC Special Grantee
