Among the many revelations that the US-Israel-Iran war has unveiled to us over the past five weeks, a key takeaway for journalists has been how popular Substack has become as a medium for disbursing allegedly unbiased news as well as publishing freewheeling opinion pieces. Almost any journalist/expert who commented on the war as well as the economic fallout referred the audience to a Substack newsletter where they claimed to publish full details independently. The staggering growth of Substack as a news distribution platform is no longer a new phenomenon. According to the latest Press Gazette report on the top 50 English-language news sites in the world in 2026, Substack was ranked third recording 37 per cent year-on-year traffic growth and has been the leader for seven months prior to the breakout of the war when Al Jazeera took over the top spot. For those of you who still haven't explored Substack, it is a platform that allows internet users to subscribe to free or paid new

Image of the Day Lodhi Garden turns 90, picture by Sanjeev Verma      33 per cent women’s quota: Govt clears amendment drafts The government on Wednesday cleared the draft bills for amendments to the women’s reservation law, paving the way for Parliament to take up the legislation for implementation of 33 per cent reservation for them in Lok Sabha and state assemblies from 2029. The draft bills, approved by the cabinet, will be introduced in the special Parliament session starting April 16. TOI has learnt that three bills will be introduced — the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill and a separate legislation to extend reservation for women in UTs which have assemblies. The proposed changes will result in an increase in the number of LS seats from the current 543 to 816, with 273 reserved for women. Reservation will also be done a “vertical basis” with seats allocated for SCs and STs, writes Dipak Dash and &nbs

The Chennai Press Club (CPC), in collaboration with the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, will conduct a free mega breast cancer screening camp for women journalists and their family members. CPC Vice‑President Sundara Bharathi said this is the first time the club is organising a screening camp specifically for women journalists and their female family members, with around 100 participants expected. Female family members of male journalists are also eligible. The screening will include mammogram tests, Pap smear tests, and dental check‑ups. The camp will be held at the Chennai Press Club on April 11, 2026 (Saturday), from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. For more details, contact Bharathi at 9940458552.

Even as a ceasefire has been announced between Iran, the United States, and Israel, News18 India’s war‑focused show Command Centre continues to decode the evolving conflict in West Asia. Launched on March 25 and hosted by Major Gaurav Arya (Retd.), the show leverages his military expertise to simplify complex strategies and developments, often punctuated by his signature line: “Seedhi baat samjhiye.” Streaming daily at 2:45 pm on the channel’s official YouTube platform, the show has uploaded 135 videos so far. Touted as one of the biggest television formats centred on global conflict, Command Centre moves away from conventional studio debates, positioning itself as an “Insider War Room.” It breaks down military developments, analyses global crises, and explains their impact on everyday life — from fuel prices to broader economic effects.

Gadget Guy’s Chris Button took home Best Technology Reviewer at this year’s Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards. He was still processing his Lizzies win when Influencing called days after the event.  Button has entered the Lizzies several times in the past, but wondered if his copy would ever be considered deserving of an award.  “I've tried to work on my craft for a while,” Button says. “To reach that point where the judges and the community think it was award-winning worthy was quite the thrill.  “For many years I freelanced, covering video games primarily. It's only in recent years, thanks to the encouragement of Seamus Byrne when I was working with him at Byteside, that I have ventured more into consumer technology. “To win Best Technology Reviewer is something I'm proud of. There are a lot of people whose work I look up to, and to have my name up there listed with them is a massive honour.” Butto

IGN’s Luke Reilly says there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to his video game reviews. That’s “without any intention to minimise the work” of his game-reviewing colleagues, Reilly noted while discussing his win in the Best Game Reviewer category at the 2026 Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards.  “There’s a written component, which is an extensive traditional in-depth review for people to read. But there’s also a video pillar to IGN’s reviews,” Reilly told Influencing.  That video pillar includes “exhaustive video capture” and voiceover work that is packaged into a “highly curated product”.  “It isn't a couple of stretches of miscellaneous gameplay whacked under a voiceover. This is fastidiously edited, which marries up to match the voiceover provided to form a useful video review of a game that you're interested in,” he said.  Reilly said video

Front page news for Thursday, April 9th 2026 Middle East ceasefire shakes markets — and Australia’s fuel security nerves A US-Iran ceasefire and plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have eased immediate fears of a wider conflict, sending oil prices down and lifting sharemarkets. But the truce is fragile and the strategic contest over shipping lanes remains, keeping pressure on Canberra to plan for future shocks and strengthen fuel resilience. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, Australian Financial Review, The West Australian, The Advertiser, Sydney Morning Herald. Petrol price relief: promise, pushback and a long wait at the bowser As global oil prices slide, some outlets are signalling fuel relief for motorists in coming months, while others warn supply disruptions and retail pricing cycles could keep prices elevated for longer. The debate has quickly broadened into a national security and cost-of-living issue, with calls for bigger fuel reserves