Science journalists band together at SJAA
By Elliott Richardson in Media News on Friday, 07th February 2020 at 8:00amThough scientific journalism has been under threat in recent times due to cutbacks in media budgets, important scientific issues like climate change and anti-vax campaigns have reaffirmed the significance of science journalism, and brought about the birth of the Science Journalists Association of Australia.
The association grew out of a Facebook group established five years ago by ABC science editor Darren Osborne and Nature editor Steven Pincock said interim SJAA president, Bianca Nogrady.
“A group of us (science journalists) had been tossing around the idea for a while of setting up an organisation for science journalists in Australia. For a long time, science journalism had been on the back-foot in Australia; there were very few in-house science journalist jobs in the ma...
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Isabella Higgins takes over as presenter of ABC's AM
By Tony Bosworth in Media News on Tuesday, 20th January 2026 at 8:45am
Isabella Higgins has been named as the new presenter of ABC audio current affairs flagship AM, with listeners hearing the news this morning.
The senior journalist and proud Torres Strait Islander woman joined the ABC in 2014 and has worked as a metropolitan and regional news reporter, as National Indigenous Affairs Correspondent, Europe Correspondent and National Social Affairs Reporter. She was also a senior reporter on the Voice referendum.
Each morning AM sets the day’s agenda with the latest stories and developments and interviews with political leaders and other newsmakers.
Higgins takes over at the program from Sabra Lane, who announced in December she was leaving the role after nine years.
Higgins said: "It's an absolute privilege to take on this role at AM, a program with such a stron
Hannah Moore appointed new editor of NewsWire
By Tony Bosworth in Media News on Tuesday, 20th January 2026 at 8:25am
News Corp has today announced the appointment of Hannah Moore as Editor of NewsWire, News’ breaking news service.
Moore, who joined NewsWire in 2020 and has been the Deputy Editor since 2024, quickly advanced from being a reporter and chief of staff to her new role. She also completed a successful stint as Acting Editor at NewsWire and spent a year at news.com.au as News Editor.
“The NewsWire prides itself on delivering fast, factual journalism, and over the past 18 months has enjoyed a strong period of growth in terms of clients and traffic performance,” Editor-in-Chief of Free News and Lifestyle Mastheads, Mick Carroll, said, adding, “Hannah will continue to steer the NewsWire onto greater success.”
The NewsWire was established in 2020 to provide the company’s internal mastheads and external clients with coverage of some of the nation’s biggest news events, including breaking news, politics, courts, and spo
THE BRIEF: Catch of the day
By Tony Bosworth in Media News on Tuesday, 20th January 2026 at 6:02am
Welcome to Tuesday and there's something fishy going on at the Sydney Morning Herald. C'mon, that's no worse a pun than the paper's front page headline this morning. But let's cut the SMH some slack - yesterday, eventually (over a year behind schedule) the new Sydney Fish Market opened its doors and the response was terrific as punters flooded in and crustaceans probably trembled in trepidation. The story gets two full pages inside the Herald with more pictures (by Wolter Peeters, Kate Gerraghty and Dominic Lorrimer) and plenty of words from Megan Gorrey, David Barwell, Cindy Yin, Bianca Hrovat, and the appropriately-surnamed Aidan Elwig Pollack.
Now, on to other news and the continuing saga of the on-again-off-again hate speech laws continues to get plenty of coverage, most notably at The Australian this morning where most of the front page is devoted to the rolling story and the main piece by Elizabeth Pike, Richard Ferguson
BJP Punjab urges Governor to protect media freedom and improve law and order
By Staff Writer in Media News on Monday, 19th January 2026 at 10:20pm
The BJP Punjab has written to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, raising concerns over media freedom and law and order in the state. In a January 17, 2026 letter, BJP state president Sunil Jakhar said the situation has worsened and people feel unsafe.
The BJP alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is suppressing media freedom to stop reporting on rising crime. It claimed journalists and media houses, including the Punjab Kesari Group, are being targeted through police cases and raids to intimidate editors.
According to the Rozana Spokesman, the letter noted Punjab Kesari’s role during terrorism and said suppressing the media is undemocratic. The BJP urged the Governor to direct the chief minister to stop the alleged repression and restore law and order.
A BJP delegation also met the Governor and submitted a memorandum seeking the summoning of the DGP and Home Minister. BJP leade
Kohima Press Club marks 25 years of journalism and public service
By Staff Writer in Media News on Monday, 19th January 2026 at 8:55pm
Born during the turbulent years of the Indo-Naga conflict, the formation of the Kohima Press Club in 2001 marked a turning point in Nagaland’s media history. In its early days, journalists worked from small borrowed spaces, filing stories through telephone and fax while facing constant pressure and warning calls.
Recalling those times, KPC Advisor and former President Kopelo Krome spoke of working under threats, even as the first drafting committee of the KPC constitution laid the foundation for an independent press body.
Over the next 25 years, KPC grew into a key institution for journalism in the state. In 2019, Alice Yhoshü created history by becoming the first woman president, a position she continues to hold. Under her leadership, the club introduced landmark initiatives such as the KPC Impact Journalism Award and the state’s only media fellowship programme for local journalists, as per the reports
The Hindu correspondent Sarath Babu George wins Kerala Best Reporter award
By Staff Writer in Media News on Monday, 19th January 2026 at 3:40pm
Picture Credit: The Hindu
Sarath Babu George, Principal Correspondent with The Hindu at its Thiruvananthapuram bureau, has been honoured with the Best Reporter in Print Media (English) award for his coverage of the 63rd Kerala State School Arts Festival held in the capital district during 2024–25.
The award was presented by Revenue Minister K. Rajan at the valedictory function of the 64th School Arts Festival on Sunday, in the presence of Education Minister V. Sivankutty and General Education Secretary K. Vasuki. The honour includes a cash prize of Rs 20,000, along with a citation and a certificate.
FOURTH RIGHT: Is India's evolving news grammar affecting its elections?
By Pragadish Kirubakaran in Media News on Monday, 19th January 2026 at 3:33pm
Image edited by Dinesh Raj M
Indian elections have always been loud. What has changed is who controls the volume and who decides what counts as truth.
With four states and one Union Territory heading to the polls in barely 10 weeks, the 2026 election cycle is already being framed by newsrooms as a test case for India’s hybrid democracy, writes Derek O'Brien TMC MP in his op-ed for The Indian Express. Not quite the full-blown “AI election” predicted for 2029, but something arguably more destabilising. A phase where traditional campaigning, social media virality, influencer politics, and artificial intelligence coexist, overlap, and often collide.
Fake news, often treated as a moral failing or a fringe problem, has quietly become a structural feature of elections. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner defines it as fictional news designed to push an agenda. In India, it operates more like yellow journalism on steroids, turbocharged by algorithms that
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