This day two years ago, we set up Gujarat’s first independent, digital, multi-lingual, multi-media news platform.
We are proud we remain the only media house in Gujarat, practising and executing the philosophy of truly independent journalism.
Ours is a small team with young reporters, storytellers, editors, video editors and social media managers, who bring verve and vigour to the table. Every single day.
At the helm, we have some of the best minds in the industry who write for us, guide us, and encourage diversity of thoughts, ideas, and stories.
We do not scream, neither do we crave prime time slots, nor pursue any slanted agendas.
We do not underestimate the intellect of our readers and consciously strive to give what they want and what they need. All without being preachy.
Doing stories independently, professionally, and ethically is our idea of being inclusive and diverse. We do this while being sensitive to marginalised voices.
Ever since our modest launch, the VOI platforms in English, Hindi and Gujarati have registered over 10 million hits, not just from Indian readers but also from those in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Ireland, and the UAE.
Also Read: Remembering The Early Days, As Vibes Of India Turns Two
Ahmedabad, our hometown, gives us our highest readership, followed by Surat, Mumbai, Jaipur, Raipur, Delhi, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
We are proud that we have provided a platform to many aspiring journalists whose stories have been quoted by the BBC, NBC, The Wire, The Times of India, Deccan Herald, CNN, The Quint, Sky News, and Al Jazeera among others.
Yes, we did begin with a national coverage of compelling, credible, and community-driven journalism but, in two years, we realised that our limited resources do not allow us to implement our vision in totality.
We hope and want to believe this is a temporary situation. Like other media houses, we do not have a secondary business. Journalism remains our only occupation.
That said, we believe good journalism can survive only if it’s distant from secondary business interests.
During these two years, we have met and encountered interesting people and events. We are clear we will not compromise on our core values and integrity, even if it means facing daunting situations.
In a democracy, readers, viewers, and journalists, all need to have a measure of freedom. It is a matter of concern that India’s Freedom Index rating is on a steady decline. Based out of Gujarat, we realise the importance of freedom. On VOI’s second birthday, we assure you that we will remain unbiased in reporting, inclusive in our approach, and professional in our conduct.
We thank all our readers, well-wishers, and supporters for unflinching support.
