Image edited by Diensh Raj M   On February 12, 2026, journalist Ramesh Singh was shot in the abdomen by unidentified bike-borne assailants in Pachrukhi block, Siwan district, while returning from a wedding. He is critical. That is the bare fact. The response followed quickly. The National Union of Journalists (India) demanded strict and immediate action. Ras Bihari, its president, condemned the “barbaric attack,” flagged “growing incidents of violence” against media persons in Bihar, and spoke of widespread resentment within the state’s media fraternity. He urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to order an immediate judicial inquiry, sought adequate compensation, demanded swift arrests and reiterated a long-standing call for a Journalist Protection Law. All of that is necessary. But none of it is new and this is where the story shifts from crime to influence. In Parliament, Indian National Congress MP from Allahabad, Ujjwal Raman Singh, has introdu

Picture credit: Chennai Press Club Journalists and activists gathered for a seminar on the revamped labour codes, warning that the new framework strips away workers’ rights and undermines social security. The event, titled “Journalists Losing Social Security — The Coming Danger and Our Responsibility”, was hosted by the Chennai Press Club. Retired Justice Ariparandhaman and activist Rahul addressed the gathering, stressing the urgent need for collective action to safeguard journalists’ welfare. The seminar was jointly organised by the Chennai Press Club, Chennai Journalists Association, Media Workers for Change Association, Madras High Court Journalists Association, Tamil Nadu Working Journalists Union, and Tamil News Readers Association. Speakers highlighted how the new labour codes could erode protections for media professionals, leaving them vulnerable to precarious employment and reduced benefits. The event underscored the responsibility of journalists’ unions and

CreativeContent's David Hague has launched the Iris vodcast - which he believes is a logical extension of the Creative Content website.  “It gives further options for people to keep abreast of the areas I cover, unless we get information out that doesn't necessarily lend itself to the written word,” Hague told Influencing.  Hague is launching both an Iris podcast and a vodcast, and believes that covers off most bases.  The audio version will be on Buzzsprout, and available via their podcast distribution system. Hague’s video version of the Iris cast will come out on Mondays via the CCTV YouTube channel.  “There will be material in both the audio and video versions that may not appear on the website. These will usually be more short-form items that, whilst interesting in themselves, don't really warrant column inches and are better suited to one or other or both of the audio and video mediums.” The podcast launches as Hague celebrates 50 years in his journalism care

The Australian Financial Review has today unveiled a new brand campaign ‘It’s Not For Everyone’, designed to reinforce its position as the daily habit of successful people. A series of editorial and content initiatives will launch this week, including subscriber notes, newspaper wraps of the Financial Review and special editorial collections that bring to life the real world stories of ambition, passion and commitment within the Australian business community.  “The campaign reflects our core belief that entrepreneurship is the most important driver of Australia’s future prosperity. We report on all aspects of business so it’s great to do something that is unapologetically focused on telling stories about people who will shape this country in the coming decades,” said The Australian Financial Review editor-in-chief James Chessell. Developed in partnership with Howatson+Company, the campaign is centred around the aspirational mindset th

  The Press Club of India has strongly condemned the alleged attack on senior journalist Hem Bhatt in Dehradun and expressed concern over the handling of the case by authorities. In a statement issued on February 12, the Club said Bhatt reported that his channel’s digital platform was briefly taken down following a complaint lodged with Uttarakhand Police, and that he was later chased and assaulted by unidentified persons, sustaining injuries. While arrests were reportedly made, the Press Club questioned the investigation process, citing the absence of CCTV evidence and Bhatt not being asked to identify the accused. The Club urged a fair and independent probe, called for accountability, and reiterated that any attack on a journalist is an attack on press freedom.

The Editors Guild of India has condemned the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for ordering the removal of a cartoon on Narendra Modi that appeared on The Wire’s Instagram page. In a statement issued on February 12, the Guild said The Wire’s Instagram account was also briefly blocked before being restored by Meta. The Editors Guild called the move an attack on free expression and editorial independence, stating that public officials are legitimate subjects of scrutiny, including through cartoons. The Guild also raised concerns over the newly notified IT Rules, citing warnings from the Internet Freedom Foundation, and urged the government to review regulations that could undermine media freedom and artistic expression.

Morning, welcome to Monday and hope you all had a fine weekend. Let's start with Coles supermarket and a really well written story in the Australian Financial Review by Carrie LaFrenz and Max Mason with a clever headline too ('ACCC challenge to Coles's status quo'). The regulator is taking Coles to Federal Court - it's been a while getting there, some 16 months, but the case has its first public airing today - with the ACCC alleging the 'Down Down' deals weren’t actually lower and the promotion entirely misleading.  As LaFrenz and Mason write: "Since 2010, Coles has hung its hat on the jingle – “Down, Down, Prices are Down” – inspired by the Status Quo song, Down Down. The $30 billion supermarket giant even paid the British rock group to reunite and record a version at London’s Abbey Road. Accompanied by a giant red hand pointing south, the jingle has assured shoppers, t