Independent field journalist and digital news anchor Archana Tiwari recently revealed her trajectory from living in severe poverty to building a massive social media presence on media platform Josh Talks.
Tiwari, who serves as the primary face of digital news outlet The Rajdharma, shared how she began her reporting career earning just 1,000 rupees per video in 2018.
She detailed her experiences overcoming family hardships, field safety hazards in volatile regions, and a brief departure to the corporate tech sector before establishing herself as a prominent digital creator.
Speaking on the platform, Tiwari explained that her journey into digital media began while working at a call centre to support her family in Delhi.
A colleague introduced her to the founder of Rajdharma, who offered her a role conducting vox pops (street interviews) for upcoming political elections.
Tiwari initially split the 1,000 rupee fee per video with a college friend who operated the camera. When her peer left the project, Tiwari continued reporting alone to escape financial instability and assist her mother.
Her early assignments covered local election cycles across various states, including Bihar, West Bengal, and Gujarat. As her confidence behind the microphone grew, Tiwari developed a speciality in grassroots reporting and political coverage.
However, ground reporting presented significant physical risks and personal challenges. During the 2024 elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a controversial interview conducted by Tiwari in Sopore went viral overnight, prompting local police officers to escort her out of the region for her own safety.
Tiwari also faced online harassment and body-shaming, which severely impacted her mental health. Frustrated by online abuse and modest earnings, she stepped away from reporting in 2022, learned computer programming, and took a corporate job in software development.
The transition to corporate life was short-lived, lasting only 13 days before Tiwari realized her true calling remained in field reporting.
She returned to The Rajdharma with a renewed focus on human-interest documentaries, shifting attention from political drama to neglected social issues such as industrial pollution and rural poverty.
Today, Rajdharma commands a collective audience of over eight million followers across major social media platforms. Tiwari’s investigative documentaries now generate millions of views, allowing her to achieve financial independence and secure a permanent home for her family.
