Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   In most democracies, radio is the quickest way to break a story. In India, it’s the quickest way to play a song. That’s not a creative choice. It’s policy. On International Radio Day, let's understand why private FM stations here cannot broadcast original news.  Let's start with the facts: Radio stations can relay unedited bulletins from All India Radio. They can talk traffic, weather and celebrity gossip. But if they attempt structured, independent news reporting, they risk licence trouble. Meanwhile, stations in the US and Australia air hourly bulletins as a matter of course. The official reasoning is familiar: national security, misinformation, uncontrollable radio waves. Unlike television channels that can be suspended individually, or websites that can be blocked, FM signals travel freely. There is no neat district-level “kill switch” without disrupting the entire band, including AIR. That logic h

The All Assam Journalists’ Union (AAJU) on Tuesday announced the recipients of its 2026 journalism awards at a meeting held at its central office in Tezpur. The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 9, 2026, in Bongaigaon district. According to The Sentinel, AAJU president Pankaj Kr Nath and general secretary Nakul Talukdar, veteran journalist Naren Bora will receive the Prafulla Chandra Baruah Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award. The Radhika Mohan Bhagawati Memorial Journalism Award has been awarded to Nitumoni Saikia, Chief Editor of Pratidin Time. Adip Kumar Phukan, Chief Editor of DY 365, will receive the Swahid Journalist Manik Deuri Memorial Journalism Award, while Imran Hussain, Executive Editor of Prantik, will be honoured with the Hari Barman Memorial Journalism Award.

  Fact-checking has undergone its own transformation. Real-time verification systems now cross-check claims against official records, trusted databases, archived reports, and public datasets within seconds. What once required hours of manual research can now be initiated almost instantly. For deadline-driven newsrooms, this shift has reduced the risk of amplifying misinformation while allowing journalists to maintain pace. But the story is not just about machines working faster. It is also about roles evolving. Data checkers and analysts now hold a more central place in editorial workflows. Data checkers review AI-generated outputs, flag inconsistencies, and apply judgment where algorithms fall short. Data analysts interpret large datasets, contextualise patterns, and translate complex findings into accessible stories. Their work has grown more strategic, giving them an editorial influence that was far less visible just a few years ago. Even so, AI has not replaced editorial res

Last night, Influencing had the pleasure of attending Archetype Australia's Connect event at its HQ in Surry Hills, Sydney. An 'after-work drinks-style' event, the night had journos and PRs within the tech community engaging, laughing and catching up.  Please see a collection of photos from the evening. 

Who would want to be Sussan Ley right now? Well, politics is a brutal business and if the numbers are right the first female leader of the Liberal Party is likely to be deposed this morning by Angus Taylor after less than a year in the top job - she was elected in May 2025. The Age has an excellent picture this morning taken by Alex Ellinghausen of the isolated leader - another instance of a picture being worth a thousand words. In both The Age and sister Sydney Morning Herald the Liberal leadership is the main story by Paul Sakkal and Nick Newling ('Leadership Taylor's for the asking as allies desert Ley' - The Age).  The Melbourne paper also carries an astute Opinion piece from James Massola, headlined 'Defeating Ley might be the easy part', and that is, as they say, another story as several journos write this morning about Taylor being light on substance and policies, as well as being faced with a party on its knees and a shaky partnership

Picture Credit: BR Ambedkar Open University Women journalists have played a crucial role in rebuilding and reshaping journalism by overcoming legal, social and intellectual barriers, said Padmaja Shaw, retired professor of journalism at Osmania University. According to The Hindu, Speaking at the Prof. S. Bashiruddin Memorial Lecture at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Open University on Tuesday, Shaw highlighted how women’s advocacy for gender rights in India laid the foundation for today’s investigative reporting. However, she noted that women journalists continue to face harassment, legal threats, professional isolation, and online trolling, with their independent voices often undervalued. Shaw recalled the contributions of women journalists during the freedom movement and cautioned against the continuing denial of property rights and financial independence to women. Her remarks came amidst outrage over a viral video showing a woman TV reporter being mobbed by male students after the Biha

The ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award has extended nominations for 2026. The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) honours outstanding journalists through the ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award, presented at its annual Awards Dinner. The organisation is currently seeking nominees whose pioneering coverage or media innovations have significantly impacted people’s lives in their countries or regions. Eligible candidates include reporters, editors, technologists, and citizen journalists, particularly those working under challenging conditions. Journalists who meet the award criteria may also nominate themselves. The extended nomination deadline is February 15. The winners will be honoured at ICFJ’s Awards Dinner 2026 in Washington, D.C., in November.