Chinese Wok has appointed Havas Creative India and Arena Media as its integrated creative, social and digital media partners. Under this mandate, the brand aims to expand beyond 260 outlets and target 500 stores across Tier 1, 2 and 3 markets, with a unified, platform-led marketing strategy. The mandate will cover creative strategy, brand campaigns, social and content development, digital performance marketing, media planning and buying, and integrated campaigns across ATL, digital and in-store platforms. Chinese Wok aims to strengthen its youth-first positioning while scaling cultural IPs such as Wok FM and Crush Hour. Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder and Director of Lenexis Foodworks, said the mandate aligns with the brand’s national growth ambitions. Marketing Head Vikas Iyer emphasised deeper Gen Z engagement and measurable impact. Anupama Ramaswamy, Managing Director and CCO of Havas Creative India, and Uday Mohan, COO of Havas Media India and Havas Play, said the foc

The Supreme Court of India has quashed the FIR registered against senior journalist Ashish Dave, former Regional Head of Zee Rajasthan, expressing strong concern over how the case was handled by the Rajasthan Police. During a hearing on February 27, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta described the case as “shocking” and said it lacked a proper legal investigation. According to e4m, the judges noted that the police should have conducted a preliminary inquiry before registering such serious charges. They said they could not find substantial material supporting the accusations and questioned whether similar urgency would have been shown if the accused had been an ordinary individual. Dave’s request for anticipatory bail had earlier been denied. The Rajasthan High Court had also refused to quash the FIR, following which he approached the Supreme Court.

The Arunachal Press Club (APC) and the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) have welcomed the state Cabinet’s approval of the draft Arunachal Pradesh Press Accreditation Rules, 2025, describing it as a progressive reform for the media fraternity. According to sources, the two bodies said the new framework would streamline and standardise the accreditation process across Arunachal Pradesh, ensuring due recognition and institutional access for bona fide journalists. They noted that the rules, drafted by the Information and Public Relations (IPR) Department after consultations and legal vetting, would bring clarity, uniformity, and accountability to accreditation procedures. The organisations added that the move reflects the government’s commitment to fostering a transparent and professional media environment, while also strengthening engagement between the press and the administration. They expressed confidence that, once notified in the official gazette

At the 57th convocation of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), vice president of India C. P. Radhakrishnan called on journalists to uphold truth and ethics, warning against the dangers of fake news and misinformation. Addressing graduating students, he stressed that journalism must prioritise accuracy, fairness, and accountability over ratings, especially in an era shaped by digital platforms and AI. He positioned journalists as key opinion makers in India’s Viksit Bharat journey, urging them to shape public discourse through fearless and truthful reporting. The ceremony also marked the laying of the foundation stone for new academic and hostel facilities, aimed at strengthening digital labs, AI‑based learning, and data journalism. A total of 509 students received diplomas across nine PG programmes, with 35 medals awarded to toppers.  

Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   Between binge watching the unfolding of a brutal war in the Middle East flipping between CNN and Al Jazeera TV channels and reading up long form reportage on the evolving situation, when not in front of the TV through the weekend, this columnist was involved in a strange conversation with a medico couple from the US on the relevance of news. In their late 20s, the two swore they didn't care about news and never bothered to keep themselves posted except for weather updates and local traffic closures. The reason: every platform or channel gives its own version of news and busy professionals have no time for such bullshit. Typically, breaking of a war or unfolding of any human crisis is usually the time when news viewership or readership is at its highest point as people are glued to their television sets eager to find out the latest developments. But with so many different channels offering diverse versions of the same news, the casualty is n

From overcrowded political rallies and festival processions to disaster zones and late-night breaking news scenes, journalists and cameramen routinely work in environments where personal safety is far from guaranteed. Yet when emergencies strike within the profession itself, structured support systems are often limited. Addressing that gap, the TV Journalists Association (TVJA) has introduced a dedicated ambulance facility for its members and their families, a move aimed at institutionalising emergency medical support for media professionals. As part of the initiative, TVJA has received two ambulances from the charitable RBG Foundation. These vehicles will be available during medical emergencies for journalists, cameramen, and their family members associated with the organisation. Recognising the occupational risks journalists face, particularly during crowded festivals, large political rallies, public processions and other high-pressure assignments, TVJA has also decided to keep

Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their podcast Two Blokes Talking Tech. Long told Influencing that 15 years was a “bloody long time”. “We're pretty proud to have made it 15 years. We've got a personal uncontracted commitment, we're gonna get to 20,” he said. “Really, for us, it's about acknowledging the hard work that goes into it and the loyalty of our listeners. We spoke to a listener today, on the EV show, and mentioned he'd been listening to us since episode two.”  Remarkably nothing has really changed in the 15 years of Two Blokes Talking Tech except for the duration of the podcast, Long added.  Early Days and Celebrations  The idea for Two Blokes Talking Tech came when the pair met whilst recording a MediaWeek podcast.  “One time, we were waiting outside the studio finishing up, and having a chat. And I said, you know what, we could do this ourselves.” The precise date of the podcast’s first episode was Februar