The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) held its 11th plenary on March 28, attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Speaking at the event, CM Naidu emphasised the importance of a free and ethical press, calling journalism the fourth pillar of democracy. He alleged that press freedom was curtailed between 2019 and 2024, but said the current government has restored the freedom to question and urged journalists to uphold ethics and values. Highlighting challenges posed by social media, the CM urged journalists to lead the fight against fake news. He announced that accreditation has been extended to mandal‑level reporters and a dedicated Journalist Welfare Fund has been set up. CM Naidu further said that attacks on journalists would be probed by officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police, while the IJU’s request for office space in Amaravati has been referred to a sub‑committee for early action, The Hindu reported.   

In a major crackdown, the police exposed a five-member gang that allegedly posed as police officials to extort money from victims. Among those arrested is journalist Pradeep Pathak, along with a retired police officer. According to investigators, the case came to light after a 40-year-old woman approached the police with a complaint. She was allegedly lured to a tarot reading session in Aarey Colony, where she was confronted by the gang and threatened with being implicated in a sex racket. Fearing consequences, she agreed to pay Rs 2 lakh. Police said they traced the bank transactions linked to the payment and first arrested one accused, who later revealed the identities of the others involved. The other accused have been identified as Swapnali Nadekar, Kavita Yadav, retired assistant police inspector Eric Girgol Vegas and Farhan Mustafa Qadri. Police said further investigation is underway to determine if more victims were targeted by the gang, Lokmat Times reported.    

The Press Council of India has issued an advisory directing media organisations to adhere to norms governing pre-poll and exit poll coverage during the upcoming elections. In its press release, the Council reiterated compliance with Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, along with its established guidelines to ensure responsible reporting. The advisory comes ahead of Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, as well as by-elections in multiple states.  

A journalist was killed after being hit by a speeding motorcycle in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district on Thursday night, police said. The victim, Vinod Kumar from the Bangana area, was walking home around 8 pm after closing his photo studio when the accident occurred. He suffered a fatal head injury and died on the spot. According to the sources, police reached the accident spot soon after and have arrested the rider. According to SHO Rohit Chaudhary, a case has been registered, with preliminary findings pointing to overspeeding and negligence.   Image: The Tribune

The way people consume news has shifted rapidly from newspapers and television to smartphones. Today, updates are often just a glance away, shaped by what users read, watch, and engage with. News apps have played a central role in this change. They allow users to follow specific topics such as politics, entertainment, local news, or global events, and over time, suggest stories based on reading habits. This makes news consumption faster and more convenient, with real-time notifications delivering updates instantly. The rise of smartphones has reinforced this shift. Many users now check news during travel, work breaks, or before bed, making mobile devices the primary source of information. At the same time, storytelling formats have evolved, with short videos, podcasts, and visual content making news easier to consume. However, this convenience raises concerns. When algorithms prioritise certain topics, users may be exposed to a narrower range of viewpoints. While personalisation i

With the crucial five-state assembly elections just a few weeks away, the Press Council of India has issued a strict warning to print journalists against promoting paid news while releasing general guidelines to follow on election reporting. These include giving objective reports on elections, steering clear of communal or casteist campaigns, refraining from canvassing for a party besides observing all directions from the Election Commission of India. The PCI also warned news outlets against publishing opinion and exit polls unless notified by the Election Commission in an attempt to refrain from influencing public opinion. A key focus of the advisory was on curbing paid news. The PCI reiterated its definition of paid news as "Any news or analysis appearing in any media (print and electronic) for a price in cash or kind as consideration." It also listed the warning signs such as identical reports across publications, unverified allegations, and coverage disproportionate

Image of the Day:   Delhi targets water woes, Yamuna clean-up in summer action plan With another intense summer approaching, Delhi govt on Monday unveiled its Summer Action Plan 2026-27 to shore up water supply, tighten sewer management and accelerate the clean-up of the Yamuna, while rolling out digital tools to improve grievance redressal and transparency, writes Abhinav Rajput for The Times of India. Launching the plan at the DJB headquarters in Jhandewalan, water minister Parvesh Verma said the focus will be on maintaining peak production, plugging distribution gaps and ensuring accountability in tanker operations. “Supplying clean water and protecting the Yamuna are not just administrative tasks but a shared responsibility,” he added.  Dust, waste lapses in Delhi draw PMO warning Neha Mishra for The Times of India reported that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has flagged “serious lapses” in Delhi’s dust mitigation measures an