Image credit: Gharwal Post Senior journalist Sudesh Istwal passed away on April 14 following a health issue. He was 48. His demise has left not only his friends and colleagues mourning, but also prompted senior political leaders to express grief. Taking to X, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences over Istwal’s demise and prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family. Istwal is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Pocket FM has crossed $400 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with its latest $200 million milestone achieved in just 12 months, compared to six years taken for the first $200 million. In a LinkedIn post, co‑founder and CEO Rohan Nayak credited artificial intelligence for driving this rapid growth. “The first $200M took 6 years, the next came in just 12 months. AI changed everything for us,” he wrote. Pocket FM now operates an AI‑native storytelling system, built around a fiction writing co‑pilot trained on billions of minutes of engagement data. This enables creators to transform raw ideas into fully produced audio series within minutes. The platform, which began with bite‑sized audio series in India before expanding to the US, Europe, and 20+ countries, now works with over 300,000 creators producing 80,000 hours of content each month. It is free cash flow positive and runs at around 5% EBITDA, Best Media Info reported. Highlighting the impact of its

Pepper Communications Group (PCG), an integrated communications agency, has been appointed as the PR Mandate for Apis India Limited, a leading FMCG company with three generations of trading experience in food products. Founded in 1983, Apis India entered the B2C segment in 2016 with its Apis brand, building consumer trust through consistent quality, wide distribution networks, and expansion across domestic and international markets. The company continues to focus on wellness and natural foods. Under the new mandate, PCG will strengthen Apis India’s communications strategy, highlight its legacy, and enhance consumer engagement and leadership visibility. The agency will handle media relations, storytelling, and brand perception. Roshan Mohan, Group MD of PCG, said the partnership will amplify the brand’s legacy, while Naagesh Mishra, Marketing Head at Apis India, noted it will enhance corporate communication and stakeholder engagement.

Science Journalist Felicity Nelson has described a personal connection behind her recent win for long COVID reporting at the recent Emerge Australia Excellence and Journalism Awards.  Nelson has been affected by long COVID since 2021, and her life now looks completely different.  “It's an energy-limiting illness that affects every minute of every day and cuts through work, family and every social interaction you have,” Nelson told Influencing.  “Most people with long COVID do not have the capacity to do consistent work. My long COVID journalism is for them. I am fighting for people who do not have a voice.”  She said she was proud to have won the award given how confronting writing about her experiences was. “This award validates my difficult decision to blend my lived experience of long COVID with the science and to not hold anything back from the reader. I think this takes courage, and it was pretty difficult.” Nelson won for her reporting on the Rapamycin dr

This week, our round-up of Australian PR moves includes a couple of attention-grabbing exits, one relaunch and several appointments. Changes afoot at Edelman and WPP The big news in PR this week was Edelman CEO Tom Robinson calling it a day after almost four years in the top job. Robinson took over the Australian arm of the global agency in mid-2022 from Michelle Hutton, having previously worked at Medicorn for 11 years.    Robinson told Mumbrella, “I’m proud of all that our team and leadership have achieved together. However, the time feels right for a new leader to shape the next phase of the business, and I look forward to taking on a new challenge.” His last day will be May 15 and the agency is now recruiting a replacement.  Shortly before Robinson’s departure, the boss of WPP’s PR arm, Tom Horn, took to LinkedIn to announce he was also moving on. In a week where everybody was expressing concern about Mythos, Horn an

Roberts-Smith breaks silence as war-crimes fight escalates Ben Roberts-Smith has issued his first public statement since being charged, condemning the AFP’s arrest as an “unnecessary spectacle” and vowing to fight the allegations. Several papers also report his legal team is weighing a bid to permanently halt proceedings, sharpening debate about due process, public interest and the handling of high-profile war-crimes cases. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, Courier Mail, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The West Australian, The Advertiser. Budget pressure builds: Chalmers flags red-tape cuts and tax reform Treasurer Jim Chalmers is signalling a May budget focused on lifting productivity by cutting regulation, while also keeping broader reform ambitions alive despite global economic shocks. At the same time, reporting suggests the government is considering winding back the post-1999 capital gains tax discount—an explosive move with major implica