On 26 November, Drik launched the?Rural Visual Journalism Network?(RJVN), an initiative of Drik and supported by the?Academy partnership program in Bangladesh. RVJN is designed to address specific issues faced by media and give voice to rural citizens in Bangladesh. RJVN aims to create a network of rural visual journalists who, through their work, will be able to bring multimedia stories from the districts on governance, human rights, and other relation issues to the attention of the world. Over the next five years, a network of 60 professional photographers, NGO workers, and citizen journalists will be trained to produce multimedia (photography, video, text) stories from rural districts.
The program takes into account factors such as high illiteracy rates, limited access to information sources in rural communities, and the growing reach of radio, mobile phones, and television. The program will focus on the disadvantaged representation of women and children in the media sector and the limited press freedom in Bangladesh.
The training course is an intensive, comprehensive multimedia workshop. The course includes an introduction to the iPod touch, the main device for producing and editing the multimedia visuals, basic video skills, basic audio skills combined with journalism, and news-reporting techniques. The topics currently covered by 30 rural correspondents from 25 districts include environmental issues, governance, gender issues, human rights, cultural and religious festivals, and livelihood.
The stories will be distributed by?DrikNews?and the?Banglarights?websites.
The rural correspondents are:

• Abul Kalam Azad, Bogra
• Abul Kashem (Rumel), Sylhet
• Dishari Chakma, Rangamati
• Fhamina Khanom Eity, Manikgonj
• Golapi Roy, Dinajpur
• Irfat Jahan, Nilphamari
• Khokon Karmaker, Borguna
• Md. Abdullah Iqbal, Rajshahi
• Md. Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Dinajpur
• Md. Firoz Ali Gazi, Jessore
• Md. Golam Mostafa (Jibon), Sirajganj
• Md. Habibur Rahman Sourav, Rajshahi
• Md. Iqbal Karim Chowdhary (Babul), Bandarban
• Md. Mahmudun Rashed (Manik), Mymensingh
• Md. Quddus Alam, Gaibandha
• Md. Safikul Islam (Chhoton), Naogaon
• Most. Mousumi Khatun, Natore
• Most. Shanaz Parvin, Panchagor
• Mst. Rebeka Akter, Bogra
• Mst. Ruma Akter, Kustia
• Pappu Mojumder, Netrokona
• Rahannuma Tarannum Rifat, Chittagong
• Reshma Khanum, Faridpur
• Rina Rani Mondal, Bagerhat
• Rita Siddquee, Rangpur
• Shafiqul Islam Shafiq, Bogra
• Shaikh Mohir Uddin, Khulna
• Sumon Kumar, Jessore
• Tomzid mollick, Satkhira
• Zohurul Islam, Chapai Nawabganj

Read more about the?launch of RVJN. Please Retweet #RVJN #Drik