Morning and welcome to Thursday. The print edition of The Age has a busy front page today and an important local story - the loss after three decades of the major sporting event on Phillip Island, the MotoGP. The importance of that story ('Victoria loses grip on MotoGP') to the state and sports fans is underlined by no less than three journos writing that one - Hannah Kennelly, Roy Ward and Cameron Houston (with Danniela Wright joining for the online version).  Melbourne tabloid, News Corp's Herald Sun, gives the MotoGP decision extensive coverage too (and a great cartoon by Mark Wright) with Peter Rolfe and Shannon Deery penning the main story ('RACE LOSS PITS FOR ISLAND') complete with dramatic picture of motorcycle racing star Valentino Rossi racing on the island circuit back in 2019. And in a nice touch, the Sun got freelance motorcycle journalist Ian Royall to pen a Comment piece ('It's like Monaco without the F1'). Having

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Journalist Ruchi Tiwari reported she was assaulted by a mob while covering a protest at Delhi University’s North Campus. Tiwari claimed she was reporting on a student protest on Friday, Feb 14, 2026 when a crowd of nearly 500 people surrounded her. She said she was pushed and attacked during the protest. According to the Economic Times, the incident has triggered fresh debate on the safety of reporters in protest zones. Police have started reviewing the complaint, as the case highlights the growing dangers journalists face while reporting from crowded and tense public gatherings.

Media leaders speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 said artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping newsrooms, but journalism’s future still depends on trust, human judgment and accountability.  According to Business Standard, Bennett Coleman Group COO and Executive Director Mohit Jain said editorial judgment, verification and institutional memory are crucial. He pointed out that news impacts elections, markets and national security, which explains strict regulations around media ownership. As AI floods the world with information, he said trust will become journalism’s biggest asset.  India Today Group Vice-Chairperson and Executive Editor-in-Chief Kalli Purie warned that AI-generated content often lacks responsibility and can create false trust unless guided by humans.  Amar Ujala Managing Director Tanmay Maheshwari described AI as a tool that strengthens reporting rather than replacing journalists.  The Hindu CEO LV Navaneeth said trust c

The AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics) segment of the 14th Global Festival of Journalism & AVGC Noida 2026 was inaugurated at Marwah Studios in Noida Film City, drawing participation from media professionals, artists, students and international delegates. The opening ceremony brought together senior journalists, diplomatic representatives and public figures, reflecting the festival’s expanding global engagement. The AVGC focus underscored the sector’s growing relevance within India’s Media and Entertainment industry. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sandeep Marwah, President of Marwah Studios and Chair of the festival, emphasised that AVGC has evolved into a critical pillar of digital storytelling, employment generation and creative innovation. He noted that sustained institutional efforts and recent policy attention have strengthened India’s positioning in animation, gaming and visual content creation. Senior journalist Vimal Kumar, speak

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam, convened global policymakers, technology executives and industry leaders to discuss artificial intelligence governance, infrastructure and responsible innovation. Key participants included Sam Altman of OpenAI, Sundar Pichai of Google and Bill Gates, alongside Indian industry leaders. The summit was inaugurated by Narendra Modi and centred on themes of inclusion, regulation and cross-border collaboration in AI development. During the summit, the India Today Group launched its AI-powered news anchor, Sutra, developed in collaboration with BharatGen. India Today revealed that Sutra is designed to summarise and present complex discussions in real time, operating under an editorial framework that combines AI processing with human oversight. Nilanjan Das, Chief AI Officer at India Today Group, said, “Our goal with Sutra is to provide clarity in an increasingly fast-paced news cycle… while maintaining the editorial s

The tragic explosion and fire at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Khushkhera‑Karoli industrial area (Khairthal‑Tijara district) on February 16, 2026 claimed the lives of seven workers, many of them migrants from Bihar’s East Champaran district. Independent journalist Mahendra, known for his raw, on‑the‑ground reporting via his YouTube channel, attempted to document the aftermath — filming charred remnants, speaking to bystanders, and questioning officials about how such violations went unchecked. During this coverage, Assistant Public Relations Officer (APRO) Atar Singh confronted Mahendra, demanding to see a “PRO letter” or official authorisation. When Mahendra identified himself as a journalist, Singh dismissed him with the remark: “You are a YouTuber?” and then ordered him to leave, physically pushing him away. Clips of the incident, which went viral on X on February 18, show Singh gesturing aggressively and accusing Mahen