The need for stronger institutional support for women journalists, particularly in addressing workplace harassment, discrimination and professional inequalities, has come into focus with the formation of the Gender Council of the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ). The council, which held its inaugural meeting at the Arunachal Press Club on Wednesday, aims to provide a dedicated platform for women media professionals to discuss workplace concerns, share experiences and collectively address challenges affecting their careers. The initiative comes against the backdrop of several concerns affecting women in journalism, including sexual harassment, unequal pay, exploitation, inadequate maternity benefits and lack of equal professional opportunities. Led by Gender Council Co-Convenor Tsering Zangmu Dingla, the inaugural meeting brought together women journalists from different sections of the media fraternity. Junior journalists shared their professional experiences

Dentsu Creative Isobar has launched a new campaign for Skipper Pipes that uses humour to highlight the problem of seepage and the importance of reliable plumbing infrastructure. Titled 'Skipper On, Seelan Gone', the campaign's film, Kaun Rehta Hai Aapke Ghar? Seepage Ya Skipper?, portrays seepage as an unwelcome guest moving through different parts of a home, drawing attention to a problem that often remains unnoticed until it spreads. Moving away from conventional product-focused advertising, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the impact of leakage and dampness while underscoring the role of pipes in preventing seepage. The film is available on Skipper Pipes' digital and social media platforms.      

A feature story by Bandipora-based journalist Shaizan Nadaf has been selected for the 11th edition of the Gender Bender Festival 2026, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru from November 19 to 22, reported Kashmir News Service. Titled 'Kashmir's Wular is Sick, and Its Women Know It', the story was published by Free Press Kashmir in August 2026. It examines the deteriorating condition of Wular Lake and its impact on women whose livelihoods depend on water chestnut harvesting. Festival organiser Sandbox Collective announced the selection on November 4. Nadaf's work will be showcased alongside other selected entries at the four-day event, which focuses on gender, identity and social issues. Reacting to the recognition, Nadaf said the selection was encouraging as it brought national attention to the struggles of local communities in Kashmir. He added that it would motivate him to continue reporting on underreported environmental and social issues.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, has underscored the importance of fact-checking in journalism and announced measures aimed at improving journalists' welfare. Speaking at the Deepawali Mahotsav organised by the Uttaranchal Press Club in Dehradun, Dhami said the spread of fake news and misinformation has increased the responsibility of journalists to verify facts and provide accurate, unbiased reporting. (Please credit news source)  He said credible journalism helps prevent confusion and strengthens democratic values, while also highlighting the media's role in providing feedback on government schemes and development initiatives. Dhami announced plans to increase the number of accredited journalists at the tehsil, district and state levels, along with a hike in journalist pensions. He added that the Journalist Welfare Fund had been increased from 5 crore to 10 crore and said the government had taken steps to support journalists through safety measure

  “I hesitated several times about writing this piece. I didn’t want to be accused of self-indulgence or sensationalism. As most women in sport know, you feel you have to work twice as hard as your male colleagues to prove you belong,” wrote Guardian columnist and sports journo Anjali Joshi on Sunday.  In her attempt to expose the virtual and, at times, on-the-face harassment women in sports journalism face, Anjali seems to have opened the pandora’s box on the topic.  Influencing spoke to leading sports journos across the country on the topic only to be overwhelmed by the response.  Meha Bharadwaj Alter, an independent sports journalist and presenter who started in 2006-07, said the press box she walked into was “a bit of a boys’ club, a cosy boys’ club.”  “The venues were built the same way. There were some places where you had toilets for men, but the ladies’ toilet would at times be locked b

On Thursday evening, Influencing sponsored CPRA Newcastle's "Trust Under Pressure" panel discussion in which several media professionals discussed how individuals can navigate crisis communication situations.  Held at The Green Room in Merewether, the panel featured Sophie Anning from Cancer Council Australia, Lucas Coleman from the Port of Newcastle, Karen Dunnicliff from Salterbaxter and Herd MSL, and Nathan Avery-Williams from SWS Lawyers, who discussed the importance of Speed and Accuracy, Stakeholder Relationships, Business understanding and operational alignment and First-Hour response in such situations.  Please enjoy a collection of photos from the event.