In villages where girls are often still discouraged from dreaming beyond marriage or traditional roles, independent journalist Neetu Singh is helping young rural women imagine a different future, one where they tell stories instead of remaining unheard within them. Through the Meera Fellowship, Singh trains women from non-journalism backgrounds to report on issues within their own communities, encouraging them to see journalism not just as a profession, but as a way to raise voices often ignored by mainstream media. The fellowship is deeply personal. Born in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur Dehat district, Singh grew up in a conservative environment where girls’ education was not always encouraged. The region was frequently associated with stories around Phoolan Devi, and many families believed that giving girls too much freedom or education could lead them “in the wrong direction.” “I was born in a family where my mother had studied only till Class 5, while my father was a teach

The Guardian’s Climate and Environment reporter Petra Stock says PRs are more likely to get her attention with a strong email than a phone call. Speaking on Influencing Insider, Stock said email is the best way to pitch her, given the pace of daily news at The Guardian. “I prefer email to phone calls. I do love chatting to people, but in my job at The Guardian, I’m churning out a story almost every day. So there’s a lot of crunch, and emails are really good,” she said. Stock said during her appearance that photos and videos also help when pitching. She added that she was also interested in positive stories that bring joy.  She’s also keeping an eye out for stories that are different from her usual reporting.  “It could be something that we haven't covered a lot, or a new stat that allows us to look at an issue that doesn't get a lot of airtime. “If something comes in that allows me to shine a light on something t

ABC managing director Hugh Marks has declared that media organisations, including the public broadcaster itself, must abandon volume-driven content models and refocus on distinctive programming. He warned that journalists and producers across the industry are buckling under pressure to fill an ever-expanding number of platforms. In an interview with Alan Kohler on the ABC's That's Business podcast, Marks (pictured above) argued the entire sector, commercial and public, confronts the same structural problem: rationalising output to match where audiences and revenue are actually shifting. He said the ABC had gone from operating two platforms to five — television, radio, digital, podcasting and social — without a matching lift in staffing. "We've got the same staff level to do it. So that has to change," Marks said. The prescription, he argued, applies to every player. "Less volume, more distinctiveness, is our future. It's the same sor

From The Australian's Monday front page Budget backlash bites Labor as polling slumps Several front pages lead with evidence the federal budget has backfired politically, with Labor’s primary vote reported at 29% after breaking tax-election promises and support bleeding to minor parties. The story matters because it sharpens leadership pressure on Anthony Albanese and reshapes the pre-election contest, with Angus Taylor edging ahead as preferred PM in the polling cited. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, The Australian. “Death tax” fight reignites over trust changes The government is facing renewed heat after the Prime Minister acknowledged testamentary (inheritance) trusts would face higher taxes under planned changes, after earlier assurances they were exempt. Beyond the political optics, it raises real stakes for estate planning and intergenerational wealth—an issue that can quickly become a defining election battleground.

Friday, 15 May 2026 #1  ·  Times City  ·  Investigative Blast Plot Explained In 7.5k Pages: NIA Files Chargesheet, Links To Explosion Near Red Fort By Staff Reporter   ·   The Times of India  ·  Page 2 The NIA has filed a chargesheet running to 7,500 pages in connection with an explosion near Red Fort, linking the accused to a blast plot spanning six states and citing 588 witness testimonies. The chargesheet names 11 individuals as accused and details alleged connections to foreign agencies, with investigators documenting property damage and a sophisticated conspiracy. The case involves a 1,200-page probe covering multiple states and a range of evidentiary material. The story draws on a voluminous primary document — the NIA chargesheet itself — to reconstruct the scope and architecture of the alleged conspiracy, giving it strong evidentiary grounding and original reporting value beyond a routine cour

Journalists and popular social media personalities courting arrest for posting objectionable content is nothing new in India -- Indian law has ample provisions. But the recent arrest of a popular social media influencer from Delhi over some controversial posts on 'X' platform on the death of a businessman and his release on bail just five hours later have once again reignited the debate on when can a social media post land you in prison. Let's do a recap of the case: Dr Neelam Singh, popularly known online as “The Skin Doctor”, was arrested by Delhi Police over alleged social media posts linked to the family of late businessman Sunjay Kapur. A dermatologist who became popular on social media through videos beyond medical content, Singh shares views on politics, social issues and current affairs. His YouTube channel describes him as “A dermatologist speaking on social issues." As reported by Bar & Bench, Singh was arrested over a post that re