The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has published the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026 for public consultation, seeking to create a unified regulatory framework for television, radio, DTH, HITS, IPTV, and community radio services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The draft consolidates multiple broadcasting guidelines issued under the Telegraph Act, 1885 into a single rulebook. According to the ministry, the framework is designed to simplify regulations, digitise authorisation processes, streamline procedures, and improve ease of doing business. It will also replace existing licensing guidelines and remove the requirement for signing Grant of Permission Agreements (GOPA). Industry stakeholders have welcomed the move towards administrative simplification, but noted that the draft largely preserves existing regulatory structures. Provisions relating to security clearances, compliance obligations, ownership restricti

Journalists and content creators from television, print, digital and social media were honoured at the Devrishi Narad Journalist Awards 2026, organised by Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. Among the awardees: Pooja Rana (OpIndia) - Outstanding Young Journalist Award Garima Upreti (Know The Nation) - Journalism on Women’s Issues Himani Diwan (Kisan Tak) - Rural & Environmental Journalism Vimal Tyagi (Public Mitra) - YouTube Content Creator Mayank Baliyan - Content Creation on X Manojgya Tiwari - Instagram Content Creation Prabhat Ranjan Mishra (The Pamphlet) - Courageous Journalism Neeraj Kumar Dubey (Prabhasakshi) - Digital Journalism Nihal Singh (Dainik Jagran) - Print Journalism Dr. Ram Kinkar Singh (PTI Video) - Television Journalism Shashwat Panigrahi - Columnist Category Ramanuj Sharma (Hindusthan Samachar) - Innovative Journalism Each awardee received a citation, mement

The Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has urged the state government to resolve technical glitches in the application process for the free bus pass scheme and ensure distribution of passes at the earliest. State president Shivananda Tagadoor said that in the first phase, around 5,500 journalists are expected to benefit. He welcomed the Department of Information and Public Relations’ active role in implementation but stressed that technical issues must be resolved quickly so that passes can be distributed to all eligible applicants by Press Day celebrations. Tagadoor also drew attention to the Chief Minister’s Media Sanjeevini Scheme, noting that although it has been announced and implemented, its benefits have not yet adequately reached journalists.

In several Indian newsrooms, self-censorship is no longer viewed as an exception. Journalists say it has become an increasingly common part of editorial decision-making, particularly when reporting involves powerful individuals, corporations or politically influential groups. One senior journalist who has worked in digital media for over a decade recalls how an investigation into alleged financial irregularities gradually changed shape during the editorial process. "We had strong documents and multiple sources, but as the legal review progressed, sections were rewritten and some claims were removed entirely." What began as a hard-hitting investigation eventually appeared as a more cautious report focused only on broadly verifiable facts. Editors say the concern is not always whether a story is true, but whether a newsroom has the resources to withstand a prolonged legal battle. Defamation notices, even when ultimately defensible, can impose significant financial and ope

A government function to distribute welfare assistance in Polur, Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu, turned into a protest on June 16 after journalists assigned to cover it found their reserved seats occupied and were directed to sit on the floor. The event, held at a private wedding hall, was organised to distribute welfare assistance that organisers valued at Rs 7.50 crore to 2,207 beneficiaries. Bussy Anand, TVK general secretary and Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources, attended as chief guest and handed out the aid. According to reporters present, the front-row seats set aside for the press had already been taken by party workers and other attendees by the time they arrived. When they objected, they say they were sent to the floor. Raja, a journalist with Pudhiya Thalaimurai, told Influencing: "There were around 10 to 12 journalists who had gone to cover the event, in which Minister Anand was a special invitee. As a protocol, seating arrangements are usually

Thursday, 18 June 2026 #1  ·  Times City  ·  Breaking news Rehab Of 5 JJ Clusters To Start From Aug — Slum-Dwellers To Get Flats, Part Of Land To Be Used For Commercial Purposes By Abdul Manan, Shikha Salaria   ·   The Times of India (New Delhi Edition)  ·  Page 3 The Delhi government is set to begin rehabilitation of five JJ (jhuggi-jhopri) clusters from August, under which slum residents will receive flats while a portion of the freed land will be monetised for commercial use to fund the project. The report details the specific clusters involved, the DDA-led execution framework, and the PPP model underpinning the scheme, also noting community concerns about the adequacy of housing provided. The story adds reporting depth by unpacking the commercial land-use financing mechanism and includes on-record official sources alongside resident perspectives, making it more than a routine government announcement.

Tech publisher 4 Square Media, has launched ApplianceNews and ScopeAppliance as it takes proper aim at the Appliance and Home Tech side of the market, CEO David Richards told Influencing.  Appliance News will focus on the “intersection of home design and appliance technology”. ScopeAppliance will be distributed to close to over 2 million customers of The Good Guys, Richards added.  The titles sit within a broader entity called BrandNoise, which Richards said is built around "credible information marketing".  “The market today doesn't want advertising. What they want is information. Now we're able to deliver credible information marketing for brands without compromising editorial integrity. “We believe that the market today is transitioning to commercial and B2B. Selling is becoming a different model than it was five years ago because of the influence of Amazon and companies going direct. They're fed up with paying large fees to retailers.  “Readers are looking fo