Young Journalist Program
for Students & Graduates
The India News Grid Young Journalist Program (YJP) is a free online publishing program for students and recent graduates who want to report, write and publish news in India. No experience or portfolio is needed. Published stories appear on India News Grid under your own byline.
What you get
An independent publishing opportunity, not an internship, job or course. You research and write on your own, at your own pace.
Published bylines
Every story that passes the publishing check goes live on India News Grid under your own name.
A public portfolio
A profile listing all your published stories, to link in college, internship or job applications.
A digital certificate
For publishing at least five contributions a month for six consecutive months.
Free and remote
No fees to join or submit, no fixed hours, and no application deadline during the pilot.
Who can join the Young Journalist Program?
People who can apply for the YJP:
- School students interested in journalism or writing
- College and university students
- Journalism and mass-communication students
- English, media and content-writing students
- Aspiring journalists
- People who graduated within the previous one or two years
No experience or portfolio is needed. Students aged 13 to 17 can join with a signed parent or guardian consent and indemnity form.
India News Grid may request proof of student or recent-graduate status. The pilot currently accepts submissions only in English.
How to join
Choose your route. Under 18? Read the steps with your parent or guardian.
How to join: 18 or older
- Read the Editorial Guidelines.
- Click Apply Now and create your account.
- Once your account is active, submit stories through Submit News or Create Article in your dashboard.
- Publish at least 5 pieces every month to stay active.
How to join: under 18
- Read the Guidelines for Under-18s with your parent or guardian.
- Download the Indemnity & Consent Form. Your parent or guardian completes and signs it, and you sign the contributor consent at the end.
- Click Apply Now, create your account, and upload the signed form and a copy of your parent or guardian's ID.
- Our team checks the form. Once it is verified, access to the program is granted to your registered email address.
- Submit stories through your dashboard, at least 5 pieces a month.
What participants can publish
- Original news reports based on credible sources, official information or original reporting (under-18s work from published sources only)
- Research-based articles and explainers that explain a relevant subject clearly
- Non-sponsored articles written without an undisclosed commercial interest
- Free listings for genuine upcoming educational, cultural, institutional or public-interest events
- International news researched remotely and supported by reliable sources
Suggested focus areas
Length and format
400–800 words
News reports, including international news.
Up to 1,500 words
Research articles and explainers.
Up to 1,500 words
Event listings.
Headline + summary
A summary of up to 340 characters and a credited, royalty-free cover image.
Before you write, read the Editorial Guidelines (18+) or the Guidelines for Under-18s. They cover sources, quotes, format, images, AI use and ownership, with examples.
How publishing works
After the check, a contribution is published, returned for changes, or declined. Every participant, or a parent or guardian for under-18s, accepts responsibility for their content when registering.
Original and online-exclusive content
All written work submitted through the Young Journalist Program must be original and exclusive to India News Grid for online publication.
Online: India News Grid only
The same article, report or a substantially identical written version must not appear on another news website, Medium, LinkedIn Articles, a personal blog, a school or college website, or any other online publishing platform.
Offline: allowed
A related story may appear in a printed publication, a radio programme or another offline format. The written version submitted to India News Grid must remain unique online.
Information for schools and colleges
Principals, deans, heads of department and faculty in journalism, mass communication, English and media studies are welcome to share the Young Journalist Program with their students.
An ongoing opportunity
During the pilot there is no fixed cohort size and no annual application deadline, so students can join at any time.
Free for everyone
Students join free of charge, and there is no fee for institutions to share the program.
Your own campus news
Institutions can publish campus news, achievements and event announcements, and enquire about a dedicated news page. See Digital Media Partner.
For institutional enquiries, email [email protected].
Ready to get your first byline?
Free to join. Your name on every published story.