Channel 7 journalist Robert Ovadia has been dismissed by the network following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct. Ovadia, a senior reporter based in Sydney with 23 years at the network, confirmed his termination, stating, 'Yes, I’ve been sacked and there will be more to say about that in the appropriate forum at the appropriate time," as reported by The Australian. Ovadia has engaged lawyer John Laxon to represent him in this matter. The investigation, prompted by emails exchanged four years ago between Ovadia and a former female employee of Seven, led to his suspension on June 7. While the content of these emails remains undisclosed, Seven stated earlier this month that they were investigating allegations of inappropriate behaviour. There is no indication that the allegations against Ovadia have been substantiated. In response to the allegations, Ovadia described them as malicious and vowed to defend himself. His dismissal coincides with a series of hig

Richard French has taken on the position of breakfast editor at 4BC, in addition to his current role as a journalist at the radio station. French brings a wealth of experience, having previously served in journalist and announcer capacities at various stations including Magic 89.9, 3HA, MTR1377, Hot91.9fm, River 94.9, and 4BC News. His career also includes communications roles at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Rail, and the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. French can be reached at richard.french@nine.com.au

The Seven Network's Director of News and Current Affairs, Anthony De Ceglie, announced significant leadership changes within the news division, effective immediately. Sean Power has been appointed as the new Director of News for Seven Sydney, succeeding Neil Warren, who decided to step aside for family reasons after a distinguished 44-year career with Seven. Power, currently the Executive Producer of Sunrise, brings extensive experience and success to his new role. In a press release accessed by Influencing, it was stated that Warren will continue to support the Sydney news team during the transition and oversee Seven's coverage of the upcoming Olympic Games. Jake Lyle, promoted from Supervising Producer, will assume the role of Sunrise Executive Producer, while Holly Fallon, a seasoned broadcast journalist, joins as the new Executive Producer of Weekend Sunrise. Anthony De Ceglie praised Sean Power's achievements at Sunrise and expressed confidence in his leadership for the 6pm

Image: DALL.E Even as the trust for several popular news brands has been on the decline, a new generation of Indians, whose main source of news is through social media platforms, have emerged, according to the Reuters Digital News Report 2024. However, the overall trust in news increased slightly in this election year to 41  per cent.  Almost half of respondents used YouTube (54 per cent) and WhatsApp (48 per cent) for news each week, while Facebook (35 per cent), Instagram (33 per cent) and X (13 per cent) have become less popular compared to the previous year. About 20 per cent of the respondents used Telegram to get their news.  However, legacy platforms such as NDTV, Times of India, Republic TV, and BBC News continued to enjoy high viewership in their offline and online products, among our younger, urban, mostly English-speaking sample.  Despite a general decline in interest in news over the years, print (40 per cent) and TV (46 per cent) remain popular platforms for res

Astha Oriel has been appointed as a correspondent at Business Today, where she will focus on covering the automobile industry, mobility space, and startups for both the magazine and its online platform.  Oriel shared her excitement about the new role on LinkedIn, stating, "I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as a correspondent at Business Today!"  Prior to joining Business Today, Oriel served as a sub-editor at Fortune India for two years and held editorial roles at Outlook Business, NewsBytes, and Analytics Insight. 

Adgcraft Communications has announced the opening of its new office in Mumbai, Maharashtra, as part of its strategic expansion plan, Influencing India has confirmed. This move highlights the commitment to delivering top-tier public relations and personalised communication strategies.  In a press release accessed by Influencing India, it was observed that the new branch will work towards upgrading its PR offering across the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), corporate, lifestyle, influencer marketing, and hospitality sectors.  Abhinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director of Adgcraft, expressed his enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, 'The launch of our Mumbai office marks an exciting new chapter for Adgcraft,' Bringing into focus the agency's dedication to expanding capabilities and delivering measurable client outcomes.  Rahul Adap, Vice-President, Growth & Strategy at the Mumbai office, underlined the strategic importance of establishing a presence in Mumbai

The Hit Network has announced its metro winter line-up for 2024, set to kick off on Monday, June 24th. Fan-favourites Jimmy & Nath will take over the Drive slot, while Lucy & Nikki will make their debut on weeknights. Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, hosts of The Jimmy & Nath Show, return to the Drive seat from 3-6pm, bringing their trademark humour and engaging content. They promise lively discussions with prominent Olympians in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics. "We're thrilled to be back on national Drive! It's always a blast bringing our show to listeners across the country," Jimmy and Nath commented. Joining the evening lineup from 7-10pm are Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott, known for their popular podcast and Saturday Nights show. Amanda Lee, Head of Hit Metro Content and Content Director at 101.9 The Fox, expressed excitement about the return of Jimmy & Nath and the addition of Lucy & Nikki to the weekday radio schedule.  "We are thrilled to have Jim