Lawson Media prepares to Defrag
By Elliott Richardson in Media News on Monday, 24th January 2022 at 11:31amLawson Media founder Kristofor Lawson announced on LinkedIn that he is preparing to launch a news podcast and website called The Defrag at the end of January.
The Defrag will meet at the intersection of technology, business, science and politics with an international focus.
Speaking to Influencing, Lawson says the project will go beyond just the general headlines, and delve into a selection of the major topics of the day. Alongside the podcast, there will also be a website publishing deep dives and feature articles that will look closer at trending news.
“So the goal with The Defrag is to build a daily news podcast. It's been something we've been wanting to do for quite a while because we think that there's sort of an information gap that exists at the intersection of tech, business, ...

The Defrag will meet at the intersection of technology, business, science and politics with an international focus.
Speaking to Influencing, Lawson says the project will go beyond just the general headlines, and delve into a selection of the major topics of the day. Alongside the podcast, there will also be a website publishing deep dives and feature articles that will look closer at trending news.
“So the goal with The Defrag is to build a daily news podcast. It's been something we've been wanting to do for quite a while because we think that there's sort of an information gap that exists at the intersection of tech, business, ...
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IN PR: Ogilvy global CEO departs; Antonio Comissi's new role
By Staff writers in Media News on Friday, 03rd July 2026 at 4:26pm
Julianna Richter to step down as global CEO of Ogilvy PR
Ogilvy PR global CEO Julianna Richter will leave the agency at the end of July after leading its global PR business since 2020.
Richter announced on LinkedIn that she will depart at the end of the month.
According to an internal memo from WPP Creative CEO Jon Cook, Richter is departing to pursue an opportunity outside WPP, with a successor to be announced soon.
During her tenure, Richter repositioned Ogilvy PR around an earned-first model, integrating public relations, social and influencer marketing.
She also served as chief marketing and communications officer for WPP Open X and led efforts to unify WPP's influencer capabilities. Previously, she served at Edelman in leadership positions for more than 15 years.
Richter's departure comes amid broader leadership changes at WPP and Ogilvy as the company continues its Elevate28 transformation strategy.
Luis Antonio Comissi joins ASMOF NSW
Chennai Press Club condemns MDMK's Vaiko over alleged threats to journalist
By Staff Writer in Media News on Friday, 03rd July 2026 at 3:59pm
The Chennai Press Club has strongly condemned the conduct of MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, alleging that he spoke in a threatening manner to a journalist during a media interaction in Chengalpattu district.
According to a statement issued by the Press Club, the incident occurred on June 30, 2026, near Thiruporur, where Vaiko interacted with reporters following MDMK's recent exit from the DMK alliance. During the interaction, journalists questioned him about the party's decision.
The Press Club alleged that Vaiko reacted angrily to one journalist's question, asking, "Who are you? Which newspaper?" It further claimed that he referred to the journalist's publication as a "yellow rag," questioned who had sent the reporter, and accused the journalist of attending the event with an agenda to create trouble.
The organisation also alleged that Vaiko instructed party workers to remove the journalist by saying, "Get him out, send him outside." I
TODAY’S TEN: Delhi audits 38,000-crore discom audit, Shaheen Bagh 'daadis' mobilise voters and more
By Staff Writer in Media News on Friday, 03rd July 2026 at 3:10pm
Friday, 3 July 2026
#1 · Times City / Front Page · Breaking news
Govt orders CAG audit of power discoms over regulatory assets of ₹38,500 crore
By Staff Reporter · The Times of India, New Delhi · Page 6
The Delhi government has ordered the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct a strict and intensive audit of the three private power distribution companies — BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna, and Tata Power Delhi — over the accumulation of Rs 38,500 crore in regulatory assets that are to be recovered from consumers. The Delhi cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, recommended the audit on June 29, marking what would be the first CAG audit of the discoms since electricity distribution was privatised in 2002. The audit is expected to be completed within three months, with BSES claiming the matter is sub judice after Delhi High Court recently dismissed its petition against the move.
The
No accreditation, no welfare - Desk Journalists' Sangham flags Telangana concerns
By Meena R. Prashant in Media News on Friday, 03rd July 2026 at 2:15pm
The Desk Journalists' Sangham (DJS) has flagged concerns over Telangana's journalist accreditation policy, alleging that restrictive eligibility norms and administrative hurdles are locking a large section of working journalists out of both government welfare schemes and official coverage access.
Speaking to Influencing, DJS President Badini Upendra said the stakes are higher in Telangana than elsewhere because the state has one of India's largest journalist networks, built on a distribution model that pushes reporting down to the grassroots. Unlike states where newspapers deploy reporters mainly at the district level, Telangana's papers run extensive district editions backed by mandal-level correspondents and stringers — a structure Upendra said has created employment for thousands of journalists across urban and rural areas.
"Almost every mandal has newspaper contributors or stringers. Telangana has one of the largest networks of journalists because of the tabloid system," he
"He always stood for journalists": Colleagues recall Guruaribam Naocha Sharma's legacy of press freedom
By Meena R. Prashant in Media News on Friday, 03rd July 2026 at 12:11pm
Veteran journalist Guruaribam Naocha Sharma, widely respected in Manipur’s media fraternity, passed away on June 30 at the age of 57 after a period of ill health.
A familiar presence in both television and print journalism, Sharma worked with Sahara TV, NewsX, and ANI before joining Imphal Times in 2013, where he remained associated for more than a decade. Even as his health declined following the Covidâ19 pandemic, he continued to visit the newsroom, coordinate with reporters, and contribute actively to journalistic work.
Sharma also played a prominent role in journalists’ organisations. As General Secretary of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (2011), he was often at the forefront whenever the media fraternity faced arrests, intimidation, or other challenges. Colleagues recall his unwavering commitment to press freedom and journalists’ rights, noting that he never hesitated to lead protests.
Paying tribute, Imphal Times Editor-in-Chief Rinku Khumukcham desc
Yep, it’s been a “shitty week”
By Staff Writers in Media News on Friday, 03rd July 2026 at 7:48am
The stream of redundancies impacting media houses continued this week with numerous exits at Junkee and Pedestrian.
According to Mediaweek, Junkee’s decision to adopt a “creator-led model” meant the team had been reduced to just two. Including head of editorial Sophie Hanson.
Meanwhile, the Pedestrian team acquired by Vinyl has been halved with the 35 full-time staff to be reduced to 17, according to a Mumbrella report last month.
Yesterday, Pedestrian news writer Tom Disalvo announced the restructure had seen his role made redundant.
“I consider myself extremely lucky to have worked in that newsroom, and I'm going to miss this job with all my heart,” Disalvo wrote on LinkedIn. “I had the privilege of flexing new muscles in my journalism coverage, interviewing my celebrity idols, and writing about the kind of exceedingly silly things that first got me into this line of work.”
Disalvo also posted to his Substack his feelings on getting
Upfront: ICAC engulfs opposition, Big Build leak fallout, WA face-scan blitz
By Staff Writers in Media News on Friday, 03rd July 2026 at 6:03am
ICAC shockwave hits Liberals as Elliott urges Taylor to quit
A widening NSW ICAC public inquiry into alleged illegal donations and corruption links involving Liberal figures, councils and Catholic schools has spilled into federal politics, with former NSW police minister David Elliott calling for Opposition Leader Angus Taylor to resign over his connections to a key figure in the probe (which Taylor denies). The story matters because it threatens to destabilise the Coalition’s leadership narrative and keep integrity and political fundraising front-of-mind nationally. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph.
Big Build corruption pressure: leak probe, apology — and royal commission talk
Victoria is facing a fresh integrity crisis as police investigate an alleged CFMEU-related leak to the criminal underworld, while Premier Jacinta Allan issues an apology over Big Build issues. In parallel, Labor MPs are reportedly warming to a royal commission into Big Build corr
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