India’s position in the global press freedom rankings continues to remain under scrutiny. According to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), India ranks 157th, slipping from 151st in 2025. In 2024, the country was placed at 159th, and the improvement last year had briefly raised hopes of a recovery. That momentum, however, has not continued. The latest ranking keeps India among countries where press freedom is considered difficult, reflecting growing concerns over the environment journalists operate in. For many reporters, the decline does not come as a surprise. Speaking to Influencing, journalist Sushant Soni from Jharkhand, said, “I would not disagree to the ranking if one sees today there is certainly a pressure put on journalists to no report the truth. We can see political press, or those in power putting pressure. If one sees today’s rural reporting the journalists certainly feel that they are in continues watch and pressure

CyberShack is shifting its content strategy to serve up more of what its audience wants to see.  The tech publication will also be cross-promoting that audience-pleasing content across its growing number of platforms with the aim of growing its audience substantially.   “Utilising this strategy, we can actually reverse from being as reliant on [search engine referrals], and use our own platforms and promotion to actually bring more audience to our content,” Charlie Brown, CyberShack’s Executive Producer and Host, told Influencing.  Brown confirmed reviews will continue despite the departure of Reviews Editor Ray Shaw, just not in Shaw’s in-depth style. Coverage will also extend to how-to guides and new gadget reports, with Scott Hunt handling that side of things. CyberShack will also expand its radio presence, adding a weekly Friday segment across Tapt Media stations — 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR — alongside its Saturday morning show on 2GB. “On the Friday afternoon,

For field reporters, election season is less about headlines and more about constantly working against time, crowds, exhaustion, and unpredictability. Long travel schedules, shifting campaign plans, and safety concerns become part of daily reporting as journalists move from rallies and polling stations to party offices and counting centres. Chief reporter K. S. Abbas Manthiri from Kavalar Mithran pointed to the uneven access reporters experience during elections. “Priority plays a key role during election coverage. Satellite media often receive more access and support than online platforms. They are more likely to get cooperation from authorities and access restricted locations, and senior politicians also tend to engage more with them.” He also described the physical strain of constantly travelling during election assignments. “Travel itself becomes exhausting during elections. We deal with long distances, time constraints, weather conditions, and delays that s

  Compass Studio in market for PRs of all kinds Compass Studio is expanding its PR freelance network after securing new work in early 2026 with Greenpeace, Harris Farm, Locolove and Earthletica. The values-driven studio is seeking expressions of interest from experienced PR practitioners, including permanent, part-time and freelance talent, with skills in earned media and purpose-led storytelling. The agency said it is looking for people with “a track record of both the doing and the thinking” to support upcoming briefs focused on impact-led brands. If you’re interested get in touch with Compass Studio’s co-director at luke@compass-studio.com   Barnes buttresses Bastion Vihan Mathur for Mediaweek reports that Bastion has appointed Joanna Barnes as Executive Media Director as it builds out its media offering less than a year after launch. The appointment follows client wins including Raw C and Geely and comes after Bastion’s recent hir

"Countless" explicit text that former radio presenter Alan Jones shared with numerous young men may, according to an exclusive report this morning in The Australian. Steve Jackson wrote in this morning's Diary column that Jones' indecent assualt trial kicks off in three months and material including explicit images and lude conversations are part of the evidence bank. "Diary can reveal state prosecutors intend to introduce into evidence a tranche of historic text messages found on Jones’s mobile after it was seized by detectives during a raid on his harbourside apartment in November 202 The private exchanges include potentially embarrassing – and exceedingly graphic – “sexts” the shock jock allegedly shared with some men who have since gone on to accuse him of sexually assaulting them at various points during the past two decades." Diary also noted its earlier reveal that there is a long list of "media personality, spo

Budget belt-tightening collides with a swollen public service With the May 12 federal budget looming, Labor is signalling restraint—net savings, possible tax changes and tougher choices—as scrutiny intensifies on how spending is being reined in without stalling services. The AFR reports wage forecasts imply cuts of around 7000 public service jobs a year, underscoring the political risk of “efficiency” drives landing as frontline reductions. Covered by: The West Australian, Australian Financial Review, Australian Financial Review. AUKUS anxiety: Japan submarines floated as a Plan B A former senior defence official is urging Australia to develop a contingency option for AUKUS by exploring leasing advanced conventional submarines from Japan, timed to high-level talks during Japan’s prime ministerial visit. The push highlights growing concern about delivery timelines and capability gaps, and would reshape regional defence diplomacy if Canberra formally lo

Winning a Lizzie to Pickr’s Leigh :) Stark means that people are reading and appreciating his work.  Stark says this after winning the Best Consumer Technology Media award at this year’s Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards. “One of the best forms of validation is that other journalists are reading it and judging it and saying that it's solid content”, Stark told Influencing.   “When you're in a small newsroom, you have an editor who can give you that. When you are your own publisher, there's the occasional friend and other journalist out there who will tell you what's happening, but that validation you get from the judges is really important.” Stark explained that it was an absolute honour for Pickr to be adjudged Best Consumer Technology Media. “[Pickr] is about trying to make consumer technology easier and more connectable for people, and to have judges more or less say that it's the best consumer