Excitement builds as a broad cross-section of the best of Australia’s media writers and interviewers feature in this year’s Walkleys Mid-Year Prizes.    The Prizes are a standalone series of awards, held separately from the Walkley Awards which are announced in November. The Mid-Year Media Prizes are not Walkley Awards. They are judged by panels of specialist judges with no involvement from the Walkley Judging Board. The Walkley Judging Board however selects the winner of the John B Fairfax Family Young Journalist of the Year.   Peer-judged and selected on the basis of journalistic excellence, the Prizes include the John B Fairfax Family Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards, Coverage of Science and Environment Prize, Freelance Journalist of the Year Prize, Women’s Leadership in Media Prize, Our Watch Award for Excellence in Reporting on Violence Against Women, Media Diversity Australia Prize, and Arts Journalism & Arts Criticism Prize.   Walkley F

Foundry/ARN’s Women In ICT Awards this year welcomed a new event, WIICTA Plus, which Editorial Director Cathy O’Sullivan said there was definitely a large demand for.  O’Sullivan told Influencing: “We know that women are entering this industry, want to learn from each other, from our alumni and Hall of Fame members.  “It was a great way of bringing together graduates and early-stage female professionals in the industry and providing them with mentoring, workshops and career advice.”  The WIICT Awards and WIICTA Plus were held last Thursday, May 15th, at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, Sydney.  O’Sullivan said the aim was for mentors to provide mentees with career-advised tips and mentoring sessions.  She also noted how lucky the team was with the inaugural event lineup.  “We had Michelle Markham from Microsoft. She had an amazing presentation about the 10 career secrets that women need to hear. I certainly got a lot out of that session.  “We had two pa

Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief A.S. Dulat has come under scrutiny after a video surfaced online showing him allegedly verbally abusing a journalist during a televised interview.   Journalist Jitesh Jethanandani interviewed AS Dulat for Bharat Raftaar TV. Dulat became agitated when he asked about sensitive issues like his recent visit to Pakistan. Jethanandani questioned Dulat about his visit in the context of his co-authored book The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace, which he wrote alongside former ISI chief Asad Durrani.   The incident has sparked widespread criticism from media professionals and the public, who have expressed concern over his conduct. Senior journalists and editors have shared their reactions online.   Smita Prakash, editor of ANI, stated, “Good Lord! Mr Dulat really got riled up with the line of questioning. For those who do not know, he is a famous author, former Chief of RAW, former advisor on JK to PM Vajpay

The cable television industry is preparing to meet with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to press for the swift implementation of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, amid long-standing regulatory concerns, according to Storyboard18. Industry stakeholders are urging the Ministry to expedite the bill’s rollout, citing unresolved issues such as rising channel prices, forced bundling, regulatory gaps between linear and OTT platforms, and the unchecked growth of FAST channels. A senior executive said, “Several key challenges continue to strain the cable TV industry and require urgent attention — escalating channel prices, forced bundling, reduced consumer choice, regulatory imbalances with OTT platforms, and misuse of loopholes by FAST channels. Also, encryption of DD Free Dish is the need of the hour.” The MIB had earlier acknowledged these complexities in an Action Taken Report submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication

MyDesignation.com has named ITW Playworx Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd as its public relations and communications partner. The agency will lead integrated branding efforts to strengthen the fashion brand’s national presence. As part of the partnership, ITW Playworx will oversee a strategic PR campaign to enhance the brand’s visibility. The broader ITW Universe network will support with outdoor, sports marketing, and cross-platform branding to build a cohesive narrative. “Our journey from Thiruvananthapuram to the national stage has been powered by authenticity, bold creativity, and solid business fundamentals. Teaming up with ITW Playworx is a strategic move to amplify this momentum. Their expertise in media and storytelling will help us cultivate a brand voice that speaks to India’s identity-driven youth as we scale across the country,” said Swaroop Krishnan, co-founder and CEO of MyDesignation. Sidharth Ghosh, CEO of ITW Playworx, added, “MyDesignation is a great e

PR Professionals (PRP) has been awarded the digital media mandate for Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (BSFC), the nodal agency responsible for managing one of the largest Public Distribution Systems (PDS) in the country. Through this partnership, PRP will enhance BSFC’s digital outreach, promoting transparency, public engagement and effective governance storytelling. BSFC, under the Government of Bihar, serves over 76 million beneficiaries, distributing essential commodities via 45,000+ Fair Price Shops. Dr Sarvesh Kumar Tiwari, Founder and Managing Director of PR Professionals, commented, “We are honored to partner with Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation, an institution that plays a critical role in safeguarding food security for millions. Our efforts will focus on amplifying BSFC’s mission and impact through strategic digital outreach, fostering public trust, and showcasing the Corporation’s innovations in governance and service de

Image source: Indian Express, Al Jazeera; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   In one of the most significant blows to the Maoist insurgency in over a decade, top CPI (Maoist) leader and General Secretary Basavaraju was killed alongside 26 others in a 72-hour-long security operation in Chhattisgarh’s dense Abujhmad forest region. Hot off the Press As first reported by The Times of India’s Bharti Jain & Rashmi Drolia, the gun battle began on May 20 and was carried out by elite units including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force and CRPF's CoBRA commandos. According to senior officials, the encounter is one of the biggest anti-Naxal operations in recent years. The slain included senior Maoist leaders who headed the North Bastar Division, reportedly responsible for several deadly ambushes. However, the spotlight remains firmly on Mallojula Venugopal, aka Basavaraju, the reclusive and strategic mind behind the CPI (Maoist)’s central leadership. Indian Express jour