Podcasting has emerged as a powerful medium for storytelling, reporting and engaging audiences in India in recent years.
What started as a niche medium catered primarily to urban audiences over the past decade has grown exponentially, with an estimated 57.6 million monthly listeners today.
This surge in listenership is transforming the nature of podcasting in the country. As more people tune in, creators are exploring new narratives that reflect India’s diversity, moving beyond mainstream topics to address issues often overlooked by traditional media.
“It is a space where deep, nuanced conversations can unfold without the constraints of traditional formats. You can have nuanced views,” said Imaad ul Hasan, a journalism student based in the capital city of New Delhi.
Here’s how Indian journalists are using podcasts to amplify voices that are often left out of national media narratives:
Nous Podcast
The Nous Network, a “think tank media house” based in New Delhi, took a winding path to end up in the podcast business, initially only producing rigorous research explainer videos on Indian politics and society.
“We soon transitioned to podcasts because they offer a more interactive format compared to explainers and monologues. They allow for in-depth discussions and provide a platform to explore issues with greater nuance, especially when engaging with experts,” said founder Ali Javed.
Since 2022, the Nous Network has produced podcasts that focus on issues affecting religious and caste minorities in the country, especially Muslim populations. “There's a huge underrepresentation of Muslims within the country and we try to address them,” said Javed.
The Nous Podcast, for instance, has highlighted Muslims’ experiences of political disempowerment and minimal cultural representation, to challenge stereotyping of the community. Their shows offer nuanced perspectives and address issues such as Islamophobia, political exclusion and the impact of policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act.
“For now, our priority is to be able to become a voice for a deprived minority, but also to be able to articulate their issues from the perspective of their lived experiences,” said Javed.
In addition, the lack of equipment and resources needed for podcasting has made it easier for the Nous Network to make a mark in the field. “It is an honest and fluid format; you are not bound to a script and you explore the ideas through live interactions, so a lot of production resources are saved,” said Javed.
Radio Local
Collaborating with 595 community radio stations, Newsreel Asia’s Radio Local taps into the diverse experiences of ethnic minorities, farmers, Indigenous groups and coastal populations. These communities, too, are often underrepresented in mainstream media.
“In India, the idea of audio stories from a journalism perspective is still a very fledgling industry, but it is actually a very powerful medium for rural journalists and reporters to bring another dimension into their stories,” said Anupama Chandrasekaran, podcasts editor and producer at Newsreel Asia.
Radio Local offers a rare glimpse into the lives and challenges of people living in these lesser-known parts of the country. “The podcast is particularly impactful because we work closely with community radio journalists who have deep, lived experiences within these communities,” said Chandrasekaran.
The podcast delves into hyperlocal issues, such as the drying of water bodies in villages, and issues of farming and malnutrition among Indigenous people. It sources reporters from within these communities, ensuring that the narratives are authentically told from the perspectives of those directly affected by the issues.
“These journalists, many of whom are women, are not merely reporters but active participants in the very stories they tell,” said Chandrasekaran. “Their intimate understanding of local dynamics allows us to capture nuances and perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked.”
Extraordinary
While influencers perform well in the podcasting space, there is significant potential for grassroots journalism, said Chandrasekaran. She shared her own experience creating audio stories, such as with the series, “Extraordinary,” which featured autistic individuals and their unique challenges and triumphs.
“One of the biggest challenges many autistic children face is difficulty in making eye contact. And they were reluctant to show their faces,” Chandrasekaran explained. “In that case, audio proved to be a very effective format because it allowed me to tell their stories without revealing their identities.”
Chandrasekaran has also produced audio stories on sensitive topics such as domestic violence and drug addiction. She has been approached by members of the LGBTQ community to provide training on how to share their stories using audio.
“I think that is because holding a microphone is far less intimidating than having a camera pointed at you. The medium also reduces the need to make the subject comfortable since there is no camera, and no one has to worry about where to look,” she noted.
Promising potential
As podcasting continues to grow in India, its impact on journalism is likely to deepen.
“If we can use the medium effectively, it will be a great resource for a country like India but we must ensure that Indian podcasts are producing quality content,” said Danish Iqbal, a media professor at AJK Mass Communication Research Centre.
The medium’s ability to foster intimate, long-form conversations makes it uniquely suited for exploring complex social issues and amplifying underrepresented voices. The diversity of content available in this format and the on-demand convenience it offers, also gives reporters the chance to connect with younger audiences.
“Podcasts, unlike other news formats, do not have any urgency to [them],” said Hasan. “The slow-paced form of conversations works well with me to balance out the information overload on the internet.”
Photo by Hadis Malekie on Unsplash.
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