An open drain can trouble a neighbourhood for years and attract little coverage. A video of someone falling into one can draw thousands of views. According to journalists who spoke to Influencing, that gap is shaping editorial decisions in Tamil Nadu. They described pressure from mobile-first audiences and real-time traffic data that favours crime, cinema and controversy. Public-interest and policy reporting gets fewer resources and fewer follow-ups. Praveen Kumar, senior correspondent at Pudhiya Thalaimurai, traces the pressure to a change in how people consume news. "I think the biggest change in news consumption is the shift from television and newspapers to mobile platforms. Even when a television is running in a household, people are often consuming news individually through their phones. Reels, digital cards and short-form videos have become important ways of consuming information, and this has increased the pressure on newsrooms to compete for attention and generate pa

Friday, 9 October 2026 #1  ·  Times Nation  ·  Investigative / In-depth feature Cancer drug prices may fall as govt plans 30% trade margin cap By Rupali Mukherjee   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page Page 21 (continued on Page 15) The government has decided to cap trade margins at 30% of MRP for all cancer drugs — scheduled, non-scheduled, branded, generic, domestic and patented. The move, affecting a market valued at approximately Rs 12,500 crore covering 225 drugs and 500 formulations, could slash MRPs by 20-70% and generate annual savings of Rs 2,500 crore. An NPPA analysis cited in the report found that non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs carry an average trade mark-up of approximately 170%, with some cases reaching 700%. Mukherjee obtained minutes of the NPPA meeting and exclusive official data on mark-up percentages, giving this story original documentary evidence rather than a press-release summ

Labor revolt over ATO credit card ban squeezes small business Treasurer Jim Chalmers is facing internal Labor dissent and intensifying small business backlash over the ATO’s move to stop accepting credit card payments, with MPs warning of a cash-flow “credit crunch” for operators already under pressure. The story matters because it pits cost-of-living politics against tax administration settings, and risks forcing the government into a public backdown or policy redesign. Covered by: Daily Telegraph, The Australian, Australian Financial Review, Herald Sun. $44bn Firmus IPO in freefall as investors walk away Firmus Technologies’ blockbuster float is wobbling amid evaporating demand, warnings from bankers, and growing scepticism about its valuation and business model—turning the deal into a broader test of market appetite for AI/data-centre narratives. With major partners reportedly falling away and short-sellers circling, the episode is significant for co

Decisive Publishing has launched AI Infra, a new masthead focused on the infrastructure surrounding AI data centres. Owner and publisher Grahame Lynch told Influencing that the title grew out of coverage at sister publication CommsDay, where the team "were increasingly drilling into the issues around data centres, such as power and water, and it was way too divergent from the core mission of CommsDay to serve telcos." The target audience is the ecosystem around hyperscale and AI data centres, including planning bodies, developers and energy companies, he said. Lynch explained that PR’s could pitch the title via email and phone to Lynch. “PRs should just see it as something CommsDay-adjacent”.  AI Infra will follow the same format as CommsDay, with a daily subscription email PDF and a weekly roundup, Lynch confirmed. It formally launched in that format last Monday, after running in the CommsDay newsletter for several weeks. Lynch said Decisive Pu

The newly formed Jammu Sports Journalists Association (JSJA) has assured full cooperation with government‑run sports departments to strengthen sports activities and welfare measures in Jammu and Kashmir. A delegation led by President Sanjeev Sharma met DYSS Director General Anuradha Gupta, discussing issues including the functioning of sports associations, infrastructure development, manpower engagement, and the need for workshops, seminars, and conclaves. The team, comprising Vice President Vikas Abrol, General Secretary Vishal Bharti, Treasurer Monika Jamwal, and members Arun Roshan, Ranjit Thakur, and Arun Chib, also deliberated on the Sports Governance Act and Sports Tribunal Act, stressing regular interaction between governing bodies, associations, journalists, and authorities for transparency. JSJA briefed Gupta on its roadmap, highlighting the role of sports journalism in promoting activities and raising athlete concerns.    

Journalists in Warangal staged a flash protest on Wednesday, demanding an apology from Wardhannapet MLA K.R. Nagaraju over alleged intimidation of the media by his followers. The protest followed an incident in which an effigy of an electronic media organisation was burnt after it aired a report on issues related to the MLA’s constituency. Journalists condemned the act, stressing that objections to news reports should be addressed through legal and democratic means, not intimidation. Koppula Narendar, president of the Warangal East Journalists’ Parapathi Sangham, said similar incidents had occurred four times and warned that journalists would not tolerate attempts to suppress press freedom, Telangana Today reported.  

The latest GfK radio ratings survey of 2026 has seen Smooth FM 95.3 continue to remain in the top spot in the Sydney rankings, while there were mixed results for Tapt Media's major city stations. The sixth ratings of the year covering the period of July 12 to September 19 showed Smooth FM 95.3 held a 13.2 per cent share in the harbour city, despite dropping by 0.3 per cent. Whilst in second place, Tapt Media's 2GB held 10.8 per cent of the share, down 0.4 per cent, something Nathan Jolly at Mumbrella pointed out. Nova 96.9 came in third, climbing 0.6 per cent to 8.1 per cent of the share. As noted by Kayla Olaya at SMH/The Age, the latest ratings survey was the seventh since 2GB last led. The Australian's Steve Jackson reported that within the timeslots, 2GB's Breakfast host Ben Fordham remained No.1 in the timeslot with 13.9 per cent, although his share fell 0.9 per cent. Mark Levy’s mornings dropped by 1.1 per cent to 12.2 per cent, while interestingly enou