Calling Big Tech as the new East India Company, Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu had earlier this week highlighted in an X post how a nation's sovereignty would be incomplete unless there is "technology sovereignty". He made the comment in response to the French government announcing a plan to ditch American video meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom with a domestically developed alternative. The homegrown platform, known as Visio, will be fully implemented in French government agencies by 2027. Visio will handle conferencing with data hosted on French provider Outscale, and transcripts or subtitles managed by local firms. The Indian government too has been taking similar steps in promoting indigenous technology (mostly Zoho) in its attempt to minimise dependency on American tech giants. If you're wondering what this has to do with the news business, do take a look at this Guardian piece on how Australian journalism has been ‘sidelined’ in

Former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati has been awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to media, public broadcasting and institutional leadership.  According to e4m, he served as CEO of Prasar Bharati from June 2017 for five years, during which he focused on modernising Doordarshan and All India Radio and strengthening their digital presence.   A graduate of IIT Bombay, he became the first non-bureaucrat to lead Prasar Bharati.  Vempati previously served as CEO of Rajya Sabha TV and worked with Infosys, besides running a digital media venture. He has also contributed to several national media and policy bodies. 

The ABC has announced nine creators from more than 550 applications as part of its innovative Creator Program producing digital-first content across its social platforms.  The team will publish regular vertical video to ABC masterbrand accounts (ABC Australia on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube), ABC Screen social platforms, field-based mini-documentaries for YouTube as well as developing YouTube-first formats.   The Creator Program is a key part of how the ABC is building future-facing talent pathways, and the 2026 team will collaborate with ABC Screen teams on a range of opportunities, including writers’ rooms, TV debuts and behind-the-scenes production.   The 2024–25 Creator Program achieved more than 140 million views, with 80 per cent from Australians under 34, across science, the arts, history, current affairs and comedy. It developed new formats and launched ABC careers, including Aslan Pahari’s video podcast ASSASSINS for ABC Audio S

  Digital publisher Man of Many has appointed Amelia Navascues as its new head of social and production. The appointment comes as Man of Many plans more premium video formats, serialised storytelling and original podcast programming, as part of a broader strategy to blend traditional editorial with broadcast-style entertainment across short- and long-form platforms. Navascues brings more than a decade of media industry experience spanning broadcast radio, digital publishing and social-first content. She has previously held roles at MIK Studio, Triple J, Mamamia and Fremantle Media Australia. In her new role, Navascues will lead Man of Many’s content strategy and oversee the rollout of new multimedia initiatives. Most recently, Navascues spent three years at MIK Studio, where she oversaw the production of a range of podcast and digital series, including Anomalous with Em Rusciano, The Fairbairn Podcast, Mel & Sam, Pump Up the Jams and The Hosting Masterclass. Man

In a recognition of journalistic excellence, the Jammu and Kashmir government has named 11 media professionals as recipients of the Union Territory’s top journalism honours. The awards were conferred on Republic Day 2026, with each awardee receiving a certificate of merit and a cash grant of Rs 51,000. The list features journalists from both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions, drawn from leading national and regional news organisations. Among those honoured are PTI’s Srinagar Bureau Chief Inayat Jahangir and Somil Abrol, who heads PTI’s video operations in Jammu. Also selected for the award are Avtar Krishan Bhat, Vivek Suri (Executive Editor, Digital, Himalayan Mail), freelance journalist Dinesh Manhotra, ANI’s Jammu and Kashmir Bureau Chief Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Dainik Jagran correspondent Razia Noor, Sunil Ji Bhat (Deputy Editor and Jammu Bureau Head, Aaj Tak and India Today), Ishfaq Gowhar Zargar (Executive Editor, Gulistan News), ZEE News Senior Special Correspondent Syed K

Osmania University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication has inaugurated the Sarwat Hussain Digital Media Centre, strengthening hands-on training in digital journalism. The facility was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Kumar Molugaram at the University College of Arts and Social Sciences. The centre is equipped with high-end professional cameras and a customised Apple Studio system for digital content creation. The equipment, worth nearly Rs 20 lakh, was donated by Vidya Bhandarker in memory of her late husband, Sarwat Hussain, an alumnus who completed his BCJ and MCJ at the university during 1987–89. Hussain began his career at ICRISAT before joining the World Bank, where he served for 25 years and retired in 2017 from its Washington headquarters as Head of Communications for the Agricultural Global Practice. Ms Bhandarker said her husband’s career was built on the foundation he received at Osmania University and urged alumni to reconnect with their departments a

The Telangana government has issued orders restricting the display of “Press” stickers on vehicles exclusively to journalists holding valid accreditation cards issued by the Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Department, in a move aimed at curbing misuse and impersonation. The decision is part of revised guidelines governing the issuance of accreditation cards and the regulation of press identification practices. According to the orders, any unauthorised use of the “Press” sticker or logo will be treated as impersonation and will invite strict legal action. The guidelines also make it clear that “Press” markings must not be displayed on vehicle registration plates under any circumstances. The government has also withdrawn its earlier policy of issuing separate “media cards” to journalists working at editorial desks. Under the revised rules, desk journalists will now be covered under the same accreditation system as field reporters. According to Deccan Chr