The Sports Journalists Welfare Association, Assam (SJWAA) marked its 13th Foundation Day with a day-long programme at the Kankalata Indoor Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday.  As a part of the event, six sportspersons were honoured for their achievements.  The Sentinel states that cyclist Devi Chabukdhara and archer Sitaditya Das received the Upcoming Player Award, while swimmer Tirthank Pegu and weightlifter Abhinav Gogoi were presented the Promising Player Award along with Rs 25,000 each.  Squash player Ayan Kaushik and boxer Priyakshi Gogoi received the Encouragement Award.  The Coach of the Year Award went to archery coach Somesh Chandra Roy, who received Rs 10,000. A sports-themed painting competition was also organised.

Granting interim relief to journalist and YouTuber Savukku Shankar, the Madras High Court on December 26 ordered his release on bail till March 25, 2026. The court said the decision was based on submissions regarding his medical condition and the repeated curtailment of his liberty.  Shankar was arrested earlier this month following allegations of assault and extortion by a film producer.  According to South First, the Bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and P Dhanabal ordered Shankar's release until March 25, 2026, and sharply criticised the Tamil Nadu Police. The court said targeting journalists for expressing dissent goes against democratic principles.  The case was heard on petitions filed by Shankar’s mother seeking bail for medical treatment and protection from solitary confinement. The court observed that civil remedies, not criminal action, should be used if allegations are baseless. 

Journalists entering Trinamool Bhavan were earlier required to sign a manual register, a system that had been followed for a long time.  However, on Saturday, journalists noticed a new QR code–based entry system ahead of a press conference by Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.  According to Bhaskar English, scanning the code opens an online form asking for basic details such as name, media organisation, beat, and phone number. According to the Trinamool Congress, the move is meant to improve efficiency and security at the party headquarters.  The QR-based registration was developed by the party’s media cell and will be mandatory every day and not limited to special events. 

Image source: Telangana Today; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   Here’s the thing about press accreditation: it’s not a badge of privilege handed out by the state. It’s a functional guarantee. It exists so journalists can do their jobs without begging for access or fearing retribution. Telangana’s G.O. Ms. No. 252 forgets that distinction entirely. What triggered the protests outside the Hyderabad Collectorate wasn’t just a technical tweak to rules. It was the philosophy behind them. By splitting journalists into “field” and “desk,” by setting traffic and circulation thresholds that only large players can clear, the state has quietly turned accreditation into a gatekeeping tool. Access is no longer about journalistic function. It’s about scale, format, and state approval. That’s a dangerous pivot. When desk journalists are told they don’t deserve full accreditation, the state is effectively saying editing, veri

Veteran journalist Mathew A. Thomas (60), former bureau chief of The New Indian Express (TNIE), Thiruvananthapuram, passed away on Friday night. He began his journalism career with Malayala Manorama and joined The New Indian Express in 2000, where he went on to serve as bureau chief in the state capital. According to Kaumudi Online, Mathew returned alone to his residence in Punalur, Kollam district, on Friday night. On Saturday morning, when he did not respond to repeated phone calls from his wife, neighbours checked on him and found him unresponsive, seated on a chair in the hall. He is believed to have suffered a heart attack. Following the inquest, the body was shifted to Punalur Taluk Hospital. Funeral details will be announced later. He is survived by his wife, Joby Mathew.

Around 50 journalists, under the banner of the Telangana Union of Working Journalists (TUWJ), staged a protest on December 27 in front of the Hyderabad Collector’s Office at Lakdikapul, demanding the revocation of G.O. Ms. No. 252 related to media accreditation rules. The protesters were detained by police and later released from Musheerabad police station, Telangana Today reported. Journalists criticised the revised rules as flawed and divisive, arguing they restrict professional access and create hierarchies within the media fraternity. Key features of G.O. 252: Streamlines accreditation, formally recognises digital media, and introduces stricter eligibility criteria. Field reporters to receive accreditation cards; desk journalists to be issued media cards limited to welfare benefits, not official access. Digital outlets must show 500,000 monthly visitors over six months; capped at 10 cards statewide. Print media must have 2,000 daily circulation and registr

  The Gauhati Press Club organised its first‑ever women journalists’ conclave, “Let’s Talk”, on December 26, supported by Assamese magazine Nandini. The day‑long event drew around 200 journalists from across Assam. The inaugural session featured Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, newly elected President of the Press Club of India, as chief guest, alongside Smitakshi B. Goswami, CMD of Pratidin Time, and senior journalist Maini Mahanta. Pisharoty underscored the centrality of press freedom in democracy, warning that journalism risks losing its core purpose without the freedom to question those in power. She also raised concerns over the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP), cautioning that certain provisions could curtail journalists’ rights and restrict access to information. She announced that the Press Club of India will work closely with press clubs nationwide, including Gauhati, to oppose measures threatening journalistic freedom. The conclave featured t