How USAID Trained 75,000 Indian Media Personnel: An Expose

The Indian media landscape, education system, and cultural institutions have long been dominated by left-leaning ideologies. However, this ideological shift did not occur accidentally; rather, it was the result of a meticulously planned effort to shape public narratives. A recent expose by WikiLeaks has exposed how the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) played a crucial role in funding this transformation.

USAID and the Internews Connection

WikiLeaks recently revealed that USAID has been funding an NGO called Internews Network, a U.S.-based media support organisation that operates in over 100 countries. Internews claims to train journalists, combat disinformation, and support independent media. However, a closer look at its operations suggests a different reality. Internews has worked with over 4,000 media outlets worldwide to train journalists, effectively indoctrinating them with leftist ideologies and U.S. State Department propaganda. While Internews openly lists its donors, it has conspicuously omitted USAID, likely to hide the direct involvement of the U.S. government.

Internews and Its Indian Operations

In India, Internews operates through a Delhi-based media firm called DataLeads. This firm is also supported by Google and runs a journalist training program known as FactShala. The structure of this operation follows a clear hierarchy:

• USAID funds Internews
• Internews collaborates with Google to conduct media training globally
• In India, DataLeads executes these programs under the banner of FactShala
• The program is implemented through Sambhaavnaa Institute of Public Policy and Politics (SIPP), an NGO run by activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan who has been one of the constant litigators on all key issues of Hindu interest, democratic institutions, religious structures, EVM etc

The Role of Sambhaavnaa Institute

Sambhaavnaa Institute, based in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, was founded in 2004 under the Kumud Bhushan Education Society, named after Prashant Bhushan’s mother. This institute serves as a hub for leftist activism, regularly conducting workshops to train activists and journalists in leftist ideology.

Since its inception, Sambhaavnaa Institute has:

• Organized over 2,500 workshops
• Trained 75,000 media personnel
• Reached 6.5 crore people through its programs

Many prominent leftist journalists and activists are associated with the Sambhaavnaa Institute, including Ravish Kumar, Akash Banerjee, Yogendra Yadav, Harsh Mander, Kavita Krishnan, Sandeep Choudhary, and Pranjoy Guha Thakurta. These individuals are part of the usual suspects leading a smear campaign against the Modi government, bordering cynism and on several issues even deranging India’s interest on the global landscape.

The Fact-Checking Nexus: DataLeads and Alt News

DataLeads, the Indian partner of Internews, also collaborates with Alt News, the so-called fact-checking portal co-founded by Mohammed Zubair and Pratik Sinha. In fact, DataLeads has conducted joint fact-checking workshops with Alt News. Furthermore, Sambhaavnaa Institute regularly organizes events in association with Alt News, further cementing the connection between fact-checkers and the leftist media ecosystem.

FactShala’s ambassadors include several influential figures in Indian media, such as:

• Shekhar Gupta (The Print)
• Ritu Kapoor (The Quint)
• Faye D’Souza (Beatroot News)
• JM Mathew (Malayala Manorama)

These individuals serve as gatekeepers, controlling the flow of information and deciding what is classified as “misinformation.”

The Foreign Funding Network

The funding for these programs comes from a network of international organizations known for their involvement in global political influence. Internews’ donors include:

• Ford Foundation
• Rockefeller Foundation
• Open Society Foundation (Soros-funded)
• MacArthur Foundation
• Omidyar Network
• Skoll Foundation

These organizations have a history of funding groups that influence political narratives under the guise of media literacy and fact-checking.

Internews and Its Deep State Links

Internews’ leadership consists of individuals closely connected to the U.S. government and intelligence agencies. Some key figures include:

• Jeanne Bourgault – President & CEO of Internews, earning a salary of $451,000
• Brian D. Hanley – Former USAID Senior Democracy Advisor, now Regional Director for Internews in Asia
• Meera Selva – CEO of Internews Europe, associated with Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundation

USAID’s Larger Influence in India

Beyond media training, USAID has been linked to efforts to influence India’s political landscape. The agency has funded various anti-India and anti-government initiatives, including:

• International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) – A USAID-funded platform that has hosted controversial activists like Disha Ravi, who was arrested for her role in the anti-India “toolkit” case
• Equality Labs – A U.S.-based NGO falsely claiming to represent Dalit rights while spreading divisive narratives. It has ties to Pakistani intelligence (ISI) operatives like Bhajan Singh Bhinder

The revelations about USAID’s involvement in media training in India expose a well-coordinated effort to manipulate narratives, influence journalism, and create a left-dominated ecosystem. By funding organisations like Internews, DataLeads, and Sambhaavnaa Institute, foreign powers have managed to control the flow of information in India.

Incidentally, it was on the 8th of October when the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi had cautioned the people of India of there being foreign powers who are trying to conspire against India.

“For some time now, many conspiracies are being hatched against India. Many conspiracies are being hatched to weaken India’s democracy and social fabric”, he had stated while addressing the crowd following party’s Haryana Assembly election victory. With new developments getting uncovered everyday, it seems the Indian Prime Minister was spot on in his claim.