Public relations professionals should help shape business decisions rather than simply communicate them after they have been made, according to Meenakshi Nevatia, Country President of Pfizer India. But earning that position requires demonstrating value, challenging leadership when necessary and understanding when public communication can help or complicate a situation. Speaking at PRAXIS India in Kochi on Public Relations as a Force for Good, Nevatia offered a business leader's perspective on how communications can influence corporate strategy, particularly in industries where public trust is fragile. Drawing on her experience at Novartis, Stryker and Pfizer, she acknowledged that she had not always considered communications a central strategic function. That changed as she moved into leadership roles where business decisions involved competing stakeholder expectations and potential reputational consequences. “I truly believe it is a very, very important strategic function. But it

  Journalism is expected to hold power accountable, amplify neglected voices and defend democratic institutions. But it must also attract audiences, generate advertising revenue and remain commercially viable. For Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor of Times Now, navigating that contradiction is one of the defining challenges facing India's news industry. Speaking at PRAXIS India in Kochi on *Journalism as a Force for Good*, Jacob argued that despite declining trust, misinformation and mounting commercial pressures, journalism remains indispensable to democracy. Its relevance, he said, will depend on how effectively news organisations hold institutions accountable, adapt to changing audiences and use artificial intelligence without sacrificing human reporting. Jacob, who has spent more than two decades in broadcast journalism, described the media's position as the fourth pillar of democracy as both a responsibility and a commercial challenge. “The media is a public se

Health misinformation is not just a problem of misleading social media posts. It can influence medical decisions, delay effective treatment and, in some cases, contribute to life-threatening complications. Yet individuals promoting questionable health advice can attract millions of followers, sometimes with the help of public relations professionals. That was the warning from Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as The Liver Doc, during his keynote on Facts, Not Fear: Communicating with Courage in an Age of Misinformation at PRAXIS India in Kochi. Philips, a hepatologist, clinical researcher and public health activist at Rajagiri Hospital in Aluva, questioned the role of communications professionals in promoting health influencers whose popularity may exceed their medical expertise. Drawing on his clinical experience and published research, he argued that the consequences of misinformation extend far beyond online arguments, often becoming visible in hospital wards and intensiv

Women journalists’ safety, professional independence and the freedom to question those in power were among the key issues raised at a two-day National Conference of Women Journalists in Hyderabad on 24 and 25 October, with speakers calling for stronger institutional support and equal opportunities in newsrooms. Danasari Anasuya, popularly known as Seethakka, Telangana Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and Women and Child Welfare, raised concerns over reports of assaults and sexual harassment of women during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She also called for an impartial examination of subsequent developments, including cases filed against women journalists who raised complaints. “Why should a woman journalist face intimidation, retaliation, character assassination or misuse of the law for doing her job? A woman holding a microphone is not an enemy, and a journalist asking uncomfortable questions is not a threat,” she sai

The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has asked the Supreme Court to strike down provisions of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) law. It argues that because the law has no exemption for journalism, reporters could be forced to seek consent from the people they investigate, remove published reports and expose confidential sources, Reuters reported. The association represents 21 publishers, including Network18, NDTV, The Indian Express and Times Internet. It filed a 698-page petition on October 6, and the matter was listed for hearing on October 27. Most of the obligations it contests take effect on May 13, 2027.  Three provisions at the centre Consent. The law requires organisations to obtain consent before processing personal data. The publishers argue that asking the subject of an investigation for permission could alert them to the reporting, giving them a chance to destroy evidence or intimidate witnesses. Withdrawal and erasure. The petition