A South-South media tour across India
A delegation of journalists from Central Africa, West Africa and the Pacific is in India from January 13 to 22, 2026, for a familiarization and media cooperation program. The initiative is presented as a practical way to strengthen professional links among media voices from the Global South.
- A South-South media tour across India
- What the program is designed to achieve
- New Delhi stop: inside Asia News International (ANI)
- ANI’s Africa ambitions, through training and exchanges
- Rashtrapati Bhavan: reading institutions through symbols
- ICCR meeting: culture and diplomacy in practice
- Why this matters for Congo’s media and young audiences
- Next stops: Agra and Mumbai on the itinerary
Participants come from Togo, Ghana, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Equatorial Guinea, the Cook Islands, Côte d’Ivoire, Sao Tome and Principe, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. The Republic of the Congo is represented by Vox TV through its production director, Jésus Sony.
What the program is designed to achieve
Organizers frame the visit as an opportunity to deepen journalists’ understanding of India’s institutional system and the way its media ecosystem operates day to day. For the delegation, the goal is not only to observe, but to compare methods and return home with concrete ideas.
In practical terms, the program is meant to consolidate ties between newsrooms and encourage cooperation, especially through professional exchanges. The emphasis is placed on learning how major institutions communicate, how information is structured, and how editorial teams produce content for diverse audiences.
New Delhi stop: inside Asia News International (ANI)
In New Delhi, on January 16, the delegation visited Asia News International (ANI), described as one of India’s leading news agencies and a key actor in international news distribution. The visit gave participants a close look at how an agency newsroom is organized and run.
The delegation toured what was presented as a highly modern editorial environment, where digital tools are central to news production. Participants were shown how ANI integrates new technologies, including artificial intelligence, as part of its workflow to produce and distribute content at scale.
ANI’s Africa ambitions, through training and exchanges
ANI’s international footprint was also part of the discussion, with the agency present in several regions of the world. During the visit, ANI expressed an ambition to expand further in Africa through the installation of correspondents, the training of journalists and the development of professional exchanges.
For visiting reporters, this focus resonates with everyday newsroom realities: access to reliable material, faster verification routines and the need to adapt to changing formats. The delegation’s discussions reflected a shared interest in partnerships that are practical, skills-based and mutually beneficial.
Rashtrapati Bhavan: reading institutions through symbols
The day started with a visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace and a major symbol of the Indian state and its democratic life. For the delegation, the site offered a concrete setting to discuss institutional roles and how official communication is shaped and presented.
Beyond the architectural and ceremonial dimension, the stop was framed as an educational moment. By seeing where state functions are embodied, participants could better understand the institutional context in which Indian political and public information circulates, and how it reaches citizens.
ICCR meeting: culture and diplomacy in practice
The program continued at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), where the delegation met with the director general, Nandini Singla. The exchange focused on how culture, education and diplomacy can support international relationships and build long-term cooperation.
The ICCR is attached to India’s Ministry of External Affairs and is tasked with promoting Indian culture globally. It also supports academic and artistic exchanges and seeks to strengthen bilateral ties with countries across the United Nations membership, described as 191 member states.
Why this matters for Congo’s media and young audiences
For Congolese viewers who follow international stories through mobile-first formats, this type of immersion can influence what ends up on screen. Vox TV’s participation through its production director, Jésus Sony, positions the Congolese presence as part of a wider effort to observe modern workflows.
The visit underlines a broader trend: newsrooms are increasingly expected to deliver faster, more visual content, while maintaining professional standards. Seeing how a large agency integrates digital tools can help participants translate ideas into local realities, from studio production to field reporting.
Next stops: Agra and Mumbai on the itinerary
After New Delhi, the delegation is scheduled to travel to Agra and Mumbai to extend the exchange among information professionals. The program is presented as a continuation of the same approach: learning through observation, meetings and professional discussion in varied settings.
Overall, the mission reflects a shared willingness to develop cooperation between India and African media, particularly around training, content sharing and innovation. For participating journalists, the value will also be measured back home, in how new contacts and methods improve everyday reporting.
