In a move which seems similar to that of independent publication Australian Traveller some months ago, News Corp has today also announced an AI-powered holiday assistant which goes fully live in February.  News Corp’s Escape publication’s AI is called Ask Skye, and the publisher says it’s “a new AI-powered personal travel assistant that simplifies holiday planning for consumers”.  The product has been developed in partnership with Ask Layla, an established AI travel tech company. It launches in beta phase, an early-access release to enable users to trial the experience, and help Escape shape ongoing improvements ahead of the full launch in February. Integrated across escape.com.au, Ask Skye can provide personalised itineraries – complete with real-time recommendations, live flight fares, accommodation options, activities and must-see sites.  “Ask Skye helps users move confidently from dreaming to doing by co

Welcome to Wednesday and given there is no unified theme across today's dailies let's begin with a heart-warming story about NAPLAN. Yes, it's not a world-shattering subject, execpt for the schools that have to do the annual student assessments, the students themselves, and their parents and carers - so yes, it's vey newsworthy and Melbourne's The Age leads with that thanks to a great picture on the front page - taken by Joe Armao - of students and the Principal from "one of Melbourne's most disadvantaged schools" which has emeged as a top performer. Good job. That story told inside the paper by Bridie Smith and Jackson Graham, and they've written a really good and extensive bit of reporting. Top marks to them too.  At the nation's daily this morning, no less than four exclusives on the front page, which is pretty much standard for The Australian, and good on them. Sometimes those exclusives can seem a bit forced tho

Saidul Islam, a senior journalist from Diphu, Assam, passed away suddenly in Sikkim on Sunday, November 30, following a cardiac arrest. Islam was the founder of the news portal Hills View Today and served as a correspondent for Gana Adhikar. He had also been associated with ETV Bharat and Assam Times Post throughout his journalism career, Northeastlivetv reported. Islam had traveled to Sikkim for a short leisure trip accompanied by several senior journalists. The group visited a waterfall and after returning to his hotel, Islam suffered a sudden cardiac arrest around 12:40 pm and was rushed to the nearest hospital by colleagues where he reportedly passed away.

  On the second death anniversary of late journalist Bablu Paswan, a statue in his memory was unveiled at his native village, Vishanpur in Bihar. The ceremony was attended by his family, friends, and well-wishers, alongside dignitaries including Obra MLA Dr Prakash Chandra and Arwal MLA Manoj Sharma. Speaking at the event, the leaders noted that Bablu had a reputation for unbiased reporting and his commitment to social causes. Beyond his professional work, Bablu was widely respected for his humanitarian spirit, having saved numerous lives as a regular voluntary blood donor, Hindustan Line reported.

  A 13-member media delegation from Hyderabad has embarked on a seven-day visit to Assam under the Media Outreach Programme organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Hyderabad. The tour, which began on Sunday, November 30, is designed to give journalists firsthand exposure to Central Government schemes, Assam’s cultural heritage, and major development projects.   The delegation was welcomed in Guwahati by Pavni Gupta, Joint Director, PIB Guwahati, with the traditional Bodo Aronai. Later, Kripa Shankar Yadav, Additional Director General, PIB North East Zone, briefed the team on the objectives of the programme.   The itinerary spans diverse sectors including textiles, waterways, industry, wildlife conservation, rural livelihoods, and culture. On Day 1, the team visited Sualkuchi, the renowned silk village, where they interacted with the North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC). Managing Director Mara Kocho explained the corporation’s

When Arunava Banerjee describes himself, he doesn’t reach for the usual journalistic labels. He doesn’t say reporter, editor, creative, or content strategist. He calls himself something far more poetic: a cartographer — someone who maps worlds, connects pathways, and charts meaning for people who may never visit those worlds themselves. It’s an unusually introspective way of seeing journalism, but in many ways, it fits him perfectly. Across a decade-long journey that has swung from the newsroom of The Statesman in Siliguri to the algorithm-heavy chaos of Republic World, from consulting and sub-editing at Aadhan Media to the hope-filled ecosystem of The Better India, Arunava has kept one compass steady: the story must matter. And the man mapping these worlds didn’t begin with a degree in journalism at all. When he walked into The Statesman’s Siliguri newsroom as a fresh graduate, he had no formal training, no plan and, by his own admission, &ldqu

Gen Z is no longer just the audience — they’re inside newsrooms, shaping scripts, influencing tone, and redefining how stories are told. Their presence is visible across workplaces, social media, and editorial spaces, where a new vocabulary, work ethic, and creative rhythm are taking root. Even national leadership has taken note. While unveiling India’s first private orbital rocket, Vikram-1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the rise of “Gen Z startups,” underscoring how youth-led innovation is accelerating across sectors. Influencing India examined how Gen Z language and behaviour are transforming newsrooms, corporate workflows, storytelling styles, and online communication. The shift is not superficial; it’s changing everything from tone and collaboration to how organisations frame their messaging. Nona Walia, Consulting Editor at The Pioneer, said Gen Z slang now appears regularly in headlines, scripts, and social content. Expressions