Shubhangi Derhgawen: Bridging Journalism and Digital Storytelling in India
New Delhi, India – Journalist Shubhangi Derhgawen is currently working with Deutsche Welle (DW) in New Delhi, focusing on adapting traditional reporting for modern digital platforms. Her work highlights the evolving challenges and opportunities facing journalism in India, where accessing information can be a complex process.
Current Role at Deutsche Welle
Derhgawen’s primary responsibilities at DW involve collaborating with correspondents on both digital and television stories. She specializes in converting long-form reports into vertical formats suitable for platforms like YouTube Shorts and TikTok, shooting vox pops (interviewing members of the public), and independently compiling reports for television and digital media. DW describes her role as “bridging field reporting with platform-specific storytelling.”
Navigating the Indian Media Landscape
Having previously worked in India and briefly in Germany, Derhgawen notes a significant difference in the pace and transparency of information gathering. While Germany offers a more structured and predictable institutional response, reporting in India often requires persistence, follow-up inquiries, and direct, in-person engagement to obtain information. She describes the process as “intense, but it sharpens you.”
Challenges and Experiences
One particularly challenging experience involved pursuing an official statement from state government authorities. Derhgawen found herself navigating a system that felt closed off, experiencing the tension between public accountability and administrative silence. Despite the frustration, she found the experience “grounding.”
Skill Development
Her time in New Delhi has significantly boosted Derhgawen’s confidence in all aspects of the journalistic process. She now feels proficient in conceptualizing, scripting, shooting, and editing video content. She has gained practical experience with camerawork, allowing her to function as a fully autonomous video journalist, capable of handling all stages of storytelling from initial idea to final cut. DW reports that she now feels confident as a video journalist who can offer complete storytelling services.
Current Projects
Derhgawen is currently working on two significant reports. The first investigates the exclusion of acid attack survivors from disability protections under Indian law. The second examines the disparity between the lack of water pipelines in local communities and the rapid infrastructure development supporting AI data centers. Both projects focus on systemic issues – legal and infrastructural – and their impact on individuals.
Future Goals
Before concluding her training, Derhgawen aims to independently handle all aspects of a story, including camerawork, to fully integrate her skills and complete the storytelling loop.
About Shubhangi Derhgawen
Shubhangi Derhgawen is a journalist and research analyst based in India. She has a background in broadcast news and freelance reporting, with a focus on labor, migration, public policy, and environmental issues. The Earth Journalism Network highlights her contributions to the field. She is similarly active on YouTube, where she publishes ground reports and data explainers. Her YouTube channel is titled “ShubhangiReports.” She can be found on LinkedIn with over 500 connections. Her LinkedIn profile identifies her as a Journalist and Research Analyst.