Appan Samachar

Appan Samachar (Our News) is a community news channel, which is run by Dalit, backward, minority and women of the village who are cut off from the mainstream. (It is run by Appan Samachar Foundation.) Appan Samachar is famous by the name of All Women News Network has emerged as a powerful news medium of alternative media. This video program was started on December 6, 2007, in the remote area of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. The first Bulletin of 45-minutes was screened on a big project in village haat at Ramlila Gachhi of Chandkevari Panchayat under Paru block of Muzaffarpur district. This media movement that started from a village today has spread to dozens of villages in the surrounding districts including Muzaffarpur. From CameraPerson, Anchors, Editors to Community Reporter, all are women. Rural women have made camera, pen and mic, a weapons of change. Appan Samachar was launched by a journalist & social activist Santosh Sarang with a team of Amritanj Indiwar & Phooldev Patel. 1. In 2008, CNN-IBN7 honoured it with the ‘Citizen Journalist Award’. 2. In 2010, it was shortlisted for the Special Award category of the ‘UK Media Award’. 3. In 2011, SCERT Bihar included the story of Appan Samachar in the 7th grade book ‘Social, Economic and Political Life Part-2’. 4. In 2013, it was awarded the ‘SP Singh Journalism’ Award at the Patna Book Fair. 5. In 2016, Media Khabar.com awarded it with the ‘Media Khabar Media Award’. 6. In 2018, DEF awarded it with the ‘Social Media for Empowerment Award’ in the Citizen Media and Journalism category. 7. The story of Apan Samachar is in IGNOU’s course Alternative Media (MJM.024, Media and Society, Unit-17). Community Women News Network is a platform dedicated to amplifying women's voices, sharing impactful stories, and fostering empowerment. It highlights women's achievements, addresses societal challenges, and promotes gender equality through community-driven journalism and collaborative storytelling.