For journalists, work rarely follows a fixed schedule. Deadlines stretch into late nights, breaking news interrupts personal plans, and the line between work and downtime often disappears. The challenge is not only physical, but emotional too. Stories do not always end when they are filed. Difficult interviews, distressing events, and constant exposure to public crises can quietly follow journalists home, making balance less about perfection and more about constant adjustment. Over time, many develop personal systems to cope — routines, boundaries, planning, and small moments of disconnection that help them manage both work pressure and personal well-being. Lifestyle journalist Saumya Rastogi says working across newsroom and freelance structures taught her discipline and adaptability. She structures her day into focused blocks for writing, research, meetings, and administrative work, while maintaining trackers for deadlines and story ideas. According to her, newsroom sche

Influencing is pleased to be named Principal Partner of Communications & Public Relations Australia’s 2026 conference at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday, 18th November 2026. This year’s theme is “Reimagine, Redefine, Refocus: Leading a future of trusted communication”. The conference aims to connect a range of different practitioners across different sectors from the communications and public relations industry. Speakers currently include Former Snap Inc’s Director of Communications, APAC, Natasha Brack and current Head of ANZ Public Policy Ben Au. Hannah Wong, formerly of OpenAI, Ogilvy PR ANZ’s Richard Brett and CPRA & Phillips Group’s Helen Hutchings. CPRA CEO Louise Harland-Cox said of the partnership, “Influencing is exactly the kind of partner we want alongside us at the conference. “The way they’re building tools for communicators and journalists to work better together speaks directly to what we're explor

ISIS-linked women arrested on return, facing historic ‘crimes against humanity’ charges Multiple papers lead with the arrests of Islamic State-linked women arriving back in Australia, with prosecutors foreshadowing terrorism offences and potential slavery/crimes-against-humanity charges linked to alleged Yazidi enslavement. The story lands at the intersection of national security, border policy and justice, and is likely to ignite political debate over repatriation decisions and how Australia prosecutes alleged atrocities committed overseas. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Advertiser. Labor moves to reserve east-coast gas for locals as industry demands lower prices The Albanese government is preparing to intervene in the gas market by reserving a slice of LNG exports for domestic buyers, with manufacturers backing the intent but analysts warning price relief may be slow. Politically, it’s a high-stakes cost-of-living

The ‘Press Di Azaadi Bahal Karo Sangharsh Committee’ organised a massive protest by forming a human chain outside the SSP office in Bathinda on May 5, against the continuous attacks on journalists by both the Central and State governments. On the occasion, a large number of journalists and leaders from various organisations gathered to raise their voice against what they termed the government’s suppressive attitude towards the press, vowing to protect press freedom. The committee strongly condemned the actions of SSP Jyoti Yadav regarding the shutdown of journalist Maninderjit Singh Sidhu’s social media page. They alleged that the police administration specifically targeted and blocked Sidhu’s page due to his coverage of the Jeond village issue in Bathinda. It was also noted that SSP Jyoti Yadav’s husband, Harjot Singh Bains, serves as the Minister for Information and Public Relations in Punjab. Speakers demanded the immediate restoration of journalists’ Facebook pag

Power Retail, the Melbourne-based masthead for online retail professionals, has been acquired by events and media company Retail Global. Retail Global has signed an agreement that will see it acquire both the brand and company assets of Power Retail.  Retail Global Managing Director Dylan DiPierdomenico told Influencing, “We’re incredibly excited about bringing Power Retail into the Retail Global ecosystem. Power Retail has played an important role in the Australian retail and eCommerce industry for many years through its media, events and community presence, and we saw a strong opportunity to continue building on that foundation.” ASIC records show Power Retail Pty Ltd was placed into liquidation on 30 March 2026, with Adam Cormack and Frank Lo Pilato of RSM Australia appointed as liquidators. Wexted Advisors was appointed as receivers and managers of Power Retail and sister company Click Frenzy, as Influencing previously reported last month.  Click

Image Matrix Tech has unveiled a redesigned website, with founder and editor Djuro Sen shifting away from a dense news layout in favour of a more visual, feature-led design. “In the end, I decided, this is not me because I'm a visual guy. Instead, I needed the feature stories to have more prominence and to stick out,” he told Influencing. Sen explained that items that are a few days old can still reappear later on the site with the redesign.  “When it cycles through down a few layers, it’ll pop up again as a nice stand-out”. So far, the response to the website redesign has been positive, according to Sen.  Image Matrix Tech has shed its former skin of blue and silver for a new orange, black, and white colour scheme.  Sen explained that with his production background and plans for merchandise, black made sense. As did orange, as it “popped.” The two colours also have personal significance for Sen.  “My family grew up in the Toomelah Mission [in Northern NSW]