News7 Tamil hosted the Thanga Tharagai Viruthugal 2025 at Radisson Blu in Chennai, recognising women achievers across politics, sports, business, cinema and entertainment. Justice Bhavani Subbarayan, DMK MPs Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Kanimozhi NVN Somu, Congress MP Sudha and PMK’s Sowmiya Anbumani were among the key figures who participated in the event. Sugitha Sarangaraj, news editor at News7 Tamil, told Influencing India, “We organise the Thanga Tharagai awards every year. Last year, the theme focused on ‘Menstrual Period Policy’ and this year, we highlight the role of ‘Women in Economic Growth.’ Empowering women in various sectors and identifying their unrecognised work is the main motto of this award.” Veena Kumaravel, Founder of Naturals Beauty Salon, sponsored the event, with Latha Pandiarajan, Director of Ma Foi Strategic Consultants, as the knowledge partner. The event will be telecast on the channel on March 8.

The shift towards freelance journalism is reshaping the media landscape as more journalists move away from traditional newsrooms in pursuit of editorial freedom. While freelancing offers autonomy, it also comes with financial uncertainty and challenges in securing work. Influencing India spoke with independent journalists K A Shaji, Kavita Muralidharan and Laasya Shekhar, who transitioned from newsroom roles to freelancing. With over 25 years of experience across The New Indian Express, Tehelka, Times of India, The Hindu, Huffington Post, and South First, K A Shaji sees freelancing as a way to work on stories that truly interest him. “Traditional media houses tend to give journalists some assignments or beats that may not excite them. Many media organisations are looking for quality content from freelancers. As freelancers, we have complete editorial freedom to work on stories that are of interest to us rather than doing tasks that are assigned by a senior,” he said. His prima

The Bofors scandal, a term that has become synonymous with political controversy in India, traces its origins to a defence deal in the 1980s. In 1986, the Indian government inked a contract worth approximately Rs 1,437 crore (equivalent to $1.4 billion at the time) with Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 410 155mm Howitzer field guns. This agreement aimed to modernise India's artillery capabilities. The scandal erupted in April 1987 when Swedish Radio alleged that Bofors had paid kickbacks to top Indian politicians and defence officials to secure the contract. The revelations implicated several high-profile figures, including then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who was reportedly close to the Gandhi family. The amount involved in the alleged kickbacks was around Rs 64 crore (approximately $90 million), though estimates vary. Fast forward to today, in a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) h

After a brief break from Breakfast radio, Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom is set to return to the airwaves as part of ABC Radio’s SA Grandstand AFL coverage, Radioinfo reported.  He will call Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide games at Adelaide Oval alongside Aaron Bryans and will also make regular appearances on ABC’s Breakfast program with Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller to discuss footy. Soderstrom, who left SAFM in October due to personal challenges, expressed his enthusiasm about his return, joking, “I’m happy to pop back behind the mic. It’s been a long time, all of about four months.”  With both South Australian clubs heading into a crucial season, he said he’s eager to get back into the action.  

  Mamamia is launching Well, a dedicated health content platform designed to bridge the gender health gap and provide Australian women with accessible, expert-driven information.  Set to debut on March 27, the initiative aims to simplify complex health topics while delivering trusted resources, according to Mediaweek. Research by Mamamia revealed that while 82 per cent of Australian women see themselves as their own health advocates, 76 per cent find the health and wellness industry overwhelming.  Addressing this need, Well will be co-hosted by The Quicky’s Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam Chalaan, a GP specialising in women’s and family health. Murphy will lead discussions on key health topics, while Dr Chalaan will provide medical expertise on preventative care and holistic wellness. “Australian women are desperate for reliable health information from a known and trusted source,” said Mamamia’s chief content officer, Zara Curtis.  “As the brand that has earned the

Dentsu India has announced key leadership appointments to strengthen its customer experience (CXM) practice. Devang Shah will take on the role of chief business officer – consumer, industrials and commerce, overseeing the non-BFSI segment with a focus on client relationships and business growth. Hemant Kshirsagar joins as chief business officer – financial services and fintech, bringing expertise in financial services and integrated marketing. Shah said, “Dentsu’s ambitious vision and integrated approach to marketing, technology and consulting present an exciting opportunity to drive industry-leading solutions. I look forward to helping brands navigate an ever-evolving marketplace.” Kshirsagar added, “I am excited to join Dentsu and look forward to leveraging our expertise in financial services, technology and integrated marketing to deliver accelerated growth and unlock new opportunities for our financial services clients.” Harsha Razdan, CEO of South Asia, Dentsu

Tech and gaming journalist Erielle Sudario - Podcast Editor at Checkpoint Gaming - says her new WordPress blog, Eri Reviews Things, aims to amplify the voices of people of colour in the tech and gaming fields. Sudario told Influencing, “the aim is to showcase more people of colour in the review and op-ed space. I don't usually see people of colour talking about tech, gaming or music/TV unless you know where to look. For me, it's being able to diversify that pool of writers in my way. “It's just me throwing my hat in the ring and being able to showcase what I love.  “I'm doing this during my spare time. It's like a side hustle for me, but I hope that in 2025, I'm able to showcase who I am as a writer.” Content posted on Eri Reviews Things appears bi-weekly to monthly, something she believes is a “perfect balance”. Though she’s a tech and gaming journalist by trade, she’s keen to expand beyond those two subject areas on Eri Reviews Things.  “Eri Reviews Things