The Bihar Cabinet on Wednesday approved a policy allowing social media influencers and content creators to earn up to Rs 1 lakh per video for content related to government schemes, a move two media professionals said risks blurring the line between government advertising and independent journalism. The amendment to the Bihar Social Media and Other Online Media Rules, 2026, was among 13 proposals cleared at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Under the amended rules, eligible influencers and content creators will receive payments based on the views their videos generate. After 30 days, an additional Rs 10,000 becomes payable for every one lakh views above a prescribed threshold, up to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh per video. The amendments also require periodic verification of followers on listed social media handles, pages and channels, with reviews every six months and advertising eligibility tied to prescribed categories. Separately, the rules allow the Infor

Friday, 21 August 2026 #1  ·  Times Business  ·  In-depth feature Govt to amend investment treaty to woo global players By Sidhartha   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page 15 The Indian government is set to amend its model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to allow international arbitration after one year of exhausting local remedies, down from the current five-year clause, in a bid to address long-standing grievances of overseas investors. A cabinet note has been moved by the finance ministry, which also proposes expanding the definition of investment from enterprise-based to asset-based, covering shares and equity instruments held for five years or more. The story contextualises the move against India's troubled BIT history since 2015, citing UNCTAD data showing only six countries have signed BITs with India since the model treaty was updated in 2016. The story combines insider sourcing (persons fami

World Photography Day, observed annually on August 19, was marked across India with exhibitions, competitions and events recognising photographers and photojournalists. In Secunderabad, The Hans India photojournalist Srinivas Shetty was felicitated by Sky Foundation president Dr Y. Sanjeeva Kumar in the presence of vice-president O. Pavani and others. In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu joined photojournalists at the Assembly premises to mark the occasion. Naidu briefly stepped behind the camera himself, taking a group photograph of the assembled photographers. He also extended his greetings to photographers and praised their role in capturing moments that inform and inspire the public. The Journalists’ Union of Sikkim organised a photography competition, with 13 entries shortlisted. Paru Sharma won first place, followed by Bijoy Gurung and Sunny Kumar Rawat. The winners received cash prizes, while certificates were presented to all participants. In Kozhikode

Swans hotel scandal: alleged victim breaks silence as police probe widens A woman at the centre of the Sydney Swans’ Melbourne hotel scandal has spoken publicly, saying she wants justice as police investigate alleged sexual assault claims and reports emerge of drugs in the room and players allegedly posing as “carpenters” to secure a discount. The story is escalating beyond sport into questions of consent, accountability and club governance, with reputational fallout spreading to sponsors and publishing as the investigation continues. Covered by: The West Australian, The Advertiser, Herald Sun, Courier Mail, Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age. Police apology after bushwalker tragedy and “found alive” misinformation NSW Police have apologised and launched reviews after Lily Hooper’s family was wrongly told she had been found alive before confirmation she was found dead in the Southern Highlands. The case has become a major test of police communications and cr

Welcome to Influencing’s new series, where we interview Cadets/early-career journos on their cadetships and first roles. Reporting on the Bondi Terror attack for The Daily Telegraph remains the most memorable moment of William Elliott's twelve-month cadetship at News Corp Australia. “It was a late Sunday afternoon. I was getting ready to go back home, and I got a call from the Chief of Staff. I couldn’t believe what he was telling me”, he told Influencing. Elliott said he caught public transport to the scene that day. He recalls telling people to get off the train. “People weren't believing me. People were in shock. I remember telling this one bloke, ‘Mate, you go that way, and I'll go this way, and just tell as many people as you can so that they know what's going on. He was frozen, and I don't blame him. It was just an unbelievable event”.  Bondi remains one of the most memorable stories of his cadetship so fa

India's vernacular news and content market is on track to more than double in the next five years, even as journalism schools across the country scale back regional-language courses. A Ken Research report projects the market growing from $1.35 billion in 2025 to $3.125 billion by 2031, at a projected 15.01 per cent CAGR through the period, down from the 18 per cent CAGR recorded between 2020 and 2025, when pandemic-driven digital adoption, cheaper mobile data and the rise of regional video platforms fuelled growth. Future growth, the report says, will be increasingly driven by monetisation rather than new audiences, with short-form video, hyperlocal news and voice-led discovery expected to outpace text formats, and AI-powered translation and speech tools helping publishers reach smaller language markets. Journalism classrooms tell a different story. The Indian Institute of Mass Communication's Delhi campus discontinued its Urdu journalism course in July; its Nagpur campus has anno

Thursday, 20 August 2026 #1  ·  Front Page  ·  In-depth feature NET row: AI used recklessly to draft questions, say experts By Himanshi Dhawan   ·   Times of India, Delhi  ·  Page 1 The story examines the controversy over the use of AI in drafting questions for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NET), with education experts and officials alleging that AI was used recklessly in setting the paper. The piece draws on expert commentary, official responses, and data on error rates in previous years to frame systemic concerns about AI deployment in high-stakes examinations. NTA denies AI use while pointing to official citations. The story goes beyond breaking-news coverage by sourcing multiple education experts and unpacking how AI-generated questions fail quality checks, giving it genuine analytical heft on a nationally significant examination controversy. #2  ·  My India  ·&nbs