No prizes for guessing the main story today - except if you live in another land, but let's come back to that later. Yes, as The Sydney Morning Herald simply but effectively puts it in the headline on the front page story by Europe correspondent David Crowe - HOSTAGES FREED.  What is also striking from a media observer's point of view is that while Mr Crowe is an exceptional journalist, his bosses clearly don't feel the need to have anyone reporting from the Middle East - or maybe it's a cost issue.   But it is indeed a time of celebration for those who have been let go from the clutches of terrorist organisation Hamas in the Middle East, and almost all the dailies quite rightly give it a massive amount of space, complete with touching pictures of family reunions.  The SMH's Melbourne cousin The Age goes with the same story by David Crowe ('TASTE OF FREEDOM') and the same main picture. The snap is also used big - a bit too big for my liking because the quality of

Tensions and criticisms that arose following the absence of female journalists from a press conference of the Afghanistan Foreign Minister, Malwawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, held in New Delhi on Friday, October 10, 2025, subsided following the second “inclusive” press conference held on Sunday, October 12, 2025. Though his team clarified that the exclusion was “unintentional”, it sparked a raging controversy among the media fraternity and press freedom organisations. According to The Hindu, the Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic seminary in UP, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, clarified that there were no such directives to restrict the entry of women journalists covering the Afghan minister’s visit. "There were no restrictions from the Afghan Foreign Minister's office about who would attend," Deoband PRO Ashraf Usmani, also the media in-charge of Muttaqi’s Saturday programme, stated, dismissing as "baseless" claims that women journalists were kept away. Muttaqi’s team invited

The Association of Indian Magazines (AIM) has elected a new leadership team following its Annual General Meeting held in New Delhi, setting the stage for a renewed chapter in India’s magazine publishing space. Manoj Sharma, CEO (Publishing & Experiential) at Living Media India (India Today Group), has been elected as the new President. Joining him are Dhaval Gupta, Director at CyberMedia, as Vice-President; Anurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of BW Businessworld, as General Secretary and Riyad Mathew, Chief Associate Editor and Director at Malayala Manorama, as Treasurer, Indian Broadcasting World reported Outgoing President Anant Nath, Executive Publisher of Delhi Press, thanked AIM members for their support and reflected on the progress made during his term. He said AIM has worked collectively to strengthen the magazine ecosystem and reinforce the position of magazines as credible, multi-platform media.

Fellowships have become an essential part of modern journalism, offering reporters the time, mentorship and resources to explore stories that go beyond daily news cycles. They provide a platform for experimentation and depth—helping journalists pursue investigations, amplify unheard voices and connect with global networks that shape their craft. Independent journalist Sharada Balasubramanian, who focuses on environmental reporting, says fellowships go far beyond recognition. “Fellowships are not just about recognition—they provide support, guidance, and opportunities to pursue stories that would otherwise be difficult to do.” For Sharada, these programs helped her take on in-depth investigative stories, especially in environmental journalism, which requires both time and resources. She recommends platforms such as IJNet.org, which shares regular updates on fellowships and grants, and the Environmental Journalism Network (EJN), known for supporting environmental reporters th

The Uttarakhand government is facing severe criticism for its stark contradiction between assurances and actions concerning journalists. On one hand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated his government’s commitment to ensuring the safety, security and welfare of journalists in the state during his address at the Diwali Festival 2025 organised by the Uttaranchal Press Club in Dehradun on October 12, ANI News reported. On the other hand, independent journalist Ajit Rathi was served a legal notice by the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL) on the same day over his reports alleging that land allocated for an IT park was being leased to private parties. The move has drawn sharp criticism from journalist associations in the state and the Press Club of India. “Such actions by the Uttarakhand government stem from authoritarian tendencies aimed at stifling democratic discourse and preventing journalists from discharging their du

Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited under the Ministry of Coal, successfully hosted the two-day “National PR Conclave 2025” at the Gangotri Convention Centre, CCL Headquarters, Ranchi. Centred on the theme “Redefining PR: From Information to Engagement in the Era of Digitalisation”, the conclave brought together leading PR professionals, media experts, academicians, and students to explore the evolving landscape of communication in a digital-first world. The valedictory ceremony featured the joint release of a Special Cover (Customised Stamp Ticket) and the souvenir Navchetna by Nilendu Kumar Singh, CMD, CCL; Pawan Kumar Mishra, Director (Finance); Harsh Nath Mishra, Director (HR); and R.V. Chaudhary, Director, Postal Services, Jharkhand. The gesture honoured the dedication and contributions of CCL employees, who form the backbone of India’s energy infrastructure. The event included a series of thought-provoking sessions, such as: - Role

CNN-News18 has announced that it has emerged as an undisputed leader in the English news genre. The channel continues to dominate the primetime slot with no visible competition, Medianews4U reported. According to the latest BARC data, CNN News18 dominated the prime time slot with an impressive 64.4% market share, placing it significantly ahead of its competitors, NDTV at 15.4% and Times Now at 12.2%.   CNN News18 continues to maintain a strong lead with a 36.5% market share, followed by NDTV 24×7 at 25.2% and Times Now at 21.4%.  The channel has continued to dominate, holding the top spot in the English news category since BARC ratings resumed in March 2022. Its consistent success stems from its credibility and its commitment to delivering accurate, timely, and impactful journalism that connects with viewers.   The channel continues to deliver accurate news featuring top-tier news anchors like Zakka Jacob, Anand Narasimhan, Rahul Sivasankar, Shivani Gupta, and an extensive