After Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan made newspaper reading compulsory in state‑run schools, leading print media group DB Corp is now in talks with other states to introduce similar policies, Best Media Info reported. Rajasthan’s school education department has directed government schools to include 10 minutes of newspaper reading during morning assemblies to build reading habits, improve vocabulary, and enhance awareness. Schools must subscribe to newspapers in both Hindi and English, with costs covered by the Rajasthan School Education Council. Students are also expected to learn five new words daily and discuss editorials and major news topics. Uttar Pradesh has introduced a similar rule, aimed at reducing screen time and improving students’ grasp of current affairs. DB Corp promoter‑director Girish Agarwal said the initiative was encouraging and could lay a strong foundation for children to become regular newspaper readers. He added that discussions are ongoing wi

The Editors’ Guild of India (EGI) has expressed serious concern over what it described as the continued repression of independent journalism in Jammu and Kashmir, following repeated summoning and questioning of journalists by the police. In a statement shared on X, the Guild said several journalists, including those working with leading national media organisations, have been repeatedly called to Srinagar’s Cyber Crime Police Station and questioned about their routine news reporting. The Guild said journalists were also asked to sign bonds or affidavits stating that they would not undertake any activity that could “disturb the peace,” a phrase it said was vague and open to misuse. Calling the action arbitrary and unjustified, the Editors’ Guild said that summoning journalists and questioning them about their work amounts to coercion and intimidation, and is an attempt to interfere with their professional duties. “This is just the latest instance of increasingly threat

The Journalist Federation of Kashmir (JFK) has strongly condemned the recent actions of the Jammu and Kashmir Police involving the summoning of journalists for routine reporting, saying it amounts to an attack on press freedom and is creating a climate of fear in the region. In a statement, the JFK said it was deeply disturbed by the manner in which senior journalist Basharat Masood of The Indian Express was repeatedly summoned to the Cyber Police Station in Srinagar, made to wait for hours and later taken to a magistrate’s office, where he was asked to sign a bond directing him not to “repeat his mistake”. The federation said treating journalism as a threat to public law and order is unacceptable in a democratic society. It added that the continued summoning of the journalist after he refused to sign the bond amounted to coercion and harassment. The JFK also expressed concern over reports that Ashiq Hussain of Hindustan Times was summoned without any stated reasons. It said

Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   When Prasar Bharati opened a prime-time slot on DD News to independent digital creators earlier this month, it did more than launch a new television segment. It signalled a structural shift in how India’s public broadcaster understands content, credibility, and who gets to occupy national airtime. Branded as Creator’s Corner, the initiative places short-form digital creators alongside traditional news programming, backed by a headline-grabbing promise: creators retain 90 per cent of the revenue their content generates. Launched in early January, the weekday 7 pm segment brings independent digital creators into the heart of state television, complete with a 90 per cent revenue share and the legitimacy that comes with national broadcast. The optics matter. This wasn’t a soft launch. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presided over it, with the initiative framed as part of broader media reforms under Narendra Modi. The message was

The fifth Regional Workshop on “Media for Wildlife” was held on Saturday at Dibrugarh University in Assam recently, bringing together conservationists, journalists, academicians and wildlife experts to discuss key issues related to biodiversity conservation and responsible wildlife reporting. The one-day workshop was organised by Media for Wildlife in collaboration with the Centre for Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication, Dibrugarh University, with the aim of strengthening the role of the media in promoting wildlife conservation and environmental awareness. Mrinal Talukdar, convenor of Media for Wildlife, welcomed the participants and spoke about the growing responsibility of the media in shaping public understanding of wildlife and conservation challenges. Dr Pranjal Protim Burhagohain, Chairperson of the Centre, stressed the need for responsible journalism while reporting on wildlife-related issues. The workshop was inaugurated by Dibrugarh University Vice-Ch

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the appeal filed by YouTuber Savukku Shankar against the sealing of his office in Chennai, refusing to interfere with the Madras High Court’s earlier order in the matter, The New Indian Express reported. A two-judge bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta rejected the plea, saying, “Don’t think the writ court is the solution for all problems. Sorry. Dismissed.” Earlier, on December 30, 2025, the Madras High Court had refused to stay the sealing of Shankar’s office and asked him to approach the local magistrate under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. After this, Shankar moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order. Through his lawyer, senior advocate Balaji Srinivasan, Shankar had asked the top court to order the authorities to immediately unseal his office in Adambakkam, Chennai, and to stop police personnel from being posted at the entrance of the premises

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that journalists cannot be dragged into criminal cases just for criticising or making satirical remarks about people in power. The court made it clear that freedom of the press includes the right to question, criticise and report, even if such content makes public officials uncomfortable. According to The Tribune, the case relates to a criminal complaint filed against a law student who is also an RTI activist and three journalists for allegedly publishing and sharing content critical of a public functionary. The complaint was filed after the official claimed to be offended by the posts and reports. The petitioners approached the High Court, saying the case was an attempt to misuse criminal law to silence criticism. While hearing the matter, Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj issued notice to the Punjab government and fixed the next hearing for February 23. The court also ordered that the police investigation in the case will remain stayed till then