Image designed by Dinesh Raj M   Last week, Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj completed 1000 days in prison under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967. An X post from the Journalist Federation of Kashmir which continues to voice out for him called his detention "unjust" and reiterated their demand for his immediate release. The association also highlighted how it is a reflection of the larger state of press freedom and civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir. Irfan Mehraj from Srinagar is not just any local journalist. His works have appeared in prestigious publications like Deutsche Welle and The Caravan. He has also received the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Award in 2024 for his work on the heroin epidemic in Kashmir when he was already in jail. And, it would not be too off the mark to expand this situation across the rest of the country. Journalists across India today have the choice of towing the government's official line an

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Senior journalist and The Wire founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan has cautioned that India faces a deeper crisis than electoral malpractice — the “theft of news” in Kalaburagi. Speaking at the launch of Vartha Bharati’s Kalyana Karnataka edition, Varadarajan said that since 2014, crucial information has been withheld from citizens, undermining public discourse. He noted that while vote theft is debated, the loss of news is undeniable. Varadarajan criticised large media houses for remaining silent during critical moments, saying this has created space for independent platforms. He described Vartha Bharati as a vital voice defending democratic values and stressed that smaller media organisations are no longer isolated in their resistance. The event also marked the release of the paper’s 23rd annual special issue and a Kalyana Karnataka supplement

Indian-origin journalist Shruti Tripathi Chopra has been honoured with the prestigious Freedom of the City of London, one of the world’s oldest ceremonial awards, dating back to the 1200s. The recognition was given for her contribution to financial journalism and her efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the global finance industry. According to The Times of India, the award has previously been conferred on prominent global leaders, including India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and British statesman Winston Churchill. The ceremony took place at the Guildhall in London, with Chopra’s family in attendance. Chopra is the Editor-in-Chief of Financial News and Private Equity News, two London-based Dow Jones publications. Since joining Dow Jones in January 2019, she has become the youngest editor to lead the publications and the first woman and person of colour to do so in nearly 30 years. She has led several initiatives to highlight diversity

  Image source: JFK, Twitter In a statement on its official X handle, the federation said Mehraj’s continued detention shows how the legal process has itself become a form of punishment. Arrested on March 20, 2023, Mehraj is currently lodged in a Delhi jail. JFK said his prolonged detention amounts to punishment through process and reflects a troubling erosion of press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir. Mehraj, founding editor of Wande Magazine and former senior editor at TwoCircles.net, has reported extensively on social justice, human rights and public health. He won the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Award (2024) for his work on Kashmir’s heroin epidemic. The federation warned that treating journalism as a crime sends a chilling message to reporters and undermines democratic values. It also expressed solidarity with Mehraj’s family and highlighted broader concerns over raids, summons and device seizures targeting journalists, citing the recent case of The Wi

In an effort to strengthen public broadcasting, the Union government is modernising Prasar Bharati through a Rs.2,539.61 crore investment under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme. The Centre is taking steps to strengthen Doordarshan and Akashvani as competition in broadcasting increases, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan told the Lok Sabha on December 17. Responding to a question by Parshottambhai Rupala, the minister said Prasar Bharati is being modernised under the BIND Scheme (2021–26) with an outlay of Rs.2,539.61 crore. The scheme focuses on digitalisation, replacement of legacy systems, upgradation of studios and transmitters, expansion of coverage and adoption of new technologies. To improve content, a simplified Content Sourcing Policy was introduced in 2024 to speed up programme acquisition and allow wider participation. New programmes are being launched regularly, with Regional and State Centres engagin

With an aim to curb the spread of fake news related to the Government of India, the government has asked citizens to report any suspected misinformation directly through WhatsApp. People can flag suspected fake news to the Fact Check Unit (FCU) of the Press Information Bureau by sending it to the dedicated WhatsApp number +91 87997 11259. Complaints and fact-check requests can also be shared through email and the PIB Fact Check website. The Fact Check Unit, which operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was set up in November 2019 to counter fake news and misinformation related to the Government of India. The unit monitors online content and also acts on complaints received from the public. According to the government, the FCU conducts fact checks either on its own or based on information received through WhatsApp and its website. After verifying the authenticity of the content from authorised sources, the unit creates awareness material and shares verified inf