2021 ACRA Awards winners named

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Media faces hostility at Jantar Mantar protest

By Staff Writer in Media News on
A protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, February 3, held in solidarity with the Iranian people and against alleged U.S.–Israel actions, briefly turned hostile toward journalists. According to a video shared by Newslaundry, an ANI reporter’s attempt to interview participants escalated into a verbal spat, with sections of the crowd chanting “Go back, godi media” -- a slogan used by critics to describe media seen as aligned with the government. Despite the confrontation, the protest continued, with organisers reiterating opposition to reported military actions and calling for international attention. Image: ChatGPT

FOURTH RIGHT: Accreditation or control? Arunachal’s media reset raises the right questions

By Pragadish Kirubakaran in Media News on
Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   On March 2, 2026, the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet approved the draft Arunachal Pradesh Press Accreditation Rules, 2025. Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the decision publicly, positioning it as a governance reform. Local press bodies, including the Arunachal Press Club and the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, welcomed the move as a progressive step toward transparency and professionalism, according to The Arunachal Times. At first glance, this looks like overdue housekeeping. The new rules, drafted by the IPR Department after consultations and legal vetting, introduce clear eligibility norms, renewal cycles, suspension guidelines, and a structured Accreditation Committee process. Applications must detail media type, headquarters, circulation metrics, and professional experience. There are defined revocation mechanisms and hearing provisions. Digital media is formally included. Renewals are mandated every two years. That alone ma

Case filed against journalist Piyush Rai over Holi video

By Staff Writer in Media News on
Police have reportedly booked nine people, including journalist Piyush Rai, for sharing a Holi video that authorities say was old but circulated as recent footage from Mathura‑Vrindavan. The FIR was registered on February 28 at Barsana Police Station. The clip, shared on social media between February 26–27, was posted by Rai on X with a caution against overcrowding. Mathura Police later clarified the video was from a previous year and urged people not to spread outdated content. Charges were filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act. Journalists including Rohini Singh, Saurabh Shukla and Sachin Gupta criticised the FIR. SSP Shlok Kumar said the investigation is ongoing. Rai told Newslaundry his post was only meant to warn against crowd risks.

After UX, the newsroom feels different: Riya Baibhawi on journalism’s clutter problem

By Pragadish Kirubakaran in Media News on
Riya Baibhawi doesn’t talk about leaving journalism like it was a grand reinvention. She talks about it the way newsroom people talk about burnout: quietly, practically, and with the kind of clarity you only get when you’ve stared at a homepage long enough for it to start staring back. When she joined me on Influencing Insider, the headline version of her career was already intriguing: six years across some of India’s busiest newsrooms, then a sharp pivot into design, UX and content strategy at Tata Elxsi, and now a serious intent to return to international news with a different lens. But the real story wasn’t “journalist becomes UX person.” It was why. Riya put it bluntly: “We treat news like a product… our home pages are flooded, they’re inundated, and we keep on bombarding the audience.” And she wasn’t speaking as an armchair critic. At India Today, she spent a year on the mobile notifications and app team, wh

IIMCAA announces winners of 10th Alumni Awards

By Staff Writer in Media News on
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA) announced the winners of its 10th annual awards during the 14th Connections Meet in Delhi on Sunday, recognising excellence across journalism, advertising, public relations, and public service. Soumya Pillai (The Print) was named Journalist of the Year, while Laxmi Devi Aere (PTI) won Agriculture Reporter of the Year. Independent journalist Safeena Wani and Medha Yadav (Jist News) were honoured as Reporters of the Year in publishing and broadcast respectively. Other winners included Mohammad Asad (News Pinch) as Producer of the Year, Saurav Kumar Borah (Amar Ason) and Alpesh Arvind Karkare (BBC News Marathi) as Indian Language Reporters of the Year in publishing and broadcast, and Tanzil Asif as Independent Journalist of the Year in digital video. Special Jury Mentions went to Garima Singh (Zee Switch), Nantha Kishore G K (DW Tamil), and Gargy Satapathy (Sambad). The Pillar of IIMCAA Award 2026 was conferred on

Hague raises the bat for 50 years

By Will McLennan in Media News on
Creative Content’s David Hague has officially racked up 50 years in journalism.  Hague told Influencing, “It's been a long ride. [I’ve] done lots of things with lots of people.” Technology in fact wasn’t even Hague’s gateway into journalism; it was Motorsport.  “My brothers worked for AgfaPhoto and in early 76, they released some black and white film… that particular weekend was the Rally of the West in WA, and we followed the cars around, took some shots, and got rid of the rolls of film.  “The only place that could develop it was at the WA newspapers in town. Our mate at Agfa knew the sports guys there, so we went in at 3 am and got the film developed. “The sports editor then asked, ‘Can I buy those off you?’ I agreed, and then somebody said the journalist didn't turn up to write the story. Can you do it? So I banged out 500 words, and that was my first-ever story published. I got paid 50 bucks for it.” He then rewrote that article three times an

Upfront: 'Nuclear on-air bust up' tops Sydney headlines

By Phil Sim in Media News on
  KIIS OFF, screamed The Daily Telegraph has the media stoush between shock jocks Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson saw their $100 million contract torn up following Henderson’s resignation. Sandilands has been sent a show-cause notice. Nathaneel Cooper who teamed with Matthew Berns to pen the Tele’s report, also wrote an editorial slamming Sandilands behaviour on the February 20 show that proved the catalyst for the split “The needling and belittling was present throughout the show, and it is no wonder she got fed up,” Cooper wrote. “Anyone who thinks that is good content is certifiably insane… it was terrible radio, and now ARN has said it considers it a serious act of misconduct”. The Herald also ran the story front page, courtesy of media writer Callum Jasper. Jasper’s piece paid plenty of attention to the struggles that the show has been having, noting it had “floundered” in Melbourne and &

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