As the India Today Group marks 50 years, it has launched a five-part documentary series titled India Today @ 50, tracing the journey of the media house and its role in shaping Indian journalism. The first episode, aired on Saturday, December 13, looks back at the years between 1975 and 1985, a period marked by political and social upheaval. It focuses on the Emergency, when civil liberties were suspended, Opposition leaders were jailed and the media faced strict censorship. It was during this time that India Today was launched, a decision former editors in the film describe as bold and risky. Using old footage and personal accounts, the episode shows how a young team learned journalism while working under fear and government control. Chairperson and Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie recalls the strict editorial approach that guided the magazine, with every story required to explain why it mattered, who it affected and what came next. The documentary also covers key political events

Image source: Edited by Dinesh Raj M   Even as OpenAI is fighting copyright infringement cases with news publications and content producers across the world including in India, the AI pioneer has launched the OpenAI Academy for News Organizations, a digital learning hub designed to help journalists and publishers integrate artificial intelligence into their workflows. Developed in collaboration with the American Journalism Project and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, the initiative was officially unveiled at the AI and Journalism Summit that happened earlier this week. According to a release, the academy will offer hands-on training, technical playbooks, and real-world case studies specifically designed for newsrooms. Key resources include "AI Essentials for Journalists," which covers core concepts, and specialised sessions for product teams on building custom AI solutions. The curriculum will also on practical applications, including investigative research,

Independent journalist Pankaj Mishra, 50, died after being assaulted at his home in Dehradun’s Rajpur area on Monday night. Police arrested two men — Amit Sehgal, a digital media journalist, and Parthoshil Seal — after reviewing CCTV footage and witness statements. Mishra’s brother alleged the attackers entered the house, abused him and assaulted him, leading to internal injuries. Mishra collapsed early Tuesday and was declared dead at Doon Hospital. An FIR has been registered on charges including murder, house trespass and robbery, and multiple police teams are investigating, The Indian Express reported.

Morning, welcome to Friday and our last edition of The Brief until next year. Let's start with The Sydney Morning Herald because in a sea of horror following the Bondi massacre, many youngsters today are celebrating their HSC results and The Sydney Morning Herald keeps tradition alive with a 48-page-liftout - 'HSC Honour Roll 2025' - which is mostly listings of all HSC results in NSW but also covers some of the unique and interesting student study, success and back stories from several of the HSC standouts. Stories by Christopher Harris, Nigel Gladstone and Emily Kowal, plus Cindy Yin. The SMH also carries a 52-page Domain so you can swoon over other people's houses, if that is your wont. Picture of Penrith HSC students by Sam Mooy.  On the other side of the ledger, heartbreaking scenes yesterday as another child was honoured, but sadly this time that was at the funeral of the youngest Bondi victim, 10-year-old Matilda. That story

  Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform WAVES has reached 80 lakh downloads in its first year since launch, according to information submitted by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan in the Lok Sabha, highlighting growing interest in digital public service content.​ According to e4m, the WAVES features programmes from Doordarshan and All India Radio, including archived national and regional shows, documentaries, classical music, literature-based content and regional arts, making them available to audiences worldwide.  WAVES has been created to help emerging creators and filmmakers reach wider audiences through a digital-first platform. It is a subscription-free service that depends largely on advertising revenue, with a focus on making public service content easily accessible.  According to Prasar Bharati, the platform is witnessing steady growth, with rising international users and expanding partnerships in globa

Prasar Bharati has drafted a Content Syndication Policy, 2025, aimed at expanding cultural outreach while monetising its content in line with its public service role. The draft has been placed on Prasar Bharati’s official website for public feedback. The policy focuses on monetising content produced by Doordarshan and Akashvani, including archived regional and national programmes, as well as live broadcasts of government events, festivals, and sports. Digital-first content on Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform has also been included. According to Best Media Info, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan shared this information in the Lok Sabha in reply to a question by MP Shri Selvaganapathi T M. The policy draft also proposes monetising commissioned, co-produced, and licensed content, and seeks collaborations with domestic and international platforms. It outlines flexible licensing options, including flat-fee, revenue-share, and minimum-guarantee mod

Meher Castelino, one of the earliest and most influential voices in Indian fashion journalism, has passed away at the age of 81. A trailblazer who helped define how fashion was reported and understood in India, she is remembered as both a chronicler and shaper of the industry. Castelino first came into the spotlight after winning Femina Miss India 1964, but it was her long career in fashion journalism that cemented her legacy. A former model who appeared in more than 2,000 shows, she brought rare insider insight to her writing. She served as Fashion Editor for publications such as Gentlemen’s Fashion Quarterly, Flair and Eve’s, and authored Fashion Musings, one of India’s early fashion books known for its sharp, witty Q&A format. Castelino was also the official fashion writer for Lakmé Fashion Week, documenting its designers, milestones and evolution, and creating an important written archive of contemporary Indian fashion. Colleagues and designers remember her for her