Arvind Kejriwal’s sudden declaration that he will step down as Delhi’s Chief Minister in two days has stirred the political landscape, with Abhinav Rajput of The Times of India and Jaideep Deo Bhanj of The Hindu spotlighting his remarks about going through an “agnipariksha” (trial by fire) and seeking a “certificate of honesty” from the public. ­­ Kejriwal’s move, seen as a strategic play ahead of anticipated polls, has raised questions about who will succeed him. Hindustan Times' Alok K N Mishra and Paras Singh noted that Atishi Marlena, a prominent member of his cabinet, is the frontrunner for the role, not Manish Sisodia, who remains entangled in the excise policy case that has raised numerous issues for the AAP government in Delhi. The excise policy case, which has shaken Delhi’s political landscape, involves allegations of corruption in liquor licenses under the AAP government. This has put Kejriwal and Sisodia under legal scrutiny, with the latter facing ser

Melbourne radio personality Simon Owens is set to host a new East Coast program across Nine Radio stations 3AW, 2GB, and 4BC, according to Radio Today.  This new role follows Owens' previous hosting duties on The Simon Owens Show on 3AW during the AFL off-season for the past five years. While Brisbane and Sydney's counterpart Brent James, who held the same timeslot on 2GB and 4BC, left the network in April, Owens clarified on social media that his new show will not replace James but will be a fresh addition to the lineup. Reflecting on the transition, Owens expressed pride in his past show and acknowledged his initial hesitation to move on. However, he noted his gratitude for the support from management and the opportunity to lead this new program. With 25 years of radio experience, Owens is highly respected in the industry and has worked with renowned figures like Philip Brady.  The upcoming show will feature quizzes, showbiz/music segments, listener interactions, and highlig

The Hit Network in Queensland has introduced two fresh voices to its on-air lineup. Jacob Brown has taken on the role of workday announcer for HIT Central Queensland and HIT94.7 Emerald, while Matt ‘Macca’ McDonald will manage workdays on HIT101.9 Fraser Coast, as reported by Radio Today. Jacob Brown, who joined the network in early 2023 on the Fraser Coast and Maryborough, has already impressed listeners, earning a nomination for Best Newcomer On-Air at this year’s ACRAs. Adam Roche, Central Queensland and Wide Bay Group Content Director, praised Brown’s passion and creativity, highlighting his active involvement in the Central Queensland community. Matt ‘Macca’ McDonald comes to HIT101.9 Fraser Coast after two years with Super Radio Network’s 2HC in Coffs Harbour, where he hosted Drive and served as News Director. He is also pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting with AFTRS.  Macca expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I’m so excite

Josh Kuskopf has been elevated to chief of staff for the Today Show at Nine, he revealed on LinkedIn. This promotion follows his successful role as a producer for the Today Show Australia, a position he has held since May 2021. Before his time at Nine, Kuskopf was the business director at SplashZone Media, a company he founded to help brands engage with audiences through video content and live streaming.  His diverse media career includes roles as a liaison producer at Sky News Australia and FOX SPORTS Australia, alongside experience as an educator and sound and lighting operator.  

Brisbane’s 4BC is making changes to its breakfast schedule as long-time hosts Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare, and Mark Hine prepare to sign off, according to Radio Today. Greg Byrnes, head of content for Nine Radio, praised the trio, saying, “Laurel, Gary, and Mark have been pivotal to our live and local content strategy. It’s been a privilege to have them with us, but we’ve decided to take a new direction with Breakfast.” He added that their departure will be marked with a special farewell, celebrating their remarkable contributions to Brisbane radio. Their final week on air will start Monday, September 23, with their last show scheduled for Friday, September 27. In other news, 4BC recently announced that drive presenter and veteran journalist Peter Gleeson will also be leaving the station to become CEO of the new Q Greyhound Complex.  Acting content manager Holly Green commented on Gleeson’s departure, highlighting his passion for Greyhound racing. Gleeson’s last sho

CHOICE’s Jarni Blakkarly says that he is “very honoured” to win the 2024 Excellence in Civil Liberties Journalism Young Journalists Award. “[I’m] really honoured to win the award and it was just really nice to see the recognition of CHOICE and CHOICE's work and the way the CHOICE has kind of backed me to do this kind of consumer data work,” Blakkarly told Influencing. Operating as CHOICE’s investigative journalist, Blakkarly’s win came on the back of a series of articles focused on data privacy.  “The articles that were acknowledged were a series of articles all relating to data and data privacy. One of them was around facial recognition technology and the way that major stadiums and supporting venues are collecting and using your biometric information.That was kind of a bit of a follow-up to the earlier investigation that I'd done into Kmart and Bunnings the year before.” “The other one that I was really proud of was our medical investigation. That was

Debasmita Chakrabartty has been promoted to head of content at Hotstuff Medialabs.  Announcing the news on LinkedIn, Chakrabartty said, “Hot News! Happy to share my new position as Head of Content at hotstuff medialabs. Here’s to making Hotstuff hotter than ever!” Speaking to Influencing India, Chakrabartty said that she is 'immensely grateful' to her mentors, Arun Fernandes, CEO of hotstuff medialabs and Terence D’Souza, chief creative officer of Hotstuff medialabs for entrusting her with this role.  “I'm beyond thrilled to take up the mantle of Head of Content at hotstuff medialabs. It has taken me seven years of hard work, and continuous learning to get here, and this promotion is so far the greatest milestone in my career,” she added.  Reflecting on her time at hotstuff, Chakrabartty said that the company opened a fresh new chapter for her in copywriting.  “While the journey has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding, I’ve come to believe that wh