After attending last month’s Queensland Games Festival, Qualbert Founder and Editor, Dr Ben Schuster, said  fishing game Cast n Chill is the one to watch.  Schuster told Influencing, “I was excited about Cast n Chill – a cosy fishing game with stunning pixel art, some of the best I've ever seen, made by a developer in Brisbane and another in Melbourne. They also recruited pixel artists from Canada, who have brought the Canadian landscape to life in the game.  “It's been extremely popular and was released a couple of weeks ago. “I played through the entire game, and another update is scheduled to drop later this year. It's fantastic to see a local game receive international recognition. I’m keen to see more of Cast n Chill in the future and am stoked for the developers.” But Schuster’s favourite game from the festival was Broadside Games’ Chunk, an action-adventure game.  This was the 11th year of the festival and the third under this new title. Held on June

Image source: Newslaundry, ET and Internet Freedom; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   The Karnataka Mis-Information and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, a sweeping legislation empowering a committee of lawmakers to identify and label content on social media as "fake news" -- a first of its kind state legislation -- appears to be an exercise in curbing free speech in the garb of eradicating fake news. For instance, according to the proposed law, fake news includes content that is “anti-feminism” and “disrespect of Sanatan symbols” and any social media users, if found guilty by the concerned “Authority” for posting fake news on the social media platform shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend up to seven years and fine which may extend up to Rs 10 lakh or with both. That “Authority,” under Section 5 of the Bill, includes the Minister for Kannada and Culture Information and Broadcasting as the ex-officio Chairperson; one member each from the Legislativ

Travel journalism is undergoing a sharp transformation as social media rewires how people explore the world. The rise of influencers, reels and short-form content has reshaped the traditional role of the travel reporter, once grounded in immersive, narrative-led storytelling. Speaking to Influencing India, Aakanksha Rapolu, Feature Writer at 11 Eleven Media, said: “The decline of print media and the rise of social media have reshaped travel journalism. Today, access to the internet is easier than ever, and people prefer fast, visual content over long-form articles.” She added that editors now expect journalists to match influencer speed and reach. “Influencers reach wider audiences faster, often without limitations. They earn more, enjoy creative freedom, and don’t have to stick to editorial guidelines.”  Rapolu believes that deeply researched travel writing is increasingly rare. “In the last five years, influencers have largely replaced travel journalists, moving from

Ideabaaz – Bharat Ka Apna Startup Manch – has teamed up with YAAP Digital as its Integrated Marketing Partner. The platform, co-founded by media entrepreneur Jeet Wagh, gives entrepreneurs from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities a chance to pitch their ideas in any Indian language, without barriers.  YAAP will lead Ideabaaz’s digital strategy, storytelling, and offline marketing to make it a national movement.  Dr. Atul Hegde of YAAP said, “Ideabaaz is a rare and meaningful project, we’re excited to bring it to life.”  Jeet Wagh added, “With YAAP, we hope to inspire dreamers across India. This is about building something iconic.”  Supported by IITM Global, Wizcraft, House of Cheer, Turbostart, and Kuberans, Ideabaaz aims to be more than just a pitch platform, it’s a celebration of real founders and real stories from the heart of India. 

After over 35 years experience in the media industry as both journalist and PR professional, Djuro Sen has seen it all and knows what’s a good PR pitch.  “Do your homework on the journalist,” Sen told Influencing Insider.  “I appreciate the time, work, and pressure a PR person has to deal with expectations and get coverage for a product. “But what it takes to be a good PR person is a lot of work, and understanding what journalists need. You can’t waste a journalist’s time with expectations of coverage.” Sen provided the insights on Insider last Thursday.  “The first thing is ‘show me the product,’ whether it's a picture or a quick video of something you will be selling, and target it towards what my specialities are, which have increased since [Phil Tann, Senior Journalist] joined. “However, that doesn't stop you from saying, ‘Hey, we've got this. What do you think?’ So that’s the way, because while you should gear your approach to a particu

An innovative and very handy guide on how to set up your own independent, community-focused news outlet has been launched by the Local & Independcent News Association (LINA). The organisation, which counts independent news producers as its core members, says the Starter Kit, “responds to the urgent needs of communities left behind by the collapse of commercial media, and reflects LINA's mission to support a thriving, sustainable ecosystem of independent newsmakers”. From finding the right audience to picking a business model, to launching the whole publication, the kit takes you from start to finish. Sections are comprehensive and really do cover everything you need to know.  Areas covered include:   Why start a newsroom? Who is the audience? Choosing a business model How to fund your newsroom Content and distribution Defining your editorial approach Responsible reporting and governance Smart content distribution Content sourcing and syndication Newsletters

          Above, top row from left: Mridula Amin, Lucas Baird, William Davis, Julian Fell. Bottom row, from left: Erin Parke, Krista Schade, Sarah Sharples. (Photos: supplied)   Seven Australian journalists have been selected to take part in the inaugural Masters & McKenzie Investigative Journalism Fellowship. The program was launched in 2025, named for multi-Walkley Award-winning investigative journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie, who were recognised in 2023 with the Walkley Honour For Media Freedom for their ongoing investigative stories about Ben Roberts-Smith across more than six years. The Fellowship is supported by the Walkley Public Fund and proudly supported by the Dennoch Fund, a sub-fund of the Australian Communities Foundation.  The seven journalists who will attend a two-day workshop in Sydney in July, featuring Chris Masters, Nick McKenzie and a host of other investigative journalism talent are, in alphabetical order: Mridula Amin, Freelance,