The inaugural VOICE Fellowship for journalists commenced at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, on Tuesday. The five‑day residential programme, held from December 16 to 20 under the institute’s CARE Project, focuses on climate, environment and public‑health communication. The opening day featured a science exhibition and a panel discussion with Saurja DasGupta (University of Notre Dame), Argha Manna (IIT Gandhinagar), Shalini Sharma (IISER Pune) and journalist Nidhi Jamwal. Speakers stressed the growing need for accessible science communication and inclusive storytelling that reflects ground realities, especially in climate and environmental reporting. IISER Pune Director Sunil S. Bhagwat said the fellowship supports the institute’s goal of strengthening informed public discourse. The first cohort includes over 40 grassroots journalists and storytellers from across India. The programme will continue with sessions led by experts inclu

The Bhojpur district unit of the Web Journalists Association of India (WJAI) was formally constituted at a meeting held in Ara, with Azad Kumar Bharti elected president and O.P. Pandey appointed secretary through a unanimous and democratic process. The meeting, focused on strengthening the organisation and safeguarding the interests of digital and web journalists. It was chaired by Bihar in-charge Madhup Mani Pinku, while the election process was conducted under the supervision of National Joint Secretary Mithilesh Mishra. Azad Kumar Bharti, editor of Sanmarg and ATN News Channel, was unanimously elected president of the Bhojpur unit. O.P. Pandey, senior content editor at Patna Now and Bhojpur bureau member of Sahara Samay Digital, was unanimously chosen as secretary. Addressing the gathering, Pinku highlighted the need for journalists to remain united in the digital era to protect their rights and ensure fearless and unbiased reporting. Mishra said WJAI continues to work for the

Image source: Indiaweekly, The Indian Express and WION; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   The alleged 50-year-old terror suspect, Sajid Akram, who was gunned down by Australian police after Sunday’s bloodbath on Sydney’s Bondi beach in which 15 people were killed, has been identified as an Indian passport holder who moved Down Under in Nov 1998 and had limited contact with his family since. Fifteen people were killed in the mass shooting that occurred during Hannukah celebrations at the beach in which three Indian students were also injured. Hot off the Press Australian police said the father and son travelled to the Philippines last month. The Philippines Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Sajid travelled on an Indian passport, while Naveed used an Australian one. Once the shooters’ link to India emerged, the Telangana police shared details of the Akram family. According to the police, Sajid has a B.Com degree and migrated to Australia in November 1998 in search

Some 350 CSIRO research redundancies have been announced and that’s the largest cull of permanent researchers at one go at the national science agency. When first announced, the news was widely reported, with Joseph Brookes at InnovationAus among the first to report noting the largest cull statistic, while major mastheads including The Guardian, ABC, and The Sydney Morning Herald all extensively covering the story.  Since then, science communicators have shared their thoughts on social media, expressing their unhappiness at the job cuts.  Freelance science journalist, Bianca Nogrady, wrote on LinkedIn, “At this rate, there will be nothing left of Australia's national science agency for the next conservative government to gut. Smart country indeed.” Science Journalists Association of Australia President Jackson Ryan also wrote in the wake of the redundancies. “The tragic job cuts at CSIRO reveal the deep chasms in Australia's science landscape,” he said.  “I mou

The festive period is upon us, so welcome once again to our guide to the titles across the IT journo landscape, revealing who’s open, who’s closed and all the rest. Journos reading this, please drop your masthead’s Summer Shutdown periods and Influencing will update this story accordingly.  Publications:  EFTM: Managing Editor Trevor Long said, “EFTM never rests,” suggesting it will write through the break.  InnovationAus: Associate Editor Justin Hendry said the publication will finish up on Friday, December 19 and return on Monday, January 6.  techpartner.news: nextmedia Publishing Director’s Velvet-Belle Templeman said they finish up today, Wednesday, December 17, and return on Wednesday, January 8.  iTnews: Templeman also said iTnews will be running a skeleton crew through the festive period.  CyberDaily: Deputy Editor David Hollingworth said CyberDaily will still be producing material for each non-public ho

Morning and welcome to Wednesday.  They say there are several stages of grief and that's playing out in real time in our dailies following the Bondi massacre, with recriminations starting to flow, both from some of the bereaved and also from writers and even ex-Prime Minister John Howard who at age 86 has come out swinging, saying Anthony Albanese needs to do more.  Let's start with The Sydney Morning Herald which has an excellent picture by Jessica Hromas taken in Bondi yesterday of heavily armed police and their kitted-out vehicles which the SMH uses big on the front page and leads to an analysis piece by chief reporter Jordan Baker - she takes over the Herald's editor's chair next year. The question in a piece which straddles pages 4 and 5 is, as the headline says, 'Where was the back-up in Bondi?' It's a very balanced story, with quotes from senior officers pointing out, for example, that general duties police - the ones first on th