Image source: JFK, Twitter In a statement on its official X handle, the federation said Mehraj’s continued detention shows how the legal process has itself become a form of punishment. Arrested on March 20, 2023, Mehraj is currently lodged in a Delhi jail. In a statement, JFK said his prolonged detention amounts to punishment through process and reflects a troubling erosion of press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir. Mehraj, founding editor of Wande Magazine and former senior editor at TwoCircles.net, has reported extensively on social justice, human rights and public health. He won the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Award (2024) for his work on Kashmir’s heroin epidemic. The federation warned that treating journalism as a crime sends a chilling message to reporters and undermines democratic values. It also expressed solidarity with Mehraj’s family and highlighted broader concerns over raids, summons and device seizures targeting journalists, citing the recent

In an effort to strengthen public broadcasting, the Union government is modernising Prasar Bharati through a Rs.2,539.61 crore investment under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme. The Centre is taking steps to strengthen Doordarshan and Akashvani as competition in broadcasting increases, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan told the Lok Sabha on December 17. Responding to a question by Parshottambhai Rupala, the minister said Prasar Bharati is being modernised under the BIND Scheme (2021–26) with an outlay of Rs.2,539.61 crore. The scheme focuses on digitalisation, replacement of legacy systems, upgradation of studios and transmitters, expansion of coverage and adoption of new technologies. To improve content, a simplified Content Sourcing Policy was introduced in 2024 to speed up programme acquisition and allow wider participation. New programmes are being launched regularly, with Regional and State Centres engagin

With an aim to curb the spread of fake news related to the Government of India, the government has asked citizens to report any suspected misinformation directly through WhatsApp. People can flag suspected fake news to the Fact Check Unit (FCU) of the Press Information Bureau by sending it to the dedicated WhatsApp number +91 87997 11259. Complaints and fact-check requests can also be shared through email and the PIB Fact Check website. The Fact Check Unit, which operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was set up in November 2019 to counter fake news and misinformation related to the Government of India. The unit monitors online content and also acts on complaints received from the public. According to the government, the FCU conducts fact checks either on its own or based on information received through WhatsApp and its website. After verifying the authenticity of the content from authorised sources, the unit creates awareness material and shares verified inf

  Top television industry bodies have avoided taking a clear position on the government’s proposal to exclude “landing page” exposure from TV ratings, even as individual broadcasters and cable operators remain divided. The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation and the News Broadcasters and Digital Association submitted responses to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that focused on implementation and transition concerns, without addressing whether landing page exposure should count as viewership. Observers say the lack of a direct stand indicates tacit support for the government’s move, which aims to curb inflated ratings and reduce leverage for cable operators in carriage fee negotiations. News channels have been among the biggest beneficiaries of landing page‑driven ratings. Broadcasters remain split: NDTV, Network18 and Times Network have raised legal and technical concerns, while Zee Media, TV Today, ABP Network, India TV and Republic Media Networ

A senior Kashmir-based journalist has claimed police harassment after officers allegedly seized his mobile phone without a warrant or any other legal procedures. Jehangir Ali, who reports for The Wire, said police personnel from Budgam district came to his residence on Wednesday evening and took his phone without explaining the reason. According to The Wire, the officers did not give any reason for the action and failed to provide details of an FIR, case number, warrant or court order. It also stated the officers ignored the legal safeguards, including that they didn't provide a hash value, as directed by the Supreme Court for seized digital devices. Muslim Mirror Journalism stated that the seizure appears connected to Ali’s reporting on alleged corruption and nepotism linked to the Ratle hydropower project in Kishtwar. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti criticised the move, warning that such actions weaken independent journalism. Media organization

Image source: Newslaundry, The Boston Globe, Republic World, Equity Pandit and DNA India; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   For most of the last decade, Arnab Goswami has been television’s most aggressive defender of the Modi establishment. That’s why his late-2025 pivot toward open criticism of the Modi government and the Supreme Court of India has startled even seasoned media watchers. The immediate flashpoint is the Aravalli Hills. On air, Goswami tore into what he called a “technical ruse” that redefined the Aravallis as elevations above 100 metres, effectively stripping protection from nearly 90 per cent of the range across Rajasthan, Haryana and the NCR. He warned that the ruling clears the way for mining, deforestation and real-estate expansion, hollowing out a two-billion-year-old ecological barrier while Delhi chokes on toxic air. But the Aravallis weren’t an isolated outburst. Over recent weeks, Goswami has widened his critique to cover the De

Kolhapur city journalists staged a protest at the historic Dasara Chowk against Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar over his alleged objectionable remarks against media owners, journalists, and camerapersons, made while addressing a rally on Wednesday.  United News of India reported that city journalists, led by Shital Dhanvade, Kolhapur Press Club president and other KPC office bearers gathered near the Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj statue, raised slogans, and demanded that Ambedkar issue a public apology.   They also warned that such comments against the media would not be tolerated in the future.