What's your ism? What's Your Ism ft. Dhanya Rajendran & Vignesh Vellore | How TNM Survived 11 Years in Journalism
14 snips
Mar 10, 2025 Discover the challenges and triumphs of running an independent newsroom for over a decade. The founders share insights on navigating personal and professional lives while maintaining journalistic integrity. Gain perspective on the hurdles of website traffic management and the necessity of quick verification in fast-paced news cycles. Explore the evolution of journalism in Tamil Nadu, emphasizing community support and diversity in media. Learn why independent journalism is crucial for societal progress and how it fosters ethical storytelling.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Collaboration
- Vignesh, initially a HR manager, accompanied Dhanya on assignments to feel involved in her journalism career.
- His story ideas, like the one about university bribery, surprisingly became successful investigations.
Pivot to Original Reporting
- TNM began as a news aggregator, but Dhanya's passion for reporting led to a shift towards original journalism.
- Their first exclusive story, about Nalini Sriharan's daughter's clemency plea, was published before the website was fully functional.
Tech Challenges and Community Support
- TNM's early website struggled with limited server capacity, leading to crashes during traffic spikes.
- Resourcefulness and community support, including discounted services and a reader's tech recommendation, helped them overcome these challenges.