A new survey of Australian independent news publishers - mostly local and regional newspapers and outlets - has revealed a sector defined by deep structural challenges, as well as strong signs of growth, innovation and resilience.  The Local & Independent News Association’s annual membership survey covered 77 publishers that collectively operate 139 news services, with more than a quarter of publishers (27%) running multiple newsrooms or mastheads. LINA's Claire Stuchbery. One third (34%) of publishers identified their news organisation’s future as being uncertain or at-risk. However, key indicators of sustainability, including median revenue and average number of employed staff, increased in 2025 compared to previous years. Fewer publishers identified as being in the “emerging” stage, with more identifying as being in phases of business growth or maturity.  LINA Executive Director Claire Stuchbery said the respondents represented a new c

Morning and welcome to Tuesday. The timing of the Bondi massacre meant some of yesterday's print editions couldn't cover the attack in detail but today they certainly make up for that with wall-to-wall coverage on the victims named so far, plus lots of in-depth background and commentary and analysis too. The seriousness of the situation, in case anyone needs reminding, is perhaps best exemplified by Australia's financial bible, The Australian Financial Review which carries not one single finance story on its front page today, rather devoting the yards of newsprint to Bondi stories. And the Fin also hits the nail on the head with its main headline - 'Blame game erupts over Bondi'. Indeed it does.  Alongside a picture of mourners at the unofficial shrine at Bondi Pavilion where wreaths pile ever higher, (pictures for the AFR by Louise Kennerley, and the Sydney Morning Herald's Steven Siewert) are pictures of the known deceased so far and th

  The Press Club of India on Saturday, December 13, declared the results of its Managing Committee elections for the 2025–26 term, which were held on December 13. Senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty was elected President after securing 1,019 votes. She defeated Arun Sharma, who polled 89 votes, and Atul Mishra, who received 129 votes. For the post of Vice-President, Jatin Gandhi emerged victorious with 1,029 votes, defeating Prahlad Singh Rajput and Virender Prasad Saini. Afzal Imam was elected secretary general after polling 948 votes, while his rival Gyan Prakash secured 290 votes. P. R. Sunil Kumar was elected Joint Secretary unopposed, and Aditi Rajput was elected Treasurer unopposed. Sixteen others were elected to the Managing Committee. The elected members are Abhishek Kumar Singh, Agraj Pratap Singh, Ashok Kaushik, Dr Prem Bahukhandi, Jahnavi Sen, Javed Akhtar, Kallol Bhattacharjee, Manoj Sharma, Nayanima Basu, Niraj Kumar, Pabba Suresh Babu, Praveen Jain, Re

Following the death of journalist Ramakant Mahanand in a road accident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for his family. The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the incident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family. He directed that the compensation be paid from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Mahanand, a Rairakhol correspondent for OTV, a local news channel, was travelling to Nakatideula to cover a news assignment when his motorcycle hit a culvert. He suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital by locals before being shifted to VIMSAR, Burla. However, he died during treatment, according to Ommcom News.  

  The media fraternity across India is grieving the loss of three respected journalists whose contributions shaped newsrooms in Assam, Kerala, and Odisha for decades. Prafulla Govinda Baruah: A Giant of Assam’s Newspaper Industry In Assam, the passing of Prafulla Govinda Baruah, Chairman Emeritus and Editor of The Assam Tribune, marks the end of an era. He breathed his last at a private hospital on Sunday, December 14, at 9.30 pm, following age-related ailments, The Assam Tribune reported. Born in Dibrugarh on July 26, 1932, Baruah’s academic journey was as distinguished as his professional one. A first-division matriculate from Gauhati University, he went on to study at Cotton College and later at Presidency College, Calcutta, earning degrees in Economics, an MA, and an LLB—graduating as a gold medallist from Calcutta University in 1957. His career in journalism began in 1962. By 1966, he had taken charge as Managing Director of the Assam Tribune group. In 1997, he also

  The Maharashtra Legislative Council’s Special Privileges Committee has recommended a five-day jail term for four journalists for allegedly damaging the image of MLC Amol Mitkari by running false news stories about him. One editor was spared after he apologised. According to The Hindu, presenting the report in the Council on Saturday, December 13, 2025, committee chairman Prasad Lad said the journalists linked to a YouTube channel called Satya Ladha had aired false reports against Nationalist Congress Party leader Amol Mitkari. He said Akola-based journalists Ganesh Sonawane, Harshada Sonawane, Amol Nandurkar and Ankush Gawande were found guilty of spreading false news and defaming the MLC’s public and political image. The panel has recommended five days’ imprisonment for them. The committee held six meetings to look into the matter. Editor Satish Deshmukh, who was also named in the case, submitted a written apology to Mitkari after the inquiry. The panel accepted his apo

Image source: Mint, AQI.in and TOI; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   Delhi’s air breached the “severe plus” category on Sunday for the first time this winter — with a 24-hour average air quality index of 461 — making it the second worst AQI reading for December since the system was launched in April 2015. This is not just the case with Delhi as AQI is poor across the country with several major cities not in the safe pollution limits. A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health last December estimated that long-term exposure to polluted air contributes to roughly 15 lakh additional deaths in India each year compared with a scenario in which the country met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended safe-exposure limits. Hot off the Press The average number was only a glimpse of the crisis as at least three stations maxed out at the 500-mark at various points on the day. CPCB classifies air quality as “moderate” when