Image source: HT and TOI; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   Campaigning for the crucial first phase of the assembly elections in Bihar ended on Tuesday as top leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition Grand Alliance criss-crossed the poll-bound state, exchanging jibes and making promises to the 74.2 million electorate. In the first phase on November 6, 121 seats across 18 districts go to the polls. Hot Off The Press The campaigning was dominated by questions of jobs, development, law and order caste loyalties and women voters as the NDA accused the Opposition of disrespecting Bihar’s culture and ushering in ‘Jungle Raj’ and the INDIA bloc alleged the ruling coalition had failed the state’s young population, reported Subhash Pathak and Vijay Swaroop for Hindustan Times. Apart from the INDIA bloc and NDA leaders who held whirlwind campaign tours, the third player in the contest – Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor – also held roadshows in Sandesh,

AZK Media has joined the Collectivist Agency, a global technology PR agency network.  AZK Media Founder Azadeh Williams told Influencing, “It's a great community where we all come together, we share ideas, and if leads and prospects are coming through with the Collectivists Agency's founder and the network itself, they forward us leads.  “On the other hand, if we represent APAC, if we have clients that are expanding to areas that we don't necessarily service, we can then bring in trusted agencies from the Collectivist network to support those regions.”  Williams said AZK Media’s arrival in the group came from a connection with Bench PR’s Jocelyn Hunter, who connected them to the founder, Gavin Loader.  “We started getting some connections and opportunities, then thought, How can we make this formal? There were a couple of interviews, and we thought it would be good value for us to be part of it and not only to attract fresh opportunities for our business but also

Morning, welcome to Wednesday, and a couple of momentous events feature in today's news and yes one of them is a horse race.  But let's start with a journalist, and no ordinary journalist at that. Paul Kelly, The Australian's Editor-at-Large makes it on to the front page of his newspaper today but not because he has written a story. Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal which for those a little light on their history was when PM Gough Whitlam and his government were removed by the Governor General. And the reason Kelly's featured? As a 28-year-old journo with the very same newspaper the now veteran scribe was there at Parliament House in Canberra when it happened and he got the story - quite the scoop.  Fast forward half a century and Kelly is filming a documentary on the event and still working for The Oz. There's a great write-up from no less than Claire Harvey, the paper's editorial director. Have a read - it's a great story.  Now let's have a look at that ra

News18 India is set to launch a new show, ‘Viral Baat Raunac Ke Saath’, featuring popular radio personality and digital creator RJ Raunac. The channel said the new programme represents a key step in merging mainstream news with digital storytelling. It aims to combine News18 India’s credibility with RJ Raunac’s engaging and relatable style to connect with younger audiences through humour, insights, and trending conversations. As per the announcement, the show will air every Thursday and Friday at 8:35 p.m. and will include digital explainers powered by AI visuals, alongside light-hearted takes on viral topics, social trends, and national issues all delivered in RJ Raunac’s trademark style. Speaking about the show, Jyoti Kamal, Managing Editor – News18 India (PH & JKLH), said, “We are very excited about our new show ‘Viral Baat Raunac Ke Saath’. RJ Raunac is one of India’s most loved radio personalities with a strong youth following. This show reflects News1

Condemning the alleged communal and provocative remarks made by Tipra Motha MLA and former extremist leader Ranjit Debbarma against senior journalist and Headlines Tripura National Editor Pranab Sarkar, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and several media bodies, including the Press Club of India and the Agartala Press Club, have demanded strong action and adequate security for Sarkar. According to Northeast Today, Sarkar, who also serves as the All India Secretary of the IJU, said on Monday that he has faced repeated threats and challenges over the years for speaking truth to power. “After the change in 2018, most threats, cases, and privileges have been made against me. All the information is in the archive. One day, the people of Tripura will know the full truth,” he said. Responding to recent caste-based attacks, Sarkar asserted his pride in his roots. “Now, threats are being made about caste. I tell everyone that I am a proud Noakhali Bengali. Those who mock the people o

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Indian authorities to take urgent action to guarantee the safety of journalist and Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub and her family after she allegedly received multiple threats from an unknown caller who claimed to know her home address. “The threats of violence made against Rana Ayyub and her father from an unknown international number are deeply concerning,” read a post by CPJ. “Authorities must act swiftly to identify and hold accountable those responsible and ensure the safety of all journalists in India so they can work without fear of intimidation or violence.” According to CPJ, Ayyub received several WhatsApp calls and messages over a 20-minute period on November 2, demanding that she write a column on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which claimed the lives of around 3,000 Sikhs following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The caller reportedly mentioned Ayyub’s home address and threatened

  Club president Mohammad Saleem Pandit lauded the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) for issuing clear guidelines to prevent the impersonation of “uneducated, self-styled” individuals posing as journalists. He said the order would help protect the integrity of the profession and ensure that only verified and qualified media professionals are recognised. He also urged all District Information Officers (DIOs) to ensure that press releases, media invites and official briefings are shared only with verified journalists or recognised media outlets. “A close watch must be kept on any person or entity misusing media credentials or attempting to malign officials, institutions, or individuals for personal gain,” Pandit said. The directive comes after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha instructed officers to take stringent action against fake journalists operating in Jammu and Kashmir. During a high-level review meeting in Srinagar, Sinha emphasised that those misu