For The Australian’s Technology Editor Jared Lynch, deciding what story to write comes down to finding out the “X-Factor” of a particular piece.  Lynch joined Influencing Insider last Thursday and said, “we're in this game where we are competing for attention. We're competing for eyeballs. So, a story pitch should have that pop; otherwise, it gets missed. “For example, the other day, I chatted with this lovely couple up in Noosa, who, after being made redundant in their advertising jobs, taught themselves how to code and develop this AI platform tailored specifically for the creative advertising industry. In two/three years, it’s created a business value of more than $20 million.” “It’s those wow stories I’m particularly interested in.” Lynch has been Technology Editor at the national paper since October 2023, having been a journo at the masthead for almost four years before then. He believes his role is to “make tech storytelling as accessible as possibl

Zee News has recorded a 76 per cent surge in market share, increasing from 5.4 per cent to 9.5 per cent, according to BARC data (HSM—All 15+ Yrs—06:00 - 24:00, Week 14’24 and Week 8’25), without relying on landing pages or marketing spends, according to an Adgully report. The channel’s prime-time band, from 7 pm to 9 pm, has shown strong performance, driven by audience-centric content, data-driven programming, and tailored storytelling for urban and rural viewers. Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, stated, “At Zee News, journalistic responsibility is at the core of everything we do. Our success is not just about numbers—it’s about the impact of credible and well-researched news content. ” Karan Abhishek Singh, CEO of Zee Media Corporation Limited, added, “This growth reflects the evolving preferences of Indian viewers, who are choosing credible and meaningful journalism over noise. ” Flagship shows such as Baat Pate Ki (7-8 pm) and Desh Hit (8-9 pm) h

Tgthr. has executed India’s first full-day 100 per cent Share of Voice (SOV) takeover on CNN-News18 to unveil Ultraviolette Automotive’s latest electric scooter. Rahul Vengalil, CEO and co-founder of Tgthr., stated, “As a young agency committed to pushing the boundaries of advertising, campaigns like these reinforce our belief that there is still a long way to go for advertising. This achievement is not just about scale but about demonstrating the power of bold ideas and strategic media innovation. We are just getting started.” Smriti Mehra, CEO of English & Business News at Network18, added, “This campaign demonstrates our commitment to delivering impactful and immersive brand experiences. The collaboration showcases the power of strategic media innovation, setting a new benchmark for advertising in the news genre. We are committed to fostering such one-of-a-kind partnerships and pushing the boundaries of innovation.” The campaign secured 100 per cent SOV across

As a teenager, Rupa Jha, CEO and Co-Founder of Collective Newsroom, intended to be a lawyer though her heart was in dancing and in training to become a professional dancer. "And I did become one. I performed across the country and internationally with my guru and wanted to dedicate myself to the performing arts," she told Influencing India. But, as fate would have it, all that changed when she chanced upon a job opening announcement by the BBC and decided to apply.  Despite having no professional qualification required for the job, she applied and got shortlisted. "Luckily BBC does not look for a degree in journalism. If you’re keen about your surroundings, a good learner and observer, you're good enough to be a journalist. And I landed the job," she recalled. Beginning her stint at the BBC as a Hindi producer for BBC News in 2001, Rupa was with the organisation for over two decades working in various capacities in India, UK and Nigeria. In 2023, she and a few of h

The budget session of Parliament resumes on Monday in the shadow of a spate of controversies ranging from Trump’s comments on tariffs, duplicate voter identity card numbers, three-language policy and delimitation among others.  Among the issues expected to erupt are the renewed violence in Manipur and the Waqf amendment bill. The govt is scheduled to bring a resolution to seek Parliament’s approval for pthe roclamation of President’s rule in Manipur, and the opposition will use the discussion to raise the two years of continuing ethnic strife in the northeastern state. The state’s budget too will come up for discussion, reported The Times of India. There is likely to be a showdown between the Treasury and the Opposition benches over the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill, which has been cleared by the Union Cabinet for introduction in Parliament, wrote Asad Rehman for The Indian Express. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that the government is keen on ea

To mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, Influencing India spoke with four women journalists from rural Tamil Nadu who have overcome personal and societal challenges to carve out a space in journalism. Reporting on crime, natural disasters and social injustices, these journalists have faced threats, harassment and systemic barriers while continuing to bring critical stories to light. Elakkiya, district reporter for News7 Tamil in Thiruvarur, recalls facing threats after reporting a jewellery heist in Trichy and a TN food safety department raid at a well-known hotel. “Being a woman reporter is not easy. We face many challenges in the field. Yet, I never thought of quitting journalism because it gives me a kind of pleasure and satisfaction that no other job can,” she says. Covering the aftermath of Cyclone Gaja, she struggled with access to basic necessities. “Recess is the only major problem on the field that any woman journalist will find tough to handle,” she a

Veteran journalist Natarsha Belling joined The Briefing – Afternoon Edition today, bringing her extensive experience to LiSTNR’s daily news podcast, Mediaweek reported.  Balancing this new role with hosting Seven’s National News at Noon, Belling will provide in-depth coverage of major stories, from natural disasters to political events, including the upcoming federal election and developments in the U.S. She expressed excitement about expanding her reporting across multiple platforms and will also collaborate with LiSTNR’s Factual team to produce an investigative series, leveraging her 30 years of journalism experience.  LiSTNR’s head of factual, Clair Weaver, praised Belling’s reputation for trusted, insightful content. New episodes of The Briefing – Afternoon Edition will be available on weekdays at 4 pm on the LiSTNR app.