Collegium system under scrutiny again in back drop of cash discovery from Delhi HC judge, VP bats for NJAC

By Pradeep Damodaran, Pragadish Kirubakaran and Neeraja Gopalakrishnan in Media News on

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Upfront: SMH columnist lashes Jackie O as 'enabler'

By Phil Sim in Media News on
The Kyle and Jackie O saga continued to enthrall Sydney newspapers this morning.  The Sydney Morning Herald ran the news front page again and then gave it a double-page spread inside. Callum Jasper, Micahel Lailo and Karl Quinn combined to report that if Kyle Sandilands wants to hold onto his $100 million contract he needs to convince his former on-air partner to return to work. However, “staff at KIIS… see a reconciliation for Australia’s highest paid radio duo as unlikely”. “Multiple sources at KIIS’parent company ARN told this masthead they were ‘overjoyed’ and ‘relieved’ by the pair’s departure”. Meanwhile, columnist Jacqueline Maley wasn’t just tearing shreds of “misoygnist” Kyle Sandilands, she also wasn’t affording Jackie O a lot of sympathy. “How many times has Jackie O stood by, giggling in collusion, as Sandilands has bulldozed someone else… woman and girl

CPC condemns TVK over ‘defamatory’ posts against journalists

By Staff Writer in Media News on
  The Chennai Press Club (CPC) has strongly criticised members of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for allegedly creating fake social media pages in the names of leading news channels and using them to spread false and defamatory content against journalists. In a statement, CPC warned that unless the posts are removed and the targeting of media houses stops immediately, legal action will follow. The body described the deliberate creation of multiple fake pages to attack journalists as “unprecedented, dangerous and highly condemnable” in Tamil Nadu. The Press Club urged police to act against those involved and called on TVK leader Vijay to intervene, stressing that coordinated online attacks amount to intimidation of the press and pose a serious threat to freedom of expression.

Media faces hostility at Jantar Mantar protest

By Staff Writer in Media News on
A protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, February 3, held in solidarity with the Iranian people and against alleged U.S.–Israel actions, briefly turned hostile toward journalists. According to a video shared by Newslaundry, an ANI reporter’s attempt to interview participants escalated into a verbal spat, with sections of the crowd chanting “Go back, godi media” -- a slogan used by critics to describe media seen as aligned with the government. Despite the confrontation, the protest continued, with organisers reiterating opposition to reported military actions and calling for international attention. Image: ChatGPT

FOURTH RIGHT: Accreditation or control? Arunachal’s media reset raises the right questions

By Pragadish Kirubakaran in Media News on
Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   On March 2, 2026, the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet approved the draft Arunachal Pradesh Press Accreditation Rules, 2025. Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the decision publicly, positioning it as a governance reform. Local press bodies, including the Arunachal Press Club and the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, welcomed the move as a progressive step toward transparency and professionalism, according to The Arunachal Times. At first glance, this looks like overdue housekeeping. The new rules, drafted by the IPR Department after consultations and legal vetting, introduce clear eligibility norms, renewal cycles, suspension guidelines, and a structured Accreditation Committee process. Applications must detail media type, headquarters, circulation metrics, and professional experience. There are defined revocation mechanisms and hearing provisions. Digital media is formally included. Renewals are mandated every two years. That alone ma

Case filed against journalist Piyush Rai over Holi video

By Staff Writer in Media News on
Police have reportedly booked nine people, including journalist Piyush Rai, for sharing a Holi video that authorities say was old but circulated as recent footage from Mathura‑Vrindavan. The FIR was registered on February 28 at Barsana Police Station. The clip, shared on social media between February 26–27, was posted by Rai on X with a caution against overcrowding. Mathura Police later clarified the video was from a previous year and urged people not to spread outdated content. Charges were filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act. Journalists including Rohini Singh, Saurabh Shukla and Sachin Gupta criticised the FIR. SSP Shlok Kumar said the investigation is ongoing. Rai told Newslaundry his post was only meant to warn against crowd risks.

After UX, the newsroom feels different: Riya Baibhawi on journalism’s clutter problem

By Pragadish Kirubakaran in Media News on
Riya Baibhawi doesn’t talk about leaving journalism like it was a grand reinvention. She talks about it the way newsroom people talk about burnout: quietly, practically, and with the kind of clarity you only get when you’ve stared at a homepage long enough for it to start staring back. When she joined me on Influencing Insider, the headline version of her career was already intriguing: six years across some of India’s busiest newsrooms, then a sharp pivot into design, UX and content strategy at Tata Elxsi, and now a serious intent to return to international news with a different lens. But the real story wasn’t “journalist becomes UX person.” It was why. Riya put it bluntly: “We treat news like a product… our home pages are flooded, they’re inundated, and we keep on bombarding the audience.” And she wasn’t speaking as an armchair critic. At India Today, she spent a year on the mobile notifications and app team, wh

IIMCAA announces winners of 10th Alumni Awards

By Staff Writer in Media News on
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA) announced the winners of its 10th annual awards during the 14th Connections Meet in Delhi on Sunday, recognising excellence across journalism, advertising, public relations, and public service. Soumya Pillai (The Print) was named Journalist of the Year, while Laxmi Devi Aere (PTI) won Agriculture Reporter of the Year. Independent journalist Safeena Wani and Medha Yadav (Jist News) were honoured as Reporters of the Year in publishing and broadcast respectively. Other winners included Mohammad Asad (News Pinch) as Producer of the Year, Saurav Kumar Borah (Amar Ason) and Alpesh Arvind Karkare (BBC News Marathi) as Indian Language Reporters of the Year in publishing and broadcast, and Tanzil Asif as Independent Journalist of the Year in digital video. Special Jury Mentions went to Garima Singh (Zee Switch), Nantha Kishore G K (DW Tamil), and Gargy Satapathy (Sambad). The Pillar of IIMCAA Award 2026 was conferred on

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