Comment: Media bargaining code is half-pregnant
By Phil Sim in Media News on Monday, 25th January 2021 at 1:35pmThe problem with the Australian government’s approach to making the tech giants subsidise journalism in Australia is ideologically half-pregnant. It is rampant interventionism trying to pretend it’s not by operating under the auspices of a “free-ish” market agreement.

Clearly, the two opposing sides will never, ever see eye-to-eye on the respective value they bring to the table. As such, any arbitration model is doomed to failure.
The government does have at its disposal traditional levers that it could far more easily deploy, namely taxation.
Let’s call it a copyright tax. With it you could kill two birds with one stone, removing the related issue of ambiguity over copyright and fair use of content. It is a legal minefield that our leg...
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Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting consolidates media mandate with Wavemaker
By Staff Writer in Media News on Monday, 06th April 2026 at 3:13pm
Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting has consolidated its media mandate for the Consumer Care business with Wavemaker, a WPP Media brand. The mandate covers media strategy, investment, and activation across traditional and digital platforms.
The move brings all media responsibilities under a single integrated model, aimed at improving coordination, consistency, and efficiency in a fragmented media landscape, while strengthening consumer engagement through a data‑driven approach.
Neeraj Khatri, Chief Executive, India and SAARC Business, Wipro Consumer Care, said the consolidation will enable a more integrated and agile approach to media, aligning planning and execution to respond more effectively to evolving consumer behaviour.
S Prasanna Rai, Senior Vice President – Marketing, Wipro Consumer Care, noted that as consumer journeys become more fragmented, the partnership will ensure consistency across touchpoints while leveraging data, technology, and insights.
From WPP Media,
TODAY’S TEN: BSF mulls using reptiles for border security, Indian ports clock 7 per cent growth and more
By Meena R. Prashant in Media News on Monday, 06th April 2026 at 2:51pm
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Judge celebrates daughter’s divorce publicly
A retired judge here welcomed his daughter home with drums, garlands and sweets after her divorce, in a public show of support aimed at challenging the stigma surrounding marital separation.
Gyanendra Kumar Sharma celebrated the return of his only daughter, Pranita Vashistha, after a family court granted divorce on Saturday. Relatives welcomed her with garlands and distributed sweets. Many wore black T-shirts, saying, ‘I love my daughter’.
Pranita married an Army Major on Dec 19, 2018, her counsellors Rajeev Giri and Naseeb Saifi said. The marriage soon turned sour, with allegations of mental and physical harassment. They had a son, and Pranita later sought legal separation. “If my daughter is unhappy, it is my responsibility to bring her out of that environment. Her dignity matters more than social expectations,” Sharma said, adding that the family chose not to seek alimony, write Rahul
FOURTH RIGHT: Journalist unions rally behind News Tamil reporter attacked at poll-season event
By Pragadish Kirubakaran in Media News on Monday, 06th April 2026 at 1:43pm
Image edited by Dinesh Raj M
A journalist goes to work. Chairs fly. He ends up in a hospital bed. And somewhere between the condemnation tweet and the morning scroll, we've already moved on. That's the story. Not the attack on News Tamil 24x7 reporter Rajesh in Karaikudi on March 23rd -- though that is disturbing enough on its own. The real story is the silence that swallowed it whole. The kind of silence that only happens when we've grown so accustomed to outrage that we've forgotten what accountability is supposed to look like.
Here's what the Chennai Union of Journalists (CUJ) reported, in plain terms: a political event tied to the upcoming Assembly elections was underway in Karaikudi, Sivaganga district. A party functionary was speaking -- making allegations, it seems -- when the crowd turned. Not with words. With chairs. Hurled toward the stage. Journalist Rajesh, who was coordinating the event for News Tamil 24x7, was attacked in the chaos. He wa
PCI slams govt over ‘arbitrary’ content removals
By Staff Writer in Media News on Monday, 06th April 2026 at 11:38am
The Press Club of India has raised serious concerns over what it termed “arbitrary” social media takedowns, alleging that recent government actions are undermining free speech and targeting critical voices.
In a press release issued on April 1, the club said multiple content creators and news platforms have faced blocking or removal of material across social media platforms. It argued that such executive actions violate the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Citing recent instances, the statement noted takedown orders issued to Facebook and X, affecting fact-checker Mohammed Zubair and outlets like Molitics and National Dastak. It also referred to the earlier blocking of 4PM News on YouTube and restrictions on satirist Rajeev Nigam’s content.
The club claimed many of these actions were carried out under Section 69A of the IT Act without adequate transparency, as specific reasons for removal were not disclosed. C
Pratyush Khare to host Taal Thok Ke and Deshhit on Zee News prime time
By Staff Writer in Media News on Thursday, 02nd April 2026 at 10:00pm
Zee News has named Pratyush Khare, senior anchor and executive producer, as the new host of its flagship prime-time shows, Taal Thok Ke and Deshhit, effective this evening.
Khare has been associated with Zee Media Corporation Limited since May 2024, where he has anchored news bulletins and contributed to editorial coverage. In his new role, he will lead two of the channel’s key debate and analysis programmes, strengthening its prime-time lineup.
With more than 20 years of experience, he brings editorial depth, field experience, and a strong connection with viewers. His appointment highlights the network’s focus on experienced and credible leadership.
According to Medianews4U, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor, said the move is part of a strategy to sharpen content and maintain high editorial standards.
Both shows are recognised for driving discussions on political, social, and policy issues.
NDTV achieves digital hat-trick with three channels topping YouTube rankings
By Staff Writer in Media News on Thursday, 02nd April 2026 at 9:58pm
NDTV has achieved a rare milestone, with three of its channels leading at the same time and securing the top spot on YouTube. The combined performance of NDTV India, NDTV 24×7 and NDTV Profit has driven this success.
In a highly competitive media environment, the network’s performance stands out for its consistency and credibility. NDTV India has crossed 3 billion views, maintaining its position as a leading Hindi news platform. NDTV 24×7 has reached 197.3 million views and held its leadership for 10 consecutive months in English news. NDTV Profit, with 51.7 million views, continues to strengthen its role in business and market coverage.
According to Medianews4U, the achievement highlights the network’s ability to build strong editorial identities across platforms while maintaining a shared commitment to trusted journalism.
CEO and editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal said the milestone reflects a clear strategy and sustained effort across teams a
FOURTH RIGHT: Journalism in times of crisis
By Pradeep Damodaran in Media News on Thursday, 02nd April 2026 at 4:52pm
With the war in Iran entering the second month, media fraternity across the world woke up to the news of the kidnapping of US freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson in Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Shelly was abducted on Tuesday evening, said Al-Monitor, a news outlet for which she has contributed articles. Al-Monitor, which is based in the US, said local news reports indicate Kittleson was taken near a hotel in the heart of the capital when she was abducted. Later, a US state department official said an individual with ties to an Iranian-aligned militia group, Kataib Hezbollah, was detained by Iraqi authorities and that serious efforts were on to get the journalist released.
The incident brings back memories of the abduction and beheading of another American journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in the year 2002 and highlights, yet again, the inherent dangers of reporting from conflict zones. The rise of AI and other powerful tools that can spread misinformation campaigns have only complica
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