Beginning his career as a proofreader in the Tamil evening daily, Malai Malar, Selvaraj Arunachalam chose crime reporting as his niche after his childhood dream of becoming a police officer did not materialise. The policing world's loss has become journalism's gain as he continues to break story after story exposing corrupt officials, murky scandals, and mangled investigations for three decades now. 1) How did you get started in journalism? It was purely by accident. After completing my diploma in Mechanical Engineering at Tirunelveli, I worked as a design and development engineer at Plant Engineering Services at Vavin near Ambattur Industrial Estate. When I went home for a holiday, my parents insisted I attend an interview at Kayamozhi, the native village of Daily Thanthi owner B. Sivanthi Adityan, to get a job at his Sun Paper Mill in Cheranmahadevi, as it was close to my native place. I was surprised to see more than 500 people waiting outside holding files, certificates, and

The government’s ambitious One Nation, One Election (ONOE) bill has sparked intense debates in Parliament and across the political spectrum. Introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the bill seeks to synchronise elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, allegedly to streamline the electoral process and cut costs. Why ONOE and Why Now? The ONOE bill reflects the government’s push to overhaul India’s electoral system, citing financial prudence, reduced policy paralysis, and efficient governance. As Hindustan Times’ Saubhadra Chatterji explained, the BJP argues that frequent elections disrupt administration and incur significant expenses. The introduction of this bill reaffirms the government’s intent to deliver on a long-standing proposal that has been central to its reform agenda. From the first elections in independent India in 1952 until 1967, polls were held simultaneously across the country. But since the Lok Sabha and state assemblies can be dissolved before t

Nikki Waley has started a new role as senior producer and guest booker on Triple M Sydney's Beau, Tarsh & Woodsy Breakfast show,  she announced via LinkedIn. She worked as a producer on Sydney’s Rush Hour Drive show with Gus Worland, Jude Bolton, and Wendell Sailor before joining SCA in 2022. Before that, she was the executive producer of The Night Shift with Luke Bona.  

Mi-3 Australia’s Martech Editor Andrew Birmingham says he’s grateful for his Kester lifetime achievement award win at this year’s 2024 Consensus Awards.  “I appreciate the award, I appreciate the effort the judges went to, and if I look back through the 14 or 15 people who won the award in the past, it is a bit of an alma mater from the 90s, which I find very interesting.” “It's always good to get recognised for your work.” The Kester Lifetime Achievement Award is the flagship award for the 2024 Consensus IT Writers Awards. It is named after former IT journalist Kester Cranswick. Recent winners of the 15 Consensus Kester Lifetime Achievement Award include InnovationAus Editorial Director James Riley, The Register’s Simon Sharwood and prolific freelancer David Braue.  The Consensus Awards are divided into two streams: the Innovation Awards, given to Australian technology companies, and the IT Writers Awards, presented to journalists. Birmingham said Consensus fo

A veteran who has worked with various media outlets in Tamil Nadu, Syed Ibrahim's attraction to the Marxist ideology has led him to journalism. Beginning his career in the Left publication Theekkadhir Daily, Syed shifted to Chennai to build his career and is currently a senior editor at News7 Tamil. 1) How did you get started in journalism? I studied co-operation at Gandhi Gram University and went to Madurai Kamaraj University for my Masters in Finance. Everyone expected me to go for a job in a bank, insurance or a private company after graduation. But the habit of reading newspapers, writing and the friendship with the comrades of the Marxist Communist Party drew me towards media. So I started working as an sub editor in Theekkadhir daily in Madurai. Thus began my career as a journalist. 2) Can you describe your work and the stories your team most commonly works on? I am leading a team of reporters. I assign them work and also learn new things guiding my juniors every day. 3)

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued applicant ownership details for the e-auction of the third batch of private FM Radio Phase III channels.   The Ministry announced the third batch of e-auctions for 730 channels across 234 uncovered cities in October. The original deadline for submission of applications was November 18, 2024. In November, the deadline for submission was extended to December 9, 2024.  Many radio operators urged the government to extend the last date to January 15, 2025, citing the time required for reviewing and assessing the market of each town under auction. The ownership details of the applications were published on December 16, 2024, as mentioned previously. The applicants include AM Television Pvt Ltd, Ahalia Healthcare Limited, Clear Media India Pvt Ltd, DB Corp Ltd, Eastern Media Ltd, HT Media Ltd, JCL Infra Pvt Ltd, Kal Radio Ltd, Lohchab Motors Company Pvt Ltd, Madhuresh Publications Pvt Ltd, Malar Publications Ltd, Pindari Medi

India mourns the loss of its tabla virtuoso, Ustad Zakir Hussain, who passed away at the age of 73 after a brief hospitalisation. Known as the global face of Indian classical percussion, Zakir Hussain's demise marks the end of an era, leaving an irreplaceable void in the world of music. Times of India's Namita Devidayal called him the “unbeatable Ustad,” a fitting tribute to a man whose rhythm transcended borders and genres. A Life in Rhythm Born into a musical lineage as the son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain displayed extraordinary talent from a young age. His innovative style, technical brilliance, and ability to seamlessly merge tradition with modernity made him a global icon. The Hindu noted his unmatched ability to elevate the humble tabla to centre stage, earning him accolades worldwide. Over a career spanning several decades, Zakir Hussain performed with Indian classical maestros and international legends, cementing his stature as a bridge b