Zee News has recorded a 76 per cent surge in market share, increasing from 5.4 per cent to 9.5 per cent, according to BARC data (HSM—All 15+ Yrs—06:00 - 24:00, Week 14’24 and Week 8’25), without relying on landing pages or marketing spends, according to an Adgully report. The channel’s prime-time band, from 7 pm to 9 pm, has shown strong performance, driven by audience-centric content, data-driven programming, and tailored storytelling for urban and rural viewers. Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, stated, “At Zee News, journalistic responsibility is at the core of everything we do. Our success is not just about numbers—it’s about the impact of credible and well-researched news content. ” Karan Abhishek Singh, CEO of Zee Media Corporation Limited, added, “This growth reflects the evolving preferences of Indian viewers, who are choosing credible and meaningful journalism over noise. ” Flagship shows such as Baat Pate Ki (7-8 pm) and Desh Hit (8-9 pm) h

As a teenager, Rupa Jha, CEO and Co-Founder of Collective Newsroom, intended to be a lawyer though her heart was in dancing and in training to become a professional dancer. "And I did become one. I performed across the country and internationally with my guru and wanted to dedicate myself to the performing arts," she told Influencing India. But, as fate would have it, all that changed when she chanced upon a job opening announcement by the BBC and decided to apply.  Despite having no professional qualification required for the job, she applied and got shortlisted. "Luckily BBC does not look for a degree in journalism. If you’re keen about your surroundings, a good learner and observer, you're good enough to be a journalist. And I landed the job," she recalled. Beginning her stint at the BBC as a Hindi producer for BBC News in 2001, Rupa was with the organisation for over two decades working in various capacities in India, UK and Nigeria. In 2023, she and a few of h

The budget session of Parliament resumes on Monday in the shadow of a spate of controversies ranging from Trump’s comments on tariffs, duplicate voter identity card numbers, three-language policy and delimitation among others.  Among the issues expected to erupt are the renewed violence in Manipur and the Waqf amendment bill. The govt is scheduled to bring a resolution to seek Parliament’s approval for pthe roclamation of President’s rule in Manipur, and the opposition will use the discussion to raise the two years of continuing ethnic strife in the northeastern state. The state’s budget too will come up for discussion, reported The Times of India. There is likely to be a showdown between the Treasury and the Opposition benches over the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill, which has been cleared by the Union Cabinet for introduction in Parliament, wrote Asad Rehman for The Indian Express. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that the government is keen on ea

To mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, Influencing India spoke with four women journalists from rural Tamil Nadu who have overcome personal and societal challenges to carve out a space in journalism. Reporting on crime, natural disasters and social injustices, these journalists have faced threats, harassment and systemic barriers while continuing to bring critical stories to light. Elakkiya, district reporter for News7 Tamil in Thiruvarur, recalls facing threats after reporting a jewellery heist in Trichy and a TN food safety department raid at a well-known hotel. “Being a woman reporter is not easy. We face many challenges in the field. Yet, I never thought of quitting journalism because it gives me a kind of pleasure and satisfaction that no other job can,” she says. Covering the aftermath of Cyclone Gaja, she struggled with access to basic necessities. “Recess is the only major problem on the field that any woman journalist will find tough to handle,” she a

Veteran journalist Natarsha Belling joined The Briefing – Afternoon Edition today, bringing her extensive experience to LiSTNR’s daily news podcast, Mediaweek reported.  Balancing this new role with hosting Seven’s National News at Noon, Belling will provide in-depth coverage of major stories, from natural disasters to political events, including the upcoming federal election and developments in the U.S. She expressed excitement about expanding her reporting across multiple platforms and will also collaborate with LiSTNR’s Factual team to produce an investigative series, leveraging her 30 years of journalism experience.  LiSTNR’s head of factual, Clair Weaver, praised Belling’s reputation for trusted, insightful content. New episodes of The Briefing – Afternoon Edition will be available on weekdays at 4 pm on the LiSTNR app.  

Seb Costello has resigned from the Nine Network after 13 years, following an internal review into an incident where he pursued an interview subject into a women’s restroom, Mediaweek reported. In a statement, Costello said he was stepping down to “seek a fresh challenge,” expressing gratitude to Nine and wishing the team well. The controversy unfolded in November when Costello and his camera crew followed finance executive Mo Ahmed into a bathroom at Melbourne’s InterContinental Hotel.  Attempting to interview Ahmed, whose company Oak Capital is facing legal action by ASIC, Costello allegedly filmed over a cubicle door. Ahmed later accused him of assault, prompting Nine to launch an internal review. Costello was stood down during the investigation. His resignation comes months after his father, Peter Costello, stepped down as chairman of Nine following an unrelated incident at Canberra Airport.  Seb Costello has also been involved in past controversies, including a 202

Former Today Show sports presenter Alex Cullen has announced his next career move after parting ways with Nine.  Sharing an update on Instagram, Cullen posted a photo with Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, writing, "Great to host the @penrithpanthers corporate partners meet and greet tonight. Thanks for having me and always good to see super coach Ivan Cleary." Fans expressed their support, with many saying they missed him on Today and others congratulating him on his new role. Cullen was let go in January following revelations that he had accepted a $50,000 gift from The Block millionaire Adrian Portelli. The controversy stemmed from a Today Show segment where Cullen referred to Portelli as “McLaren Man,” a nod to his collection of luxury cars.  Nine took disciplinary action after it was revealed that Portelli, eager to shift his “Lambo Guy” image, had gifted Cullen a substantial sum. On-air, Karl Stefanovic confirmed Cullen’s departure, calling him a “terrific fe