The Allahabad High Court has refused to cancel criminal proceedings against journalists of News18 in a 2017 defamation case filed by a senior IPS officer. The case relates to a news broadcast aired in September 2017, which allegedly suggested that the officer had accepted money from criminals linked to the Nabha jail break. The officer claimed the report damaged his reputation and filed a complaint. Although a later government inquiry cleared him of wrongdoing, a magistrate issued summons to the journalists after recording statements from the complainant and witnesses. Challenging the summons, the journalists approached the High Court, arguing that the story was already reported by several newspapers and TV channels and that their coverage was fair and unbiased. However, Justice Brij Raj Singh said the court cannot examine evidence or decide guilt at this early stage, as that would amount to a “mini trial.” The judge noted that the magistrate had followed due process before is

The Supreme Court has set aside a Telangana High Court order that allowed police custody of journalists Pogadadanda Revathi, managing director of YouTube channel Pulse News and Bandi Sandhya, ruling that custody cannot be granted once bail has been granted unless it is first cancelled through proper legal process. The two journalists were arrested by Hyderabad cyber crime police in March 2025 for allegedly circulating derogatory remarks against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the state government. They were initially remanded to judicial custody. A magistrate later rejected the police request for five days’ custody, noting that substantial investigation had already been conducted and electronic devices seized, and granted them regular bail. The state challenged this before a sessions court, which permitted brief police remand. The High Court upheld the order in October 2025. The journalists then approached the apex court challenging the High Court order. Disposing of the peti

Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar emphasised that journalism plays a crucial role in strengthening democratic institutions and raising public awareness. Speaking at the Media Cup Cricket Tournament 2026 inauguration in Ranchi, he described the media as the fourth pillar of democracy and appreciated journalists for highlighting public-interest issues. He also noted that sports like cricket promote patience, teamwork, and coordination.

Picture Credit: Odisha Diary  For nearly a decade, Indian journalists investigating powerful corporate interests have found themselves fighting legal battles instead of pursuing stories. Since 2017, the Adani Group and its subsidiaries have filed a series of civil and criminal defamation cases against reporters and media outlets, a pattern Reporters Without Borders (RSF) describes as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). At least 15 journalists have been targeted through multiple proceedings. While none of these cases has resulted in convictions, several courts issued interim gag orders that temporarily silenced reporting even before hearing the defence. According to RSF, the aim is not necessarily to win but to exhaust journalists financially and psychologically, turning the legal process itself into punishment. So far, RSF has documented at least ten major cases, many concentrated in Gujarat. Nine journalists remain caught in ongoing litigation, including in

The Tripura Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Feb 03, felicitated a group of journalists, including veterans and photojournalists, for their professional excellence, reported Northeast Herald. However, the event quickly became controversial, drawing sharp reactions from both journalistic and political circles. Questions were raised over the Assembly authorities for allegedly not inviting Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath, despite the programme being organised by a constitutional institution. The event was attended by Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, who presented honours to the selected journalists. While there was no major objection to the choice of journalists, some sections of the local media reportedly attempted to undermine the contributions of those honoured, allegedly out of professional rivalry. The absence of the Leader of the House and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, however, triggered widespread discontent and political deba

Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   During a recent conversation with a leading PR professional here in Chennai on how to make press releases reach the right audience by embracing latest technology, this scribe was given a lesson in new-age journalism: Just register a dozen websites, subscribe to leading agency wire services, and flood the site with all their updates. Your site will begin to show good rankings in a while, and you have a dozen credible avenues to publish all your client's press releases.  "Nobody needs to know who owns these sites," he suggested.  A random Google search of any news item would reveal the number of outlets vying for the reader/viewer's attention.   The mass-firing of Washington Post journalists across the world is arguably as a direct fallout of this trend of "overabundance" of news. The Post's Executive Editor Matt Murray described the layoffs as “painful but necessary”, saying the pa

  Under the updated framework, the Nagaland government has decided that the accreditation will now cover satellite television channels, electronic media organisations dealing with news and current affairs, digital media platforms, as well as freelancers and technicians associated with electronic media, in addition to print journalists, following the Nagaland government’s notification of the Nagaland News Media Accreditation (Revised) Rules, 2025, EastMojo reported. The revised rules were issued through Government Notification No. IPR/MEDIA/6-2/2016 after Cabinet approval conveyed via letter No. CAB-1/14/2023 dated December 18, 2025. Officials said the move is aimed at making the accreditation process more inclusive and ensuring broader representation of media personnel engaged in news dissemination and related services across Nagaland. The revision comes amid the rapid growth of digital and electronic media, recognising their increasing role in public communication and informa