A journalist covering a protest against the Election Commission of India at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on September 25 has alleged that Delhi Police personnel dragged him onto a bus, snatched his microphone and detained him for several hours while he was reporting.   Mohammad Irfan, who was reporting for The Wire, is one of two journalists whose detention the Press Club of India (PCI) raised in a statement the following day. The other was Vedaant Lakhera of Frontline. The PCI said both were wearing their press IDs at the time.   Notably, the protest was organised by civil society groups, student organisations including the All India Students' Association (AISA), and political activists. It followed an Indian Express investigation which alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar bypassed the other two election commissioners and overrode their objections during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.   Speaking to Influencing India,

Less than 1 per cent of media coverage in a 12-month reporting period reflected locally built AI companies as per new research released. It's a statistic InnovationAus publisher Corrie McLeod says she'd like to have been surprised by but wasn't.  “I know Assistant Minister Charlton spoke several months back, and he was talking about buying AI capability. I know a lot of people are looking around, going, where would you do that? And I think Australian companies are doing great things.  “[But] they're not making it into the news cycle, and I think that has become quite evident. It's in smaller circles. But to your everyday Australian and your mainstream reporting, if you're looking at where sovereign AI capabilities is being built, it's not currently in the conversation”.  That statistic was one of two that struck McLeod from the research, released earlier this month. The other, she said, was that unlike the social media ban, which was closely associated with the eSafety

Chalmers under fire as another rate rise looms Treasurer Jim Chalmers is blaming Middle East tensions and fuel-driven inflation for the expected RBA hike, but economists and opponents are pushing back, arguing domestic settings and spending still matter. With households already stretched, the dispute goes to Labor’s credibility on cost-of-living and whether fiscal policy is helping or hindering the inflation fight. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Advertiser, The West Australian. Record tax take debate reignites: who’s paying, and how much? Multiple papers report Labor is on track for a near-record (or record) tax-to-GDP take, with stronger receipts—particularly from superannuation-related revenue—improving the budget bottom line. The political sting is that higher revenues, alongside high rates, sharpen questions about bracket creep, super tax settings and whether the government is leaning too heavily on Australians to fund spen

The Andhratharhi police in Bihar’s Madhubani district arrested Om Prakash Rai within 48 hours in connection with the alleged knife attack on journalist Bindeshwar Chaudhary. Chaudhary was allegedly attacked by two men at a local market near Sanjivani Health Care. The attackers allegedly abused him before stabbing him and fleeing with Rs 670. Chaudhary sustained head injuries in the attack and received four stitches. Police registered an attempted murder case against Om Prakash Rai and Dharam Kumar Rai. While Om Prakash Rai has been sent to judicial custody, Dharam Kumar Rai remains absconding. Police teams are conducting raids to trace him. The attack has drawn condemnation from local journalist groups and community organisations, which have called for swift action and better protection for media personnel.  

Godrej Industries Group and Avian We. won the Gold Fulcrum Masters awards in the corporate and consultancy categories, respectively, at the 2026 Fulcrum Awards, held at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty on September 26. Burson Genesis and First Partners shared Silver in the consultancy category, while veteran communications professional Alpana Killawala received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Godrej Industries Group was among the major winners, taking Gold across several categories. Its #CelebratingAcceptance campaign won Creativity and Innovation, while From Paper to Policy topped both Public Affairs and Consumer Products and Retail. It also won Gold for Godrej Agrovet’s Ashitaka, Godrej Pride Hog and Shubh Aarambh. Avian We. added four campaign Golds to its consultancy Masters win, including AI For Her for NITI Aayog in Digital and Banega Swasth India for Reckitt Dettol in Integrated Communications. Burson Genesis took both Special Campaign Golds, winning Brand Reputation for N

The news that James Chessell giving up his plum role as editor-in-chief of The Fin to join Joe Aston’s increasingly successful start-up Rampart got plenty of media attention over the last week, but the coverage has been sober and businesslike. Until now, that is. Influencing was hoping Steve Jackson would have some juicy details about the Chessell departure in Monday’s Media Dairy in The Australian. We weren’t disappointed. Chessell was meant to serve out a fortnight’s notice and keep working until his recently announced replacement, Cosima Marriner, returned from leave on 9 October. However, Nine expunged Chessell on Friday afternoon. Jackson reports his exit was accelerated after “multiple senior reporters” (which ones exactly, we wonder?) gave management an earful, insisting they were “shocked and furious” he was being allowed to continue in his role until Marriner’s return. It also seems staff at The Fin have long been

Police in Kochi allegedly kept journalists from approaching Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan at an event on Saturday, September 26, according to reporters who covered it. The officer in charge has denied the allegation. The incident took place at the Gokulam Convention Centre in Gokulam Park, where CM Satheesan was attending. Police personnel stood in a line and formed what amounted to a "human wall" between reporters and the Chief Minister, according to Ernakulam Press Club president Gopakumar R. Gopakumar was not present at the event. He said his account came from journalists who were. Ernakulam Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter K.J. reportedly told journalists not to approach Satheesan with microphones or ask him questions, and to keep their distance. Peter rejected the allegations when contacted by Influencing India. "The allegations are baseless. As the convoy of the Chief Minister was reaching the venue, we requested the few journalists present to move aside. How