Media professionals have come together to form the “Press Di Azadi Bahal Karo Sangharsh Committee” in response to alleged attempts by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to silence independent journalists and grassroots voices. The party has been accused of using copyright strikes and IT Act provisions to curb reporting. Since its formation in January 2026, the committee has staged protests in Chandigarh, Bathinda, and Amritsar, drawing large participation from journalists. Another protest is planned in Jalandhar in May. Speaking to Influencing, core committee member Sahildeep Singh said what is happening in Punjab appears to be a blatant misuse of power against journalists working at the grassroots level. “Clashes and arguments between journalists and political leaders are not uncommon across the globe. However, what is happening in Punjab appears to be a blatant misuse of power by the ruling AAP against journalists, especially those working at the grassroo

Image of the Day   1. "9 of 37 STPs in City Failing Norms or Not Working: DPCC" — Jasjeev Gandhiok (p.4/Hindustan Times) The standout accountability piece in this edition, and one of the most carefully constructed environmental data stories seen across any of the five papers reviewed this week. Gandhiok draws on the DPCC's own March report to catch the Delhi government in a statistical contradiction that no official release flags: while the number of non-compliant sewage treatment plants appears to have improved on paper (from 14 in February to 9 in March), the Yamuna's actual water quality deteriorated sharply over the same period — faecal coliform spiking from 110,000 units in February to 400,000 units in March, and BOD reaching 60 mg/l, twenty times the safe limit of 3 mg/l. The piece names the three worst-performing STPs specifically (Ghitorni, Vasant Kunj-I, Delhi Gate), anchors the failure in a longer accountability arc — noting Rs 2,

The Daily Telegraph’s Suzan Giuliani has picked up the inaugural Best Editorial Series Coverage award at this year’s Samsung IT Journalism Awards.  Giuliani won the award for her reporting on the harms of AI deepfakes and the need for law reform. She spoke to 16 women affected by deepfakes while reporting on the story.  “[The women] felt powerless, and they could not get any justice despite police investigating because creation wasn't a standalone offence,” Giuliani told Influencing.   That led her to pressure the NSW government to criminalise the creation of such material. “After that report, I wrote a series of stories exposing the harms of AI deepfakes and spoke to other victims of this crime,” she explains. The NSW government passed legislation last year, criminalising the creation of such content.  Giuliani said she was “surprised and shocked” to win, and honoured to have her work recognised.  “I was up against brilliant journalists and publication

Image credit: Gharwal Post Senior journalist Sudesh Istwal passed away on April 14 following a health issue. He was 48. His demise has left not only his friends and colleagues mourning, but also prompted senior political leaders to express grief. Taking to X, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences over Istwal’s demise and prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family. Istwal is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Pocket FM has crossed $400 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with its latest $200 million milestone achieved in just 12 months, compared to six years taken for the first $200 million. In a LinkedIn post, co‑founder and CEO Rohan Nayak credited artificial intelligence for driving this rapid growth. “The first $200M took 6 years, the next came in just 12 months. AI changed everything for us,” he wrote. Pocket FM now operates an AI‑native storytelling system, built around a fiction writing co‑pilot trained on billions of minutes of engagement data. This enables creators to transform raw ideas into fully produced audio series within minutes. The platform, which began with bite‑sized audio series in India before expanding to the US, Europe, and 20+ countries, now works with over 300,000 creators producing 80,000 hours of content each month. It is free cash flow positive and runs at around 5% EBITDA, Best Media Info reported. Highlighting the impact of its

On April 16, the Bombay High Court orally advised Republic TV and its editor Arnab Goswami not to include any “embellishments” in reports concerning businessperson Anil Ambani’s financial transactions and ongoing investigations, Live Law reported. Justice Arif Doctor refrained from passing a gag order but asked Goswami to moderate the tone of his reporting. The court noted that coverage of legal matters is permitted but must strictly rely on facts from court records and orders. Ambani had filed a defamation case in March against Republic TV and Goswami, alleging irreparable damage to his reputation. The plea seeks a temporary injunction against ARG Outlier, Goswami, and other parties, Scroll reported. At a previous hearing, the court had asked the channel to reduce rhetoric and avoid “below‑the‑belt” reporting, while refusing to bar coverage. On April 16, advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for Republic TV, argued that the reporting was within t

Pepper Communications Group (PCG), an integrated communications agency, has been appointed as the PR Mandate for Apis India Limited, a leading FMCG company with three generations of trading experience in food products. Founded in 1983, Apis India entered the B2C segment in 2016 with its Apis brand, building consumer trust through consistent quality, wide distribution networks, and expansion across domestic and international markets. The company continues to focus on wellness and natural foods. Under the new mandate, PCG will strengthen Apis India’s communications strategy, highlight its legacy, and enhance consumer engagement and leadership visibility. The agency will handle media relations, storytelling, and brand perception. Roshan Mohan, Group MD of PCG, said the partnership will amplify the brand’s legacy, while Naagesh Mishra, Marketing Head at Apis India, noted it will enhance corporate communication and stakeholder engagement.