Morning, welcome to Friday and our last edition of The Brief until next year. Let's start with The Sydney Morning Herald because in a sea of horror following the Bondi massacre, many youngsters today are celebrating their HSC results and The Sydney Morning Herald keeps tradition alive with a 48-page-liftout - 'HSC Honour Roll 2025' - which is mostly listings of all HSC results in NSW but also covers some of the unique and interesting student study, success and back stories from several of the HSC standouts. Stories by Christopher Harris, Nigel Gladstone and Emily Kowal, plus Cindy Yin. The SMH also carries a 52-page Domain so you can swoon over other people's houses, if that is your wont. Picture of Penrith HSC students by Sam Mooy.  On the other side of the ledger, heartbreaking scenes yesterday as another child was honoured, but sadly this time that was at the funeral of the youngest Bondi victim, 10-year-old Matilda. That story

  Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform WAVES has reached 80 lakh downloads in its first year since launch, according to information submitted by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan in the Lok Sabha, highlighting growing interest in digital public service content.​ According to e4m, the WAVES features programmes from Doordarshan and All India Radio, including archived national and regional shows, documentaries, classical music, literature-based content and regional arts, making them available to audiences worldwide.  WAVES has been created to help emerging creators and filmmakers reach wider audiences through a digital-first platform. It is a subscription-free service that depends largely on advertising revenue, with a focus on making public service content easily accessible.  According to Prasar Bharati, the platform is witnessing steady growth, with rising international users and expanding partnerships in globa

Prasar Bharati has drafted a Content Syndication Policy, 2025, aimed at expanding cultural outreach while monetising its content in line with its public service role. The draft has been placed on Prasar Bharati’s official website for public feedback. The policy focuses on monetising content produced by Doordarshan and Akashvani, including archived regional and national programmes, as well as live broadcasts of government events, festivals, and sports. Digital-first content on Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform has also been included. According to Best Media Info, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan shared this information in the Lok Sabha in reply to a question by MP Shri Selvaganapathi T M. The policy draft also proposes monetising commissioned, co-produced, and licensed content, and seeks collaborations with domestic and international platforms. It outlines flexible licensing options, including flat-fee, revenue-share, and minimum-guarantee mod

Meher Castelino, one of the earliest and most influential voices in Indian fashion journalism, has passed away at the age of 81. A trailblazer who helped define how fashion was reported and understood in India, she is remembered as both a chronicler and shaper of the industry. Castelino first came into the spotlight after winning Femina Miss India 1964, but it was her long career in fashion journalism that cemented her legacy. A former model who appeared in more than 2,000 shows, she brought rare insider insight to her writing. She served as Fashion Editor for publications such as Gentlemen’s Fashion Quarterly, Flair and Eve’s, and authored Fashion Musings, one of India’s early fashion books known for its sharp, witty Q&A format. Castelino was also the official fashion writer for Lakmé Fashion Week, documenting its designers, milestones and evolution, and creating an important written archive of contemporary Indian fashion. Colleagues and designers remember her for her

  The Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) marked its 86th foundation day with a celebration honouring journalists and journalism students for their outstanding work. Meritorious students from Savitribai Phule Pune University were also recognised. Ashim Patil, Managing Director and CEO of Infotek Software and Systems Pvt. Ltd. (I-Tech), was the chief guest. He spoke on “The Impact of Changing Technology on Society,” urging that technology should benefit society, not just business profits. “Business may aim for money, but that should not be its only goal. Technology must create social value,” he said, adding that innovation should be affordable, durable, and accessible to all. Patil highlighted modern tools like RFID, NFC, AI, and digital systems for making processes more efficient and transparent. He cited examples like FASTag, which saves fuel, time, and improves road safety. He also stressed that while technology is ready, public awareness and civic sense remain key

  “According to a source” and its Hindi equivalent, “sutron ke anusar,” appear so routinely in news stories that readers often skim past them. Yet behind those few words lies one of journalism’s most delicate relationships: a bond built on trust, risk, and mutual responsibility. Anonymity is sometimes misread as secrecy. In practice, it often reflects courage. Many sources choose to stay unnamed not to hide, but to ensure that the truth reaches the public without exposing themselves or their families to retaliation. Protecting that anonymity is central to ethical journalism. “For them, the truth matters more than recognition. And for us, protecting both the truth and the people behind it is indispensable,” says Swati Naik, a senior journalist with nearly twenty-three years at Zee News. She recalls how sources early in her career trusted her with information they themselves could not carry alone, shaping the rigor with which she approached every story that followed.

The Editors Guild of India has congratulated senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty on her election as President of the Press Club of India, along with the newly elected panel of office bearers. In a statement, the Guild noted that Pisharoty’s election marks a historic moment for the Press Club of India, as it is the first time in its 68-year history that a woman journalist has been elected to the top post. Describing the development as a significant breach of the glass ceiling, the Guild said it reflected a positive shift within one of the country’s most prominent journalistic institutions. The Editors Guild recalled the long role played by the Press Club of India, along with press clubs across the country, in leading efforts to defend media freedom and work towards the welfare of journalists. It said these institutions have consistently stood at the forefront of issues affecting the profession. The Guild also expressed its intent to work closely with the new team at th