Journalism is expected to hold power accountable, amplify neglected voices and defend democratic institutions. But it must also attract audiences, generate advertising revenue and remain commercially viable. For Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor of Times Now, navigating that contradiction is one of the defining challenges facing India's news industry. Speaking at PRAXIS India in Kochi on *Journalism as a Force for Good*, Jacob argued that despite declining trust, misinformation and mounting commercial pressures, journalism remains indispensable to democracy. Its relevance, he said, will depend on how effectively news organisations hold institutions accountable, adapt to changing audiences and use artificial intelligence without sacrificing human reporting. Jacob, who has spent more than two decades in broadcast journalism, described the media's position as the fourth pillar of democracy as both a responsibility and a commercial challenge. “The media is a public se

Women journalists’ safety, professional independence and the freedom to question those in power were among the key issues raised at a two-day National Conference of Women Journalists in Hyderabad on 24 and 25 October, with speakers calling for stronger institutional support and equal opportunities in newsrooms. Danasari Anasuya, popularly known as Seethakka, Telangana Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and Women and Child Welfare, raised concerns over reports of assaults and sexual harassment of women during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She also called for an impartial examination of subsequent developments, including cases filed against women journalists who raised complaints. “Why should a woman journalist face intimidation, retaliation, character assassination or misuse of the law for doing her job? A woman holding a microphone is not an enemy, and a journalist asking uncomfortable questions is not a threat,” she sai

The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has asked the Supreme Court to strike down provisions of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) law. It argues that because the law has no exemption for journalism, reporters could be forced to seek consent from the people they investigate, remove published reports and expose confidential sources, Reuters reported. The association represents 21 publishers, including Network18, NDTV, The Indian Express and Times Internet. It filed a 698-page petition on October 6, and the matter was listed for hearing on October 27. Most of the obligations it contests take effect on May 13, 2027.  Three provisions at the centre Consent. The law requires organisations to obtain consent before processing personal data. The publishers argue that asking the subject of an investigation for permission could alert them to the reporting, giving them a chance to destroy evidence or intimidate witnesses. Withdrawal and erasure. The petition

Tuesday, 27 October 2026 #1  ·  Times City / Delhi Times  ·  In-depth feature New Pollution Source Study To Use AI, Satellite Data To Map Emissions, Assess Scenarios Up To 2040 By Priyangi Agarwal   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page Page 4 A comprehensive new emission inventory and source apportionment study for Delhi and 27 NCR districts is underway, using a 500m×500m grid, AI-based satellite mapping, and ground verification teams. Led by a consortium of ARAI-Pune, IIT-Delhi, TERI and IITM-Pune and funded by CPCB, the study will cover the full calendar year 2026 and provide pollution scenario assessments for 2030, 2035 and 2040. It is the first such study in nearly a decade, designed to capture how banning coal, shifting industries to cleaner fuels, and changing vehicle technology have altered Delhi-NCR's pollution mix. The reporter secured detailed technical briefings from CAQM's SD Attr

Energy warning: Victoria faces gas shortfalls and blackout risk A leaked Victorian government briefing warns the state could face critical gas shortages within three years, with higher power bills and increased blackout risk unless around $65bn is spent on new energy infrastructure. It lands as a major election issue, sharpening the debate over reliability, transition costs and who pays for the next phase of the grid. Covered by: Herald Sun, Australian Financial Review, The West Australian. Parliament reckons with political violence after Haines attack Federal politics is grappling with the aftermath of the car-ramming attack on independent MP Helen Haines, with tributes turning into a wider reckoning about rising anger, threats and the coarsening of public debate. Several papers note the tension between calls for civility and the reality that partisan combat and media blame-games continue. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, Australian Financial Review, The

Information Age managing editor Roulla Yiacoumi says any PR pitch with “AI” in the header will be rejected by her team’s shared inbox, given the sheer volume of AI stories out there. Yiacoumi made the comment on the “Business of Tech” panel at Influencing Live’s Innovation stream last Tuesday. She said she receives close to 100 guest-article pitches a month, 95 per cent of them focused on AI. “Of those 90 to 100 pitches I receive every month, I publish maybe one,” she said. “But if it's a topic that's interesting, and that appeals to technology professionals, and how they do their job, then it is definitely something that will go straight to the top of the list.”  ARN and Reseller News editor Julia Talevski and CRN Australia editor Athina Mallis also appeared on the panel and said email was the best way to pitch them. Mallis said she was happy for PR practitioners to go off on a tangent on channel stories, a