Morning, welcome to Tuesday and The Australian's NSW editor Stephen Rice has a front page story around, as he puts it, an "extraordinary payment" which gets an airing today on the front page of the national broadsheet, though not an exclusive which is passing strange because The Oz like to have at least five on the front page - today there are just two and 'NINE'S HUSH-MONEY SCANDAL' is not one of them. That aside it is a cracker of a piece focussing on - says The Oz - a payment of $700,000 "to silence mistress in Roberts-Smith case after allegations against lionised journalist". That journalist is Nine's Walkley-Award-winning Nick McKenzie who writes for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age and the story revolves around ex-SAS officer Ben Roberts-Smith's unsuccessful series of court cases. The 'hush-money story has come out now because a judge lifted a suppression order on the payment agreement. Defini

In a fresh call to the fraternity, Editors Club of India invited journalists to register as members, positioning the move as a step towards strengthening independent and fearless journalism. The organisation also shared a QR code for quick enrolment, encouraging media professionals to join the collective effort.  The body framed membership not merely as enrolment, but as participation in defending truth, professional solidarity and public trust at a time when credible reporting remains under pressure. 

The Training Cell of the Press Club of India (PCI), in collaboration with Software Freedom Law Centre (Sflc), India, will organise a free Digital Security training session for journalists on February 21. Scheduled from 12 pm to 2 pm at the Press Club of India, the session will focus on securing devices and accounts, safe handling of sensitive information, secure communication with sources, and reducing risks such as online harassment and doxxing. Participants will also learn practical digital safety practices for investigative and field reporting. This programme marks the first in a series of training, up-skilling and co-learning sessions planned by PCI this year. PCI members, journalists and journalism students can enroll by scanning the QR code provided in the poster.  

In a move being seen as a significant push towards safeguarding media freedom, Indian National Congress Member of Parliament from Allahabad, Ujjwal Raman Singh, has submitted the Media Transparency (And Accountability) Bill, 2026 as a private member’s Bill in Parliament. The draft legislation, prepared by the Press Club of India (PCI), seeks to establish an independent National Media Council to ensure transparency, accountability, plurality and fairness in the media sector. The proposed law also aims to regulate ownership patterns, curb excessive market concentration and cross-ownership, and promote public-interest journalism. Thanking Singh for backing the initiative, the Press Club of India said it hopes political parties across the spectrum will come forward to support and pass the Bill. The organisation reiterated its commitment to protecting journalists’ rights and strengthening media freedom guaranteed under Article 19(1)(A) of the Constitution. According to the draft, t

National Union of Journalists (India) (NUJ-I) on Friday, February 13, demanded strict and immediate action against those responsible for shooting journalist Ramesh Singh in Bihar’s Siwan district. According to available information, Singh was seriously injured late Thursday night after unidentified bike-borne assailants opened fire on him in the Pachrukhi block while he was returning from a wedding. He was rushed to hospital, where his condition remains critical. Condemning the attack, NUJ-I president Ras Bihari expressed deep concern over the growing incidents of violence against media professionals in the state. He said repeated attacks have created widespread resentment within the media fraternity and urged Bihar’s CM-Nitish Kumar to order an immediate judicial inquiry into the incident. Ras Bihari also called for adequate compensation for the injured journalist and demanded concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of media persons working in Bihar. Reiterating

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication organised a photo exhibition-cum-seminar through its Hindi and Urdu Journalism Department under the theme “Aakriti 2026”.  The exhibition was inaugurated by the institute’s Vice-Chancellor. It showcased photographs created by students, highlighting their storytelling skills and creative perspective. The event aimed to give students practical exposure to visual journalism and multimedia reporting.  Along with the exhibition, a seminar was held to discuss the role of photography in modern journalism and the importance of ethical and impactful visual storytelling.  

Image edited by Diensh Raj M   On February 12, 2026, journalist Ramesh Singh was shot in the abdomen by unidentified bike-borne assailants in Pachrukhi block, Siwan district, while returning from a wedding. He is critical. That is the bare fact. The response followed quickly. The National Union of Journalists (India) demanded strict and immediate action. Ras Bihari, its president, condemned the “barbaric attack,” flagged “growing incidents of violence” against media persons in Bihar, and spoke of widespread resentment within the state’s media fraternity. He urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to order an immediate judicial inquiry, sought adequate compensation, demanded swift arrests and reiterated a long-standing call for a Journalist Protection Law. All of that is necessary. But none of it is new and this is where the story shifts from crime to influence. In Parliament, Indian National Congress MP from Allahabad, Ujjwal Raman Singh, has introdu