Voices from the Grassroots: A Study of Youtube Channels Raising Citizens’ Issues in Haryana

This study explores the eclectic range of issues, civic matters and political discourse articulated by grassroots media professionals. The research project delves into the content and working of certain small YouTube News Channels in Haryana, which have been working to bring to the fore the civic and political issues as seen from the perspective of those who are at the margins and who do not find a voice in mainstream media. The civic issues they face remain away from the news spotlight, not just due to their limited relevance to the broader audience but also due to the general apathy of mainstream media towards such issues. The role of grassroots-level media outlets becomes crucial when the well-funded mainstream media completely ignores civic matters in favour of political topics. The outlets under study stand out for presenting views and stories often overlooked by the mainstream media and for their work for strenthening grassroot level democracy. As these platforms voice the civic concerns faced by ordinary people, they also shape an alternative political discourse by drawing attention to issues generally pushed outside of the public consciousness.

This study is based on the growing significance of new and emerging mass media in shaping alternative narratives and democratizing the flow of information. The study will conduct a thematic analysis of the stories published by these news channels and will also conduct in-depth interviews with the people behind the channels. The paper aims to underscore the vital role of small scale independent media outlets in voicing the issues that are relevant to local communities and often ignored due to a lack of wider relevance and appeal. These outlets, by focusing on local issues, play a crucial role in the media landscape, ensuring that these issues are not overlooked.