Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   In democracies, defamation law is meant to protect reputations. In India’s current media climate, it is increasingly being used to discipline journalism. That is the central warning in a recent report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which documents what it calls the big corporations’ “relentless legal offensive” against journalists. The concern is not one lawsuit or one angry response. It is the scale, repetition, and design of the legal actions. According to RSF, Adani-linked companies have initiated at least ten major legal actions since 2017, targeting more than 15 journalists, editors, and digital platforms across civil and criminal defamation proceedings. Several of these cases involve multiple respondents in a single suit, a tactic that dramatically raises legal costs and procedural pressure on independent reporters. The targets are not anonymous trolls or tabloid publishers. They include investigative journal

This year marks Pickr’s 10th anniversary, which according to founder and editor Leigh Stark, means it’s now a pre-teen.  And to celebrate the milestone, he’s introduced new features to the site.  “Where this whole concept started was the idea of making the web page just completely more useful for everyone, whether on mobile or desktop,” Stark told Influencing.  He added that the reworking of the Pickr website was an evolution.  “What kicked this off was the table of contents, which I tried to make work in its existing place before. Then after weeks of trying, I thought, ‘nah, got to redo everything.’ From that point, I thought, what else can I do?”  Accessibility alongside transparency, Stark believes, is one of the core themes of the website’s transformation.  “You're giving people different ways to consume your content. The logic being that most people will read an article. But

Digital news platform Newslaundry celebrated 14 years of independent, reader‑funded journalism on February 7, with journalists and media professionals sharing congratulatory messages on X. Co‑founder Abhinandan Sekhri, in a post, credited the platform’s survival and growth to the generosity and faith of thousands of readers. He also acknowledged co‑founder Madhu Trehan for trusting him early in his career and later partnering with him as an equal to build the organisation. “Few have such a large heart. Come build with us,” Sekhri wrote. Journalist and The News Minute co-founder Dhanya Rajendran praised Newslaundry for delivering journalism “with a dash of fun” while staying committed to its ad‑free, subscription‑supported model, urging readers to subscribe and support independent reporting. Naresh Fernandes, editor of Scroll, also congratulated the team, noting the value of collaborative projects with Newslaundry and wishing them many more succes

The Press Council of India (PCI) has issued a notice clarifying the procedure for obtaining a “No Dues Certificate” (NDC), cautioning publishers and newspaper owners against depositing levy fees online without first confirming their actual outstanding dues. In its advisory dated February 6, 2026, PCI said it had observed that some publishers were making payments through the PCI website payment gateway without ascertaining the exact amount payable and then seeking issuance of the NDC. The Council advised publishers who have not received a formal Demand Notice to contact the Levy Section before depositing levy fees, to confirm the precise amount due for their newspaper or periodical. PCI also stated that the 'No Dues Certificate' will be issued only to those publishers who have cleared all outstanding dues in full. Payments made in instalments or partial payments will not qualify for issuance of the certificate. For further clarification, publishers may contact the PCI Levy Sec

Adgcraft Communications secured the PR mandate for the second edition of Kalidas ka Kathaalok, the Great Indian Storytelling Festival organised by Samay Yaan in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The two-day cultural event took place at Purana Qila, New Delhi, on February 7 and 8, 2026. The festival explored the literary world of Mahakavi Kalidasa through storytelling, theatre, music, and art, offering audiences a time-travel experience rooted in India’s civilisational heritage. Adgcraft joined as PR Partner, managing strategic and creative media communications to amplify the festival’s cultural narrative across platforms. Inspired by the works of Kalidasa, Kalidas ka Kathaalok carried the theme “Let’s time-travel to a Bharat, 2000 Years Ago.” The festival featured a grand stage, experience zones, ancient attars, Brahmi scripts, and Sur Samay Yaan, bridging classical heritage with modern sensibilities.

The South India Journalists Union (SIJU) has strongly condemned the growing attacks on journalists, saying media workers, especially in small towns and districts, are facing increasing threats, harassment and job insecurity amid worsening working conditions. In a statement issued on feb 4, SIJU said journalists are being forced to work for meagre salaries while taking serious professional risks, yet continue to discharge their duties with commitment. According to the Union, journalists working with 24/7 news channels and digital platforms in many districts are being subjected to pressure, intimidation and arbitrary employment practices. Media organisations, it said, are increasingly prioritising profit over people, leaving journalists vulnerable and unsupported. The union also cited recent instances where several journalists were removed from service without any proper explanation, creating fear and anxiety among reporters and camera persons across newsrooms. “Journalism is not

Yes, it seems the Pope is coming down-under, at least according to an exclusive by Josh Hanrahan which truly graces the front page of today's Daily Telegraph ('AMEN, SYDNEY'), complete with a pic of the waving pontiff. It's big news for Catholics, and anyone else who likes a spectacle, given there has been no papal visit to these shores for two decades, so Hanrahan reports. The visit is slated for 2028.     Also visiting, and it begins today, is the somewhat contentious arrival of Israel's president, Issac Herzog, for a four day trip to visit folks grieving over the Bondi attack which left 15 Jewish people dead. The Australian goes big on this with a main exclusive story (Plea for 'calm and respect') by NSW political correspondent Lachlan Leeming. The journo sets the tone in the first para: "Bondi beach massacre survivors have implored the nation and left wing activists to treat the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog wi