B&T has announced the winners of its 2026 Women in Media Awards, recognising women across journalism, media, advertising, marketing and communications.  Vanessa Liell of Orizontas was named Woman of the Year, while Belinda Rowe received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Among the media winners, Nicole Madigan was named Journalist/Producer for her reporting on domestic and family violence, while freelance journalist Nina Funnell received the Social Change Maker award for her #KeepCounsellingConfidential campaign.  Fox Sports general manager Erin Ferreira won the Glass Ceiling Award, while Amelia Johns of UTS was recognised in Education/Research. 2026 B&T Women in Media Awards – winners Job Role Categories Agency Sales / Account Management — Stephanie Theonas, WPP Beauty Tech Labs Business Support — Sarah George, Foxtel Media Client Services — Kate Smailes, Havas Red Creative — Charlotte Berry, Howatson+Company Creative Producer — Tash Johnson, Special Ed

A 10-member media delegation from Ahmedabad arrived in Jammu on August 30 for a four-day press tour organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to familiarise journalists with the region’s cultural heritage, development initiatives and infrastructure projects. The delegation visited Amar Mahal Palace and Raghunath Temple on the first day. It is scheduled to visit IIT Jammu, the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, Chenab Rail Bridge, Salal Hydroelectric Project in Reasi and Biotech Park in Kathua. The delegation is being led by PIB Ahmedabad Media and Communication Officer Jitendra Yadav. Meanwhile, a 12-member media delegation from Jharkhand began a five-day PIB press tour of Kerala on August 31. The journalists will visit the Kochi Water Metro, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Rubber Board headquarters, Vembanad Lake, Vizhinjam Port and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. They will also visit CSIR-NIIST and SCTIMST to learn about research and technological developments.    

Kerala Kaumudi, a leading Malayalam-language daily newspaper headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, marked its 115th anniversary with a celebration in Alappuzha on Wednesday, with Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan attending the event and highlighting the newspaper’s contribution to journalism and social awakening. Recalling the newspaper’s legacy since its founding in 1911 by C. V. Kunhiraman, Radhakrishnan said its 115-year journey was a testament to trust, courage and the enduring power of ideas. He said Kerala Kaumudi had played an important role in raising the voice of marginalised and oppressed sections. Emphasising the importance of credibility in journalism, the Vice-President said public trust remained a newspaper’s greatest asset and was built through accuracy, fairness, independence and accountability. He also called for constructive journalism that highlights innovation, scientific achievements, community service and positive social transformation. Radha

Kashmir News Service (KNS) senior correspondent Mohammad Lateef was recently honoured for his contributions to journalism and social service at an event held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). The award was presented to Lateef by Member of Parliament Ghulam Ali Khatana in the presence of SSP Nighat Aman during a two-day programme organised by HIFAA in collaboration with Florence Hospital and ACI Asian Cancer Institute. Speaking to Influencing India, Lateef said the award was a testimony to his hard work and gives him further encouragement to continue bringing stories that have an impact on society. With 15 years of experience in journalism, Lateef covers health and drug-related issues in Kashmir. Apart from his journalism career, he is also an active social worker and conducts health awareness and anti-drug awareness camps. Lateef also organises the annual Infotel Awards Ceremony, which recognises individuals for their contributions to society.    

#1 · Times Special / Page 15 · Ground report / Accountability Where ‘School’ Means a Tree, Tin Shed, or Locked Gate By Rajiv Saxena & Vaishali Pitliya · The Times of India · Page 15 TOI reporters travelled across six Rajasthan districts to examine government schools following the controversy over outsiders being prevented from inspecting campuses. They found children studying in municipal kiosks and under trees, schools operating from single rented rooms, unsafe classrooms, unusable toilets and severe teacher shortages. In Kota alone, a PWD survey found 61 school buildings entirely ruined, while one school in the Chief Minister’s Sanganer constituency has 404 students squeezed into four usable classrooms. In Piplodi, where seven children died in a roof collapse last year, classes are still being held in a farmer’s two-room house. This is easily the strongest piece in the edition. Saxena, Pitliya and the wider reporting team

Journalist Kundan Jadhav died by suicide at his residence in Vaturkar Layout in the Khadan area of Akola. Jadhav was reportedly alone at home when he took the extreme step. His wife, journalist Priyanka, and their two daughters had gone to a hospital. When they returned with Jadhav’s father, they found him hanging at home. The incident was reported to the Khadan police, who reached the spot and conducted a panchnama. Police registered an accidental death case. Police Inspector Manoj Kedare said the exact reason behind Jadhav’s death was not yet known and that an investigation was underway. Jadhav’s body was cremated at Khadan Mokshadham on Thursday afternoon.    Image source: Loksatta 

AI Generated Image South India is seeing renewed interest from business publishers, with at least three media organisations preparing dedicated financial newspapers as journalists argue that the region’s economic weight has not always been matched by the depth of business coverage it receives. Express Publications, publisher of The New Indian Express, is planning a national financial daily from Kochi by the end of October. Chennai-based Kumudam is preparing a bilingual Tamil-English business newspaper, while Dinamalar is planning a Tamil business daily by the end of the year. The proposed launches come as South India continues to strengthen its position across manufacturing, automobiles, IT, infrastructure and emerging industries such as semiconductors and electric vehicles. Economic analyst V Balasubramanian estimates that the southern states together account for around 30–31% of India's GDP. The renewed interest also reflects a wider expansion in business journa