The Wire's Series on Indian Fisherwomen Wins 2024 ACJ Award for Social Impact Journalism
Menu
हिंदी తెలుగు اردو
Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion
Support independent journalism. Donate Now
Media
The Wire's Series on Indian Fisherwomen Wins 2024 ACJ Award for Social Impact Journalism
The Wire Staff
9 minutes ago
The citation praised the series as 'visually rich and well narrated,' commending how it 'highlights the grit of the women who have battled all odds to earn a livelihood and lead a life of dignity.'
Real journalism holds power accountable
Since 2015, The Wire has done just that.
But we can continue only with your support.
Donate now
A still from 'Breaking The Nets'.
New Delhi: The Wire's five-part multimedia series 'Breaking the Nets: An Oral History of India's Fisherwomen' has been awarded the 2024 K.P. Narayana Kumar Memorial Award for Social Impact Journalism by the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), recognising its powerful storytelling and focus on marginalised voices.
The award was presented during the ACJ Awards ceremony held on May 3 at the college's campus in Chennai. ACJ noted that the series – reported by Shamsheer Yousaf, Monica Jha and Sriram Vittalamurthy – 'documents the struggles as well as the triumphs of India's fisher women.'
The citation praised the series as 'visually rich and well narrated,' commending how it 'highlights the grit of the women who have battled all odds to earn a livelihood and lead a life of dignity.'
'Breaking the Nets' sheds light on the often invisible labour of over 12.3 million women engaged in India's fishing sector. Through oral histories and immersive multimedia reportage, the series chronicles stories of resilience across six Indian regions, including the Sundarbans, Gulf of Mannar, Odisha, Puducherry, Mumbai, and Bihar.
Among the narratives featured are that of Urmila Sardar, who continues fishing in the Sundarbans despite the trauma of losing her husband to a tiger; Namma Thayi, an 80-year-old seaweed diver from Tamil Nadu; Vedavalli, who challenged a caste panchayat in Puducherry; and Chandrakala Devi from Bihar, who, along with other women from the Mallah community, reclaimed village fish ponds from upper-caste landlords who had enslaved them.
The series not only brings forth the everyday struggles of fisherwomen but also underscores their collective efforts to assert rights, access public spaces and challenge patriarchal and caste hierarchies. It calls attention to how government policies have failed to formally acknowledge their labour in the fishing economy.
This year, the Social Impact Journalism Award was jointly awarded to The Wire's team and journalist Vandana Menon for her story on Rajasthan's pension-deprived elderly, published in ThePrint.
'Breaking the Nets' has also been shortlisted in two categories – the Journalism Prize and the Opening Up Prize (public vote)—at the New Media Writing Prize. As part of this recognition, the series will be archived by the British Library. The final winners of the international prize will be announced on May 14.
The ACJ Awards jury comprised Kalpana Sharma, veteran journalist and columnist; Priya M. Menon, independent journalist and journalism advisor; and Harikrishna Katragadda, documentary photographer and visual artist.
This year, the awards received 240 entries from 101 organisations in four languages.
Read the series here.
Make a contribution to Independent Journalism
Related News
The Wire's Siddharth Varadarajan Honoured with Media for Unity Digital Award
Nostalgic About a Hyderabad Between Nizam and NTR
Beyond the Heaven-Born Service
Will the New Catholic Pontiff Preserve and Extend the Legacy of the Departed Pope?
Former CJI T.S. Thakur Skips Launch of Ex-RAW Chief's Controversial New Book
On Kashmir: The Ethics of Writing, Covering and Publishing Memoirs
Why People With Disabilities Need Greater Political Representation
26 Killed In Pahalgam Terror Attack
Madhu Limaye's Pivotal Role in Modern India Must Be Remembered
View in Desktop Mode
About Us
Contact Us
Support Us
© Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Last DNA match done, 260 bodies handed over: Min
Ahmedabad: A gruelling fortnight-long exercise to identify all victims of AI flight 171 finally ended on Friday, with forensic experts finding a DNA match for 32-year-old passenger Anil Khimani. His was the last sample out of 241 passengers and crew that perished in the tragedy, which the experts were toiling to match. Khimani was a native of Dahisara village near Bhuj. His mortal remains were handed over to the family on Saturday, confirmed Civil Hospital officials. With the update, state health minister Rushikesh Patel, in a release, stated that bodies of 260 victims of the air tragedy, which includes 241 passengers and crew and 19 killed on the ground, have been identified and handed over to their kin. Those on board included 181 Indian nationals, 52 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Out of the total, 31 were flown for the last rites, whereas the rest were sent by road. "Out of the Indian victims, 73 are from Ahmedabad, 29 from Anand, 24 from Vadodara, 14 from Diu, 13 from Maharashtra, 12 from Surat, and 11 from Kheda among others," the minister stated in the release. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Health department officials said that none of the samples given by relatives remain unmatched. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo "In case any remains are found from the crash site, identification will be carried out," said a senior official. Meanwhile, sources saidthat Khimani, who had travelled to other countries for work, was flying to the UK for the first time. His family had been desperately praying for the match. Khimani is survived by his wife and children, the sources said.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
AU providing safe and secure environment for foreign students, says Vice-Chancellor
Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof. G.P. Rajasekhar on Saturday said that the AU alumni associations abroad would be formed soon. He was speaking at Exit-Engagement-Evening (E3) organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in association with Andhra University, at the AU Convention Centre here on Saturday (June 28). Prof. Rajasekhar said that more than 1,000 students from more than 50 countries are studying at the AU. He said that the ICCR is happy with AU for providing a safe and secure environment and quality education to foreign students. He said that steps are being taken to form AU alumni associations abroad, where alumni can come together and work for the welfare of the institutions and enhance the name and reputation of the university. ICCR Director (Scholarships) Sanjay Vedi said that the university students are returning to their home country with the true spirit of Indian culture. He urged the students to promote AU pride in their countries.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
IAS officers' honest take on bureaucracy goes viral on LinkedIn-- Here's why
credit: linkedin A recent LinkedIn post shared by an IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre of the 1996 batch has sparked debate online. Mr. Ajitabh Sharma, who has dedicated so many years of his life to the Indian bureaucracy, breaking away from the polished narratives, admits that 'in IAS, any assignment ain't difficult,' highlighting a bigger concern: are all claims about this job misleading? His post reflected on how many in governance present a simplified view of their work, making it seem like all tasks are equally manageable. He says, 'I have always found it difficult, much less for the assignments and more so for the narrative,' expressing his disagreement with the idea that every administrative assignment carries the same weight and complexity. Ajitabh Sharma pointed out that more than 80% of an IAS officer's time is consumed by what he calls 'non-core work,' noting that the core work for each department is different. The non-core work includes HR issues, departmental and interdepartmental meetings, prepping countless reports, managing data, etc. These tasks, although important, often take up so much time that there's little left for anything that truly matters. Screenshot of the post (credit: linkedin) What is core work? He explains: 'Anything that is mission-driven, departmentally unique—water, social justice, education, health, and the list goes on. These are the areas where officers can actually make a difference, shape policy, and deliver impactful governance.' Further, Mr. Sharma warns that spending countless years under non-core duties can lead to a false sense of expertise. 'You may feel like you are the 'expert,' but it may take your department on a downward slide in the service industry,' he explained. With over 4,000 likes and 500+ comments, his post has struck a chord on the internet. Once again, somebody chose to speak reality—and people are loving it. Citizens who are often at the receiving end of administrative delays and inefficiencies have also voiced their support. This post is a timely reminder that meaningful public service requires time, focus, and the ability to rise above the noisy routine of paperwork.
