Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   Between binge watching the unfolding of a brutal war in the Middle East flipping between CNN and Al Jazeera TV channels and reading up long form reportage on the evolving situation, when not in front of the TV through the weekend, this columnist was involved in a strange conversation with a medico couple from the US on the relevance of news. In their late 20s, the two swore they didn't care about news and never bothered to keep themselves posted except for weather updates and local traffic closures. The reason: every platform or channel gives its own version of news and busy professionals have no time for such bullshit. Typically, breaking of a war or unfolding of any human crisis is usually the time when news viewership or readership is at its highest point as people are glued to their television sets eager to find out the latest developments. But with so many different channels offering diverse versions of the same news, the casualty is n

From overcrowded political rallies and festival processions to disaster zones and late-night breaking news scenes, journalists and cameramen routinely work in environments where personal safety is far from guaranteed. Yet when emergencies strike within the profession itself, structured support systems are often limited. Addressing that gap, the TV Journalists Association (TVJA) has introduced a dedicated ambulance facility for its members and their families, a move aimed at institutionalising emergency medical support for media professionals. As part of the initiative, TVJA has received two ambulances from the charitable RBG Foundation. These vehicles will be available during medical emergencies for journalists, cameramen, and their family members associated with the organisation. Recognising the occupational risks journalists face, particularly during crowded festivals, large political rallies, public processions and other high-pressure assignments, TVJA has also decided to keep

Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their podcast Two Blokes Talking Tech. Long told Influencing that 15 years was a “bloody long time”. “We're pretty proud to have made it 15 years. We've got a personal uncontracted commitment, we're gonna get to 20,” he said. “Really, for us, it's about acknowledging the hard work that goes into it and the loyalty of our listeners. We spoke to a listener today, on the EV show, and mentioned he'd been listening to us since episode two.”  Remarkably nothing has really changed in the 15 years of Two Blokes Talking Tech except for the duration of the podcast, Long added.  Early Days and Celebrations  The idea for Two Blokes Talking Tech came when the pair met whilst recording a MediaWeek podcast.  “One time, we were waiting outside the studio finishing up, and having a chat. And I said, you know what, we could do this ourselves.” The precise date of the podcast’s first episode was Februar

Is there anything that sums up the presidency of Donald J Trump better than The Advertiser’s front page today? Who else could effortlessly seamlessly segue from Cheesburgers to Ballistic Missiles. Well, The Brief can too. The West’s front page was particularly eye-catching, as the US strike against Iran expanded with.   At the Sydney Morning Herald, European Correspondent David Crowe penned that the “attacks on Iran are set to continue for ‘four to five weeks’ in a bid to blast the country’s leaders into surrender’. While it only took Mr. Crowe to break down the war for Herald readers, it required Daniel Lo Suro, Nick Toscano and Mike Foley to warn Sydneysiders of the real victims of this conflict - drivers, who are looking at a steep rise in petrol prices.       The Daily Telegraph’s Madeleine Bower and Anna Shreeves managed to express deep disgust that “at least four Shi’ite dominated mo

The Dainik Bhaskar Group has been awarded the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Social Responsibility for its sustained contributions to social and community development beyond journalism, particularly in areas such as environmental sustainability, education, women’s empowerment, and public awareness programmes. Congratulating the organisation, Manoj K. Raut, CEO and Secretary General of the Institute of Directors, said the group has pursued social responsibility with the same commitment as its editorial mission, demonstrating innovation and measurable impact across sectors. The Golden Peacock Award is a globally recognised honour in corporate governance and social responsibility, conferred following an independent evaluation process based on strict standards of transparency, accountability, and excellence.  

India’s Union Budget 2026–27 has formally brought the Orange Economy into policy focus, recognising industries powered by ideas, culture, intellectual property, and digital storytelling as engines of future growth. Unlike traditional sectors built on physical production, this economy generates value through creativity -- spanning Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC), film, publishing, design, advertising and multimedia content. The government’s plan is ambitious. It proposes AVGC content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges under the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies. With projections suggesting nearly two million skilled professionals will be needed in the creative sector by 2030, policymakers aim to align education with emerging digital markets while expanding institutions like the National Institute of Design. But as creativity becomes economic policy, journalism finds itself at a crossroads. Is it a pillar of the cre

Disasters rarely wait for confirmation. They unfold in minutes, escalate in hours, and reshape lives overnight. In that window, information can save lives or deepen confusion. For decades, disaster reporting relied heavily on eyewitness accounts, official briefings, and delayed field updates. Today, in 2026, real-time datasets are transforming that model. Journalists are no longer just documenting destruction. They are interpreting risk as it develops. From hurricanes and floods to earthquakes and wildfires, disasters generate enormous streams of data, satellites, live rainfall dashboards, radar imagery, river-level monitoring, social media signals and government alert systems. Instead of waiting for post-event damage assessments, reporters can now track storm paths, identify high-risk neighbourhoods and monitor impact as it unfolds. Flood maps built from live rainfall and river-level data can pinpoint vulnerable localities. Satellite imagery confirms inundation patterns. Social m