Veteran journalist Mathew A. Thomas (60), former bureau chief of The New Indian Express (TNIE), Thiruvananthapuram, passed away on Friday night. He began his journalism career with Malayala Manorama and joined The New Indian Express in 2000, where he went on to serve as bureau chief in the state capital. According to Kaumudi Online, Mathew returned alone to his residence in Punalur, Kollam district, on Friday night. On Saturday morning, when he did not respond to repeated phone calls from his wife, neighbours checked on him and found him unresponsive, seated on a chair in the hall. He is believed to have suffered a heart attack. Following the inquest, the body was shifted to Punalur Taluk Hospital. Funeral details will be announced later. He is survived by his wife, Joby Mathew.

Around 50 journalists, under the banner of the Telangana Union of Working Journalists (TUWJ), staged a protest on December 27 in front of the Hyderabad Collector’s Office at Lakdikapul, demanding the revocation of G.O. Ms. No. 252 related to media accreditation rules. The protesters were detained by police and later released from Musheerabad police station, Telangana Today reported. Journalists criticised the revised rules as flawed and divisive, arguing they restrict professional access and create hierarchies within the media fraternity. Key features of G.O. 252: Streamlines accreditation, formally recognises digital media, and introduces stricter eligibility criteria. Field reporters to receive accreditation cards; desk journalists to be issued media cards limited to welfare benefits, not official access. Digital outlets must show 500,000 monthly visitors over six months; capped at 10 cards statewide. Print media must have 2,000 daily circulation and registr

  The Gauhati Press Club organised its first‑ever women journalists’ conclave, “Let’s Talk”, on December 26, supported by Assamese magazine Nandini. The day‑long event drew around 200 journalists from across Assam. The inaugural session featured Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, newly elected President of the Press Club of India, as chief guest, alongside Smitakshi B. Goswami, CMD of Pratidin Time, and senior journalist Maini Mahanta. Pisharoty underscored the centrality of press freedom in democracy, warning that journalism risks losing its core purpose without the freedom to question those in power. She also raised concerns over the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP), cautioning that certain provisions could curtail journalists’ rights and restrict access to information. She announced that the Press Club of India will work closely with press clubs nationwide, including Gauhati, to oppose measures threatening journalistic freedom. The conclave featured t

  Image Credit: Rupesh Mishra X handle Madhya Pradesh chief minister Dr Mohan Yadav has ordered an inquiry into the alleged assault on two journalists by local police in Ashta, a communally sensitive town in Sehore district, The New Indian Express reported. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when Zee News senior editor Pramod Sharma and video journalist Rajat were covering protests following recent clashes between Karni Sena activists and members of the Muslim community. The journalists alleged that police officers, led by local station in‑charge Girish Dube, assaulted them, damaged their camera, and detained them at the station. They claimed their equipment was returned two hours later with all recorded visuals deleted. Sharma, who sustained multiple injuries, is currently receiving treatment at Chirayu Hospital, Bhopal. Taking cognisance, CM Yadav — who also holds the home affairs portfolio — directed State DGP Kailash Makwana to assign a senior officer to

The Web Media Sammelan and 7th Foundation Day of the Web Journalists Association of India (WJAI) was held in Bhagalpur on December 27.  The event was inaugurated by former Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Prof. Dr. Sanjay Dwivedi, News 18 Group Editor Brajesh Kumar Singh, Amar Ujala Bihar Head Kumar Jitendra Jyoti, and other media experts by lighting the lamp. Speaking during the event, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that web media is a strong pillar of democracy, where speed must be balanced with credibility, accuracy, and responsibility. Technical sessions guided journalists on reliable content, Google evaluation, and digital tools. News 18 and Punjab Kesari experts shared insights on news selection and digital tools. As per Amar Ujala, guests were honored by WJAI President Anand Kaushal and General Secretary Dr. Amit Ranjan. Political figures such as Murari Paswan and Rohit Pandey were present. An open session featured journalists discussing security, reco

India witnessed a sharp deterioration in free speech protections in 2025, with journalists among the most targeted groups, according to the Free Speech Collective (FSC) Report, December 2025. The year began with the disappearance and killing of freelance journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in Bastar, setting the tone for a year marked by intimidation, censorship and violence. The FSC documented 14,875 free speech violations, including: - 9 killings (8 journalists and 1 social media influencer) - 117 arrests, including 8 journalists - 11,385 cases of censorship - 208 instances of lawfare (criminal cases filed against individuals) - 3,070 cases of internet control, such as shutdowns, app bans and blocking orders Digital censorship was a major concern, with government requests to withhold thousands of accounts on X. Between January and June 2025, X reported 29,118 removal requests, complying with 26,641. Journalists faced 40 physical attacks, 33 of them targeting reporters in rural ar

Image source: Internet Freedom Foundation, FSC and The Indian Express; Edited by Dinesh Raj M     Indian journalism in 2025 is not operating under a formal ban. Headlines still appear, panels still debate, bylines still move, and that is precisely why the crisis is harder to confront. What the Free Speech Collective’s 2025 report lays bare is not the death of journalism, but its conditioning. It documents something far more effective: a system where speech is allowed in theory, but constrained in practice through procedures, portals, permissions, takedowns, and “friendly calls”  With 14,875 recorded violations, the headline isn’t violence alone, though nine killings, mostly of journalists, should shock any democracy. But the deeper story sits inside newsrooms, not police stations. The report shows that censorship now overwhelmingly outnumbers violence. Over 11,000 instances involved content takedowns, account blocking, institutional regulat