PR for research: six problems to avoid
By Seamus Byrne in Media News on Friday, 20th November 2020 at 10:21amRarely a month goes by without a fancy research claim or two landing in a journalist's inbox. A new product is N times better than last year's. A survey has shown what people think about X. A study has found that Y is the new Z in a very interesting slice of the market.

Drumming up some interesting research is the key to getting some mileage between product launches and executive quotables, so it makes plenty of sense that you want to generate some interesting data points to create a story opportunity. But if the pitch is aimed toward journalists who live in a specialised domain, you really want to know that the information is more than just window dressing.
Here's a few ways to be prepared for what a journalist might want if they’re interested in turning ...
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IIMCAA announces winners of 10th Alumni Awards
By Staff Writer in Media News on Wednesday, 04th March 2026 at 12:55pm
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA) announced the winners of its 10th annual awards during the 14th Connections Meet in Delhi on Sunday, recognising excellence across journalism, advertising, public relations, and public service.
Soumya Pillai (The Print) was named Journalist of the Year, while Laxmi Devi Aere (PTI) won Agriculture Reporter of the Year. Independent journalist Safeena Wani and Medha Yadav (Jist News) were honoured as Reporters of the Year in publishing and broadcast respectively.
Other winners included Mohammad Asad (News Pinch) as Producer of the Year, Saurav Kumar Borah (Amar Ason) and Alpesh Arvind Karkare (BBC News Marathi) as Indian Language Reporters of the Year in publishing and broadcast, and Tanzil Asif as Independent Journalist of the Year in digital video.
Special Jury Mentions went to Garima Singh (Zee Switch), Nantha Kishore G K (DW Tamil), and Gargy Satapathy (Sambad). The Pillar of IIMCAA Award 2026 was conferred on
Hague raises the bat for 50 years
By Will McLennan in Media News on Wednesday, 04th March 2026 at 11:48am
Creative Content’s David Hague has officially racked up 50 years in journalism.
Hague told Influencing, “It's been a long ride. [I’ve] done lots of things with lots of people.”
Technology in fact wasn’t even Hague’s gateway into journalism; it was Motorsport.
“My brothers worked for AgfaPhoto and in early 76, they released some black and white film… that particular weekend was the Rally of the West in WA, and we followed the cars around, took some shots, and got rid of the rolls of film.
“The only place that could develop it was at the WA newspapers in town. Our mate at Agfa knew the sports guys there, so we went in at 3 am and got the film developed.
“The sports editor then asked, ‘Can I buy those off you?’ I agreed, and then somebody said the journalist didn't turn up to write the story. Can you do it? So I banged out 500 words, and that was my first-ever story published. I got paid 50 bucks for it.”
He then rewrote that article three times an
Upfront: 'Nuclear on-air bust up' tops Sydney headlines
By Phil Sim in Media News on Wednesday, 04th March 2026 at 7:52am
KIIS OFF, screamed The Daily Telegraph has the media stoush between shock jocks Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson saw their $100 million contract torn up following Henderson’s resignation. Sandilands has been sent a show-cause notice.
Nathaneel Cooper who teamed with Matthew Berns to pen the Tele’s report, also wrote an editorial slamming Sandilands behaviour on the February 20 show that proved the catalyst for the split
“The needling and belittling was present throughout the show, and it is no wonder she got fed up,” Cooper wrote. “Anyone who thinks that is good content is certifiably insane… it was terrible radio, and now ARN has said it considers it a serious act of misconduct”.
The Herald also ran the story front page, courtesy of media writer Callum Jasper. Jasper’s piece paid plenty of attention to the struggles that the show has been having, noting it had “floundered” in Melbourne and &
Chinese Wok bags integrated creative, social and digital media mandate for Havas Creative India & Arena Media
By Staff Writer in Media News on Tuesday, 03rd March 2026 at 9:51pm
Chinese Wok has appointed Havas Creative India and Arena Media as its integrated creative, social and digital media partners. Under this mandate, the brand aims to expand beyond 260 outlets and target 500 stores across Tier 1, 2 and 3 markets, with a unified, platform-led marketing strategy.
The mandate will cover creative strategy, brand campaigns, social and content development, digital performance marketing, media planning and buying, and integrated campaigns across ATL, digital and in-store platforms. Chinese Wok aims to strengthen its youth-first positioning while scaling cultural IPs such as Wok FM and Crush Hour.
Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder and Director of Lenexis Foodworks, said the mandate aligns with the brand’s national growth ambitions. Marketing Head Vikas Iyer emphasised deeper Gen Z engagement and measurable impact.
Anupama Ramaswamy, Managing Director and CCO of Havas Creative India, and Uday Mohan, COO of Havas Media India and Havas Play, said the foc
Supreme Court of India dismisses FIR filed against journalist Ashish Dave
By Staff Writer in Media News on Tuesday, 03rd March 2026 at 9:47pm
The Supreme Court of India has quashed the FIR registered against senior journalist Ashish Dave, former Regional Head of Zee Rajasthan, expressing strong concern over how the case was handled by the Rajasthan Police.
During a hearing on February 27, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta described the case as “shocking” and said it lacked a proper legal investigation.
According to e4m, the judges noted that the police should have conducted a preliminary inquiry before registering such serious charges. They said they could not find substantial material supporting the accusations and questioned whether similar urgency would have been shown if the accused had been an ordinary individual.
Dave’s request for anticipatory bail had earlier been denied. The Rajasthan High Court had also refused to quash the FIR, following which he approached the Supreme Court.
Arunachal Press bodies hail accreditation rules as step towards transparency
By Staff Writer in Media News on Tuesday, 03rd March 2026 at 9:47pm
The Arunachal Press Club (APC) and the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) have welcomed the state Cabinet’s approval of the draft Arunachal Pradesh Press Accreditation Rules, 2025, describing it as a progressive reform for the media fraternity.
According to sources, the two bodies said the new framework would streamline and standardise the accreditation process across Arunachal Pradesh, ensuring due recognition and institutional access for bona fide journalists. They noted that the rules, drafted by the Information and Public Relations (IPR) Department after consultations and legal vetting, would bring clarity, uniformity, and accountability to accreditation procedures.
The organisations added that the move reflects the government’s commitment to fostering a transparent and professional media environment, while also strengthening engagement between the press and the administration. They expressed confidence that, once notified in the official gazette
IIMC urges journalists to lead Viksit Bharat journey
By Staff Writer in Media News on Tuesday, 03rd March 2026 at 6:05pm
At the 57th convocation of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), vice president of India C. P. Radhakrishnan called on journalists to uphold truth and ethics, warning against the dangers of fake news and misinformation.
Addressing graduating students, he stressed that journalism must prioritise accuracy, fairness, and accountability over ratings, especially in an era shaped by digital platforms and AI. He positioned journalists as key opinion makers in India’s Viksit Bharat journey, urging them to shape public discourse through fearless and truthful reporting.
The ceremony also marked the laying of the foundation stone for new academic and hostel facilities, aimed at strengthening digital labs, AIâbased learning, and data journalism. A total of 509 students received diplomas across nine PG programmes, with 35 medals awarded to toppers.
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