About

Zenana is an independent digital newsroom founded by journalist Harvinder Kaur, dedicated to reporting and explaining the stories that shape women’s lives and society.

News does not affect everyone in the same way.

A policy, court ruling, economic change, health development, or social crisis can have consequences for women that may not be immediately visible in the day’s headline. Zenana exists to look at those consequences — and the stories behind them.

We cover Politics & Policy, Justice, Work & Economy, Health, Society & Culture, and Zenana Investigates, our space for original, deeper reporting.

Our journalism draws on research, public data, official records, academic studies, and credible sources. We aim to make important developments understandable without losing the complexity behind them.

Zenana is interested in more than stories that are traditionally labelled “women’s issues.” Women are affected by politics, the economy, climate change, technology, conflict, healthcare, law, education and social change — and those stories belong in the mainstream news conversation.

Why Zenana?

The word zenana has a long and complicated history in South Asia. It has traditionally been associated with spaces designated for women.

We chose the name to create something different: not a space that keeps women apart from the news, but a newsroom that puts their experiences, rights, work and realities into the centre of the news.

Zenana is not a lifestyle magazine.

It is a journalism project focused on what is happening, why it matters, who is affected and what the evidence tells us.

Founded by Harvinder Kaur

Zenana was founded by Harvinder Kaur, a journalist and editor with more than 12 years of experience in journalism.

Her work has included reporting and editing across news, with a particular interest in women, children, gender, social justice and issues affecting communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream coverage.

Zenana grew out of that experience and from a belief that women’s stories deserve the same seriousness, range and journalistic rigour as every other part of the news.

Zenana — The Stories Behind The News.