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Digital Journalism Academy · January to September 2026
Bridging standardswith digital craft
Bridging professional journalism standards with contemporary digital content creation. The Academy set out to develop journalists who combine accuracy, ethics, verification and public-interest responsibility with multimedia, social and audience skills.
Implemented by Digital Turtles and supported through the Regional Media Support Fund. Cohort representatives were Rashmi Perera (English), Dilmini Abeyrathne (Sinhala) and Keshihan Ilamuruganathan (Tamil).
- Programme
- January to September 2026
- With
- Australian Government
- Supported through
- Regional Media Support Fund
- Ceremony
- Granbell Colombo, 26 September 2026
157
applications received
33
participants started
25
participants certified
25
final journalism projects
On this page
The DJA journey
The programme was structured as a progressive eight-month learning journey, moving from recruitment and foundational learning to practical production and public-facing journalism.
- February 2026
Recruitment and selection
- 24 March 2026
Orientation and programme launch
- April to June
Online learning, mentorship and practical activities
- 4 July 2026
Mid-programme workshop, Shangri-La Colombo
- July to September
Advanced learning and final project development
- September
Final project publication and programme evaluation
- 26 September 2026
Certificate ceremony, Granbell Colombo
The training
Participants had twelve online sessions in Sinhala, Tamil and English, with four cohort mentors and eight guest speakers and trainers. They completed practical assignments and came together for one workshop in Colombo on 4 July 2026.
- Foundations of digital journalism
- Social media for journalists
- Multimedia storytelling and AI tools
- Advanced techniques and case studies
Certificate awarding ceremony, Granbell Colombo, 26 September 2026.
The final projects
Twenty-five journalism projects, published across the English, Sinhala and Tamil cohorts.
English cohort · 5 stories
Mentor: Shehan Daniel
- Voice-overFrom Sea to Table: How Hambantota Salterns Produce the Salt We EatNadhvi IrfanWatch →
- DocumentaryCan We Trust the SLS Certification of Motorbike Helmets?Chanuka Nadun PereraWatch →
- Voice-overWages of the Apparel Industry in Sri LankaRashmi PereraWatch →
- Voice-overHow to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Online PhishingImsha IqbalWatch →
- DocumentaryBeyond the Silence: The Unseen Struggle of Hill Country Students for EducationSadhursha VasudevanWatch →
Sinhala cohort · 8 stories
Mentor: Dilan Chryshantha
- DocumentaryIs Woman Safe in Sri Lankan Politics?Sasindu Sahan TharakaWatch →
- Talking Head VideoMental Stress Caused to Students by Competition in the A/L ExaminationHarshana UdarathmaWatch →
- DocumentaryHow to Protect Your DataIndusha Ashinsani ThennakoonWatch →
- PodcastThe Mental Health Issues Faced by the LGBTIQ CommunityNavodya JayasundaraWatch →
- Talking Head VideoWhy is Sri Lanka’s Female Labour Force Participation at Such a Low Level?RM Dilmini H AbeyrathneWatch →
- DocumentaryExploring Aberdeen Falls: Highlighting its Tourism Value and Ecological ImportanceKolitha Gayandi Bandara RathnayakaWatch →
- DocumentaryThe Sri Lankan Tea Chronicle: How the Cup of Tea You Enjoy Brightens the Present and Future of Thousands of PeopleDulmini ArunodikaWatch →
- DocumentaryThe Contribution of Female Apparel Sector Workers to National Economic GrowthUditha Ushani ThilakarathnaWatch →
Tamil cohort · 12 stories
Mentors: Benislos Thushan and Sundararaj Logitha
- DocumentaryKallady Beach: Plastic Pollution and Its Impact on Marine Life & FishermenJodhirajan AbilashiniWatch →
- DocumentaryCoastal Erosion Exposes Graves in Maligaikadu, Creating a Crisis for Local ResidentsHazeeb AhsanWatch →
- DocumentaryCrocodile Threat in MavadipalliAsky SamlyWatch →
- DocumentaryChemmani: The Truths and the Voice of Justice Told by Human ResiduesMarlin Venuja Joseph EnosanWatch →
- Voice-overThe Unspoken Pain... Truth That Needs to be Felt!V. IshaliniWatch →
- DocumentaryA Woman’s Voice for EqualityRasheedu Lebbe NiflaWatch →
- Talking Head VideoTrincomalee’s Aquatic Resources and the Challenges Facing ThemKeshihan IlamuruganathanWatch →
- DocumentaryAshraf Nagar: Stories of Struggle, Hope and ResilienceMohamed Farook NajeethWatch →
- DocumentaryGlasgow’s 1927 Iron Bridge: A Historic Monument in Critical ConditionSundaram VinothsundarWatch →
- DocumentaryA Spotlight on the Daily Survival and Enduring Resilience of the Residents of Delft IslandPuviraj VinothanWatch →
- DocumentaryAddalaichenai Ashraf Nagar: Waste Management Center Triggers Surge in Elephants and FliesA.M. HizamWatch →
- DocumentaryBehind the Addiction: The Hidden Cost of Drugs in Sri LankaAbdul Ahath Ahamed AfriWatch →
What 21 participants reported
End-of-programme evaluation, 21 responses. 52.4% were female and 47.6% male. 85.7% had previous media experience. 57.1% had no prior digital journalism training.
- 01
Overall programme experience
4.62 / 5
- 02
Module relevance
4.62 / 5
- 03
Mentor delivery
4.48 / 5
- 04
In-person workshop
4.52 / 5
- 05
Online learning experience
4.57 / 5
- 06
Likelihood of recommending DJA
4.76 / 5
100% expect the programme to improve their ability to perform their work.
Key lessons learned
- 01
Practical learning matters
Participants valued hands-on production and opportunities to apply concepts.
- 02
In-person engagement adds value
The July workshop strengthened interaction with peers and industry professionals.
- 03
Language accessibility matters
Trilingual delivery supported participation across the three cohorts.
- 04
Industry exposure strengthens learning
Working professionals connected programme content with current media practice.
- 05
Participatory learning can outperform lecture-heavy delivery
Discussion and peer exchange improved engagement.
- 06
Public-facing projects bridge training and practice
Public-facing final projects create a stronger bridge between training and real journalism practice.
Participant voices from the workshop
“Truly, this Digital Journalism Academy program was extremely useful for talented youth like us. It is our hope that more programs like this are held in the future. For us, this was a massive opportunity. Thank you so much for creating such an opportunity.”
Jodhirajan Abilashini · Badulla“It was an amazing session done by different facilitators. As a Tamil participant, I got an amazing knowledge and practical experience. I’m really grateful to this space.”
Sadhursha Vasudevan · Nuwara Eliya“I work in radio media, and participating today helped me learn many things applicable to my field as well. I consider this a great opportunity. Thank you.”
Arunodika Pathiranage · Galle“As I am a media person, I did have a lot of gray areas in terms of digital journalism and the media industry. So today, we got that opportunity to raise these questions and get clarified, and I’m being super, super, super happy to be part of this.”
Chamod Fernando · NegomboWorkshop reflections
“The Australian Government believes in an ethical, independent media ecosystem. And anything that we can do to support that in Sri Lanka, that is what we are doing here. We’re partnering with Digital Turtles. We hope to support this new generation of digital journalists. We’re living in a time of unprecedented technology, and that’s excellent, and it allows for so much content to be created. But there’s also a lot of misinformation and disinformation in the world. So, to be able to build up young journalists to do amazing work, but also in an ethical way, in a way that safeguards their integrity, I think that is excellent for all of us.”
Ms. Sharini McEwen · Acting Deputy Australian High Commissioner“We feel that such in-person practical trainings are important, especially when creators are given the exposure of how to be ethical journalists, how to conduct podcasts, and especially create video content in a digital era. The Digital Journalism programme aims to equip them with such skills, and at the end of this programme, we hope that 30 young digital journalists who are responsible, ethical, and inclusive will create content that will reach a wider audience in Sri Lanka.”
Janeeth Rodrigo · Executive Director, Digital TurtlesTeam
Meet the Academy team
Cohort mentors who guided every participant.
- [PHOTO]
Shehan Daniel
Mentor, English cohort
[ONE-LINE BIO]
- [PHOTO]
Dilan Chryshantha
Mentor, Sinhala cohort
[ONE-LINE BIO]
- [PHOTO]
Benislos Thushan
Mentor, Tamil cohort
[ONE-LINE BIO]
- [PHOTO]
Sundararaj Logitha
Mentor, Tamil cohort
[ONE-LINE BIO]
Start a conversation
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From production to public audience
The 25 published final projects collectively generated over 1.16 million recorded views and more than 19,000 engagements across the Tamil, English and Sinhala cohorts, based on social media performance data available as of 29 September 2026.
25
projects published
1.16M
total views
19,351
total engagements
46,607
average views per project (median 51,273)
Format breakdown