PayDay News founder Warwick Ponder says Australia’s fast-changing payments sector was missing a dedicated media outlet – and early audience growth suggests he may have been right. PayDay News was founded in January 2025 and launched two months later to fill what Ponder described as “a massive hole in the market”. He explained that while it was a slow start when launching, the publication had seen a 560 per cent increase in subscribers in the last nine months.  “There are many thousands of people coming to the website every week to have a look at the stories. We are growing our subscriber base at a rapid rate weekly, and we hope that momentum continues as people start to see value in the publication,” Ponder told Influencing.  Senior Business Correspondent Michael Sainsbury added that LinkedIn had also been a key social media outlet, with the publication’s page racking up 5000 followers. The publication has begun to look at expanding its social media presence to Fa

Skanderup up sticks Vihan Mathur in Mediaweek reported Publicis Groupe ANZ has appointed Marie Skanderup as Client Partner for Publicis Production ANZ. Skanderup joins from Ogilvy, where she was most recently APAC Transformation Director across the agency’s social business units and Program Director for a major FMCG brand across Singapore and APAC. Her appointment strengthens Publicis Production’s leadership as clients seek more agile, technology-enabled production models connecting data, automation, creativity and content at scale. Managing director Neil Duncan said Skanderup brings the experience needed to implement bespoke production models for clients.   Iconic opportunity Andrea Hart has posted on LinkedIn that ICON Agency is hiring a PR Senior Account Manager for its Melbourne team. The hybrid, full-time role will suit someone with five-plus years’ consultancy or in-house experience across corporate PR, reputation, issues management, crisis communi

Kerry Stokes appears to be regaining control over Southern Cross/Seven West Media covering the departure of Southern Cross chairman Heith Mackay-Cruise left no uncertainty - this was Kerry Stokes flexing his muscles and taking back control of the media conglomerate. Stokes merged Network Server owner Seven West into Southern Cross earlier this year in return for $180 million in tax credits. Sam Buckingham Jones at The Financial Review wrote that at the time Stokes “suggested he was happy to walk away from the business, where he had wielded outsize influence for three decades”. However, maybe Stokes was just biding his time. Colin Kruger at The Sydney Morning Herald reported today that “it was hard for seasoned observers to believe Stokes was really walking away from media, and they appear to have been correct” Mackay-Cruise, who had been chairman of Southern Cross before the merger, is now gone with his place assumed by Teresa Dyson, who Kruger described as a “Seven

Budget brinkmanship: Chalmers flags negative gearing shake-up and modest tax offset With the May 12 budget looming, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is signalling major changes to property tax concessions, including winding back negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, while floating a $200–$300 earned income tax offset for workers. The government is also looking at carving out exemptions for new homes and tightening trust rules, setting up a high-stakes fight over housing affordability, revenue repair and “broken promise” politics. Covered by: The Australian, Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, Courier Mail, The Advertiser. Royal Commission hears “scared to be Jewish” testimony and alleged Nazi abuse Evidence to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion alleges antisemitic slurs, Nazi salutes and escalating threats affecting students and families, with schools describing heightened security fears. Th

First-year students from the Department of Strategic Communication at Indian Institute of Mass Communication visited the Parliament of India on April 28, 2026, as part of an academic exposure initiative.  During the visit, students were introduced to the architectural significance of the Parliament complex, while also gaining a closer understanding of India’s legislative processes and the cultural symbolism embedded within the institution.  

The Hindu Group on April 29, 2026, launched The Hindu TeenDigest, a weekend tabloid aimed at teenagers. A revamped version of The Hindu In School on Sunday, the 32-page edition focuses on engaging young readers with content ranging from science and global affairs to creativity-driven stories, according to The Hindu.  Chairperson Nirmala Lakshman said the initiative aims to provide reliable, meaningful content at a time when young audiences are exposed to misinformation online. Editor Gokul C. added that the publication seeks to deliver quality content as conversations around social media grow. Senior leaders, including Editor Suresh Nambath and CEO L.V. Navaneeth, attended the launch, with the team emphasising that TeenDigest is thoughtfully designed for young readers.  

The Digital Media Awards South Asia 2026 celebrated innovation, creativity and audience engagement in digital journalism, underscoring the industry’s shift toward tech‑led storytelling. The Hindu won gold in the Best AI‑driven News Product, Format or Strategy category, while Collective Newsroom took the top prize for Best Data Visualisation, and Spot On was named Best Emerging News Provider. Entries spanned categories including AI, audience engagement, data visualisation, newsletters, video, audio, digital products and revenue strategies. A jury of editors, digital media experts and industry leaders assessed submissions on innovation, audience impact and journalistic quality. All gold winners will now compete at the World Digital Media Awards. The South Asia awards ceremony will be held on June 25, 2026, in Delhi, alongside Digital Media India 2026, the World Association of News Publishers reported.