Media professionals Vani Bisht and Shailesh Chaturvedi have launched Kisan India, a video-first digital platform aimed at strengthening rural voices and bridging the gap between farmers, private stakeholders, and the government. The initiative seeks to highlight both the challenges and opportunities in Indian agriculture.  Sharing the news on LinkedIn, Vani Bisht stated that Kisan India strives to shift perceptions of agriculture from a challenge to an opportunity that can drive national prosperity.  With 17 years in media, Bisht is thrilled to embark on this venture alongside senior journalist Chaturvedi, whose 25-year career spans print, electronic, and digital news, including Amar Ujala, Hindustan, Sahara Samay, and Network18.

P Devarajan, veteran business journalist and founding team member of The Hindu Business Line, passed away at 78. He spent much of his career in Mumbai, working with Business Standard and The Financial Express. Known for his expertise across banking, steel, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and corporate affairs, he was regarded as one of India’s most well-rounded business journalists. Describing him as “a doyen of business journalism,” brand journalist Adith Charlie recalled Devarajan’s sharp editorial instincts and firm approach in the newsroom. “He was a terror in the newsroom,” Charlie wrote in a LinkedIn post, recalling his frequent reminder to reporters: “How will your reader know what you are trying to say if you yourself aren’t clear?” Former colleagues remembered his depth of knowledge and leadership. Murali Gopalan, a longtime friend and former colleague, described him as “a man of tremendous integrity and massive brilliance.” He recalled Devarajan’s

US President Donald Trump has dropped a political grenade, claiming that the Biden administration actively backed Rahul Gandhi and the Congress in India’s elections. In a now-viral statement, Trump suggested that the US was “trying to get somebody else elected” in India, setting off a storm of allegations about foreign interference. While the BJP has pounced on the claims to corner the opposition, a parallel controversy over a $21 million USAID fund--initially linked to Indian voter turnout but later clarified to be for Bangladesh--has only added to the chaos. The bigger question now: Was this a genuine attempt at influencing Indian politics, or just Trump being Trump? Hot off the Press As reported by Chidanand Rajghatta for The Times of India, Trump suggested that the Biden administration had attempted to get someone other than Modi elected in India, raising serious concerns over US interference in India’s democratic process. Adding fuel to the fire, Trump openly admitt

Change at Brisbane's 4BC as Paul Burt joins the radio station's 2025 lineup with a new show called Step Outside with Paul Burt which will replace Weekend Breakfast with Olympia Kwitowski. Kwitowski will continue to present traffic reports for the station. Burt’s new show starts in March and will be focused on all things camping, boating, fishing and outdoor adventures across Queensland. "I am looking forward to bringing local outdoors content to our listeners," Burt says. "Whatever the weather is doing, what the surf is doing, where the fish are biting, whether listeners are after gardening tips or if they want a good seafood recipe, I want to bring it all to the 4BC audience.” 4BC Content Manager Siobhain McDonnell said, “We are absolutely delighted to have Paul joining the 4BC team. Step Outside is a brilliant addition to our live and local lineup that celebrates all our city and local coastline has to offer.” Step Outside with Paul Burt will air from 6am to 8

  David Southwell is an experienced journalist who has worked and written for AAP, news.com.au, the Daily Mail and Balmain’s Village Voice local newspaper, but he didn’t start his working life as a journalist - he spent his early work years as a public servant and a teacher.  “I changed careers around 2000,” he told Influencing.  He worked as a media PR for the Department of Defence and that role got him interested in stepping to the other side and trying his hand at journalism.  In many ways that was an unusual step, usually it’s in reverse with journos going over to the better-paying world of communications and public relations.  “Well, the position [at Defence] finished up,” Southwell said. “I saw an opportunity and decided to try and move into journalism.' He did a six-month media course at UTS to learn the basics and says he probably got most out of the interaction with a seasoned journalist who came into the course to teach sub-editing skills.  'M

Freelance science journalist Felicity Nelson’s favourite story is a piece she wrote on the periodic table - not least because it turned into a fascinating investigation.  “In the middle of last year, I pitched a story to Chemistry and Engineering News about the periodic table of elements and how it’s actually incomplete. There are elements that have not been discovered and would fall on the next and eighth line of the periodic table.” “And so the feature was focused on interviewing the research groups based all over the world looking for element 119.” By the end of her research into the topic, Nelson found the results of the investigation “fascinating.”  “It was very clear that the Japanese were one step ahead on element 119, and the Americans were really focused on element 120. But what was very interesting was the impact of geopolitics as the US and Russia used to work together on the research but now don’t for various political reasons.  “It was a fas

    In a sign the sector is struggling, Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has confirmed the federal government is suspending the Commercial Broadcasting Tax (CBT) for one year for commercial radio and television. The move should save commercial broadcasters around $55 million in the next 12 months. The minister said, “Free-to-air broadcasting services keep Australians informed and entertained with high quality programs that feature local voices and stories. “The sector continues to face a challenging operating environment, which is why the Government is providing relief by suspending the Commercial Broadcasting Tax for one year.” The one-year suspension runs from 9 June 2025 to  8 June 2026. During that period there will be  a 100% rebate of the CBT liabilities of all commercial television and radio broadcasters, reducing their liabilities to zero.  Regional commercial radio broadcasters currently eligible for a partial rebate of their CBT liabilitie