About PII-RIND
Founded in 1963, the Press Institute of India (PII) is an independent non-profit organisation that was established to create and sustain high and responsible standards of journalism. PII’s training programmes for journalists are focused on a range of issues – from development journalism, women empowerment, child rights and mental health to national security and foreign policy. Programmes dwelling on writing-reporting-editing, photography, and on current developments such as fake news, are also conducted. The objective is to equip journalists with up-to-date knowledge and empower them to report better.
In earlier years, when PII was situated in New Delhi, it had trained journalists from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and other parts of Asia. Then, PII was the nodal agency for sending reporters, subeditors and photographers for training at the Thomson Foundation, UK. PII had developed useful collaborations with international organisations of repute such as the British Council, Ford Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Oxfam, UNDP, UNESCO and UNFPA. In recent years, PII has conducted programmes in association with UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), New Delhi, the US Consulate General Chennai, Institute of Contemporary Studies Bangalore (ICSB), Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S), Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), and Sanitation India, among others.
The Research Institute for Newspaper Development, better known as RIND, was established in 1979 with a focus on technical aspects pertaining to newspaper printing and production. RIND, over the years, has become a reference point for technical executives working in newspaper presses, and also for suppliers to the newspaper industry. RIND conducts programmes for them, equipping them with knowledge relating to developments in the field and the necessary skills to function effectively. In 2001, the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), New Delhi, recognised the services of RIND to the newspaper industry and has since subscribed to the magazine for all its member publications.
In April 1990, PII and RIND amalgamated to form the Press Institute of India – Research Institute for Newspaper Development (PII-RIND). Since January 2007, the World Association of Newspaper and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Research and Material Testing Centre has been operating from the PII-RIND premises.
PII-RIND is presently supported by The Hindu, The Printers (Mysore), Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, and MM Publications.