2026 saw Pickr pick up a second Lizzie in a row, winning Best Consumer Technology Media at the Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards.  The win follows Pickr’s victory in the Best Independent Media category in 2025. Pickr previously received several highly commended nods in the Best Consumer Technology Coverage and Best Independent Media categories in 2022, as well as the Best Game Reviewer category in 2021 and 2017.  Pickr’s winning entries, all penned by founder and publisher Leigh :) Stark, included: “Australian sites part of a misinformation effort breaking search”, “Why you need to check your electricity usage ASAP”, “How can parents shield kids phones from NSFW content?” and “Pickr's 2025 Back to School Laptop Guide.” Speaking at the Lizzies, Stark said, “I’m going to thank my wife and children because they see me [working on Pickr] all the time. I also want to thank all the readers Pickr&

Strong relationships and a clear understanding of journalists’ needs are at the core of Bass PR founder David Bass’s media relations approach. David Bass [Left] with Influencing CEO Phil Sim [Right] He talked about his approach and how it came about after winning the Best Media Relations (B2B) award for client David Hellaby at the 24th Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards.  Bass was one of three winners of the award. Other winners of the award included Nintendo’s Clare Corbel (Overall and Gaming) and WellAbove’s Salvatore Di Muccio (B2C). Bass said a conversation he had several years ago with The Register’s Simon Sharwood had shaped his thinking. Sharwood asked why his readers should care about a client’s business and what difference it would make to them. “When we meet with clients they claim that they've got lots of stories to tell,” Bass told Influencing.  “But often they can't back it up with good da

Confiance Communications has been named strategic communications partner for Libertario Coffee India, a globally rooted specialty coffee brand bringing a hospitality-driven cafe experience to the Indian market. Under the partnership, Confiance Communications will develop a unified brand narrative in India, focusing on Libertario’s heritage, hospitality format, and growing presence. The aim is to strengthen visibility in business and lifestyle media and position it as a premium, culturally relevant cafe brand. As Libertario expands in Delhi NCR and plans a multi-city presence, communications efforts will also highlight its expansion vision, founder story, and investor ecosystem engagement. The partnership aims to build an authentic, experience-led global-to-local coffee narrative in India.

Herald Sun Inflation hits 4.6% as petrol shock puts rates back on the table A surprise lift in annual inflation to 4.6%—driven largely by fuel prices linked to the Iran conflict—has sharpened expectations of another Reserve Bank rate rise and intensified pressure on the government ahead of the May budget. The coverage highlights the policy squeeze: households brace for mortgage pain while Canberra is warned against adding spending that could entrench inflation. Covered by: Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, The West Australian, Courier Mail, The Advertiser. Budget energy-security pivot: fuel reserves boosted, gas tax ruled out The government is preparing to spend billions to expand Australia’s long-term fuel reserves, framing it as a national resilience move as global conflict lifts energy risks. At the same time, Anthony Albanese has ruled out a new gas tax, arguing it could jeopardise access to emergency supplies—

Representatives of various journalist unions met Information and Public Relations Department Special Commissioner Mukunda Reddy at the State Secretariat on Monday to extend their greetings after he assumed office, according to Ind Today. The delegation included Shiga Shankar, Ghouse Mohiuddin, and Vanam Nagaraju. During the meeting, they discussed journalist welfare, media development, and the need for better coordination with the department, seeking support to address issues faced by journalists across the state. Mukunda Reddy assured them of constructive engagement.

Alarmed by rising illegal activities along border areas, a delegation of journalists submitted a memorandum to the district Superintendent of Police, urging strict action against trafficking networks. The memorandum flagged an increase in drug trafficking, cannabis trade, gambling, illicit liquor, cigarette smuggling, and cattle trafficking, warning that easy access to narcotics is harming youth and undermining law and order. Journalists identified key border routes being used as major entry points for contraband, with several areas marked as trafficking corridors. They also called for action against individuals operating under cover. The SP assured that surveillance has been intensified and promised strict measures against such networks, Tripurastar News reported. 

A 21-year-old journalism student died after jumping in front of a passenger train in Maranallur, near Thiruvananthapuram, on Tuesday morning. The deceased, Deepu, a student of Christ Nagar College, reportedly stepped in front of the Kochuveli–Nagercoil passenger train around 7.30 am. Police suspect he had been under stress after missing an exam last month and have begun further investigation, Keralakaumudi reported.