The Nai Duniya Foundation honoured journalists, writers and filmmakers at the Media for Unity Awards 2026 held at the India International Centre, recognising individuals who upheld truth and courage in challenging times. Former Supreme Court judge Hrishikesh Roy attended the programme as the chief guest. The event saw participation from senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, political commentator Neerja Chowdhury, actor and writer Saurabh Shukla, senior political leader Shashi Tharoor, and former Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quraishi. According to India Tomorrow, the awardees included Associate Editor of The Hindu Ziya Us Salam and filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, among others. Speakers at the event highlighted the importance of independent journalism and its role in safeguarding democratic values.

Winning a Lizzie requires both impact and a well-written entry submission, according to Nate Cochrane. He says this after winning Best Corporate Contenat this year’s Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards.  Cochrane provides the following advice for others hoping to one day place a Lizzie on their mantlepiece.  “You must sum up your strong points, plainly, quickly and clearly,” Cochrane told Influencing.   “You must answer the criteria. Respect the judges' time and don't frustrate them with irrelevancies. The secret that no one will tell you is that judges are looking for reasons to disqualify people or to count them out. Don't give them those reasons; keep them coming back to you for more. Spotlight why your content is superior and always tie it back to the criteria.” Cochrane’s winning submission centred on a campaign commissioned by iTnews for Dicker Data and Microsoft Australia, aimed at alerting decision-makers to the end of support for Windows 10. He desc

Independent games outlet This Week in Video Games has won Best Gaming Coverage and Best Independent Technology Media at this year’s Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards. Co-founder and managing editor Edmond Tran said the recognition is much appreciated. “For the games and technology media, the Lizzies also mean a lot because there is no other space where work is judged by their peers and awarded for excellence,” he told Influencing.  This Week in Video Games’ winning entries for Best Gaming Coverage included “Concept Artists Say Generative AI References Only Make Their Jobs Harder” and “Print's Not Dead”, both written by Tran.  Maddie Agne wrote the publication’s third entry titled, “The Ban of Horses Has a Lot To Do With ‘American Values,’ says Santa Ragione” while Francisco Dominguez wrote, “Football Manager 26 and When User Experience Goes Wrong”.  Tran and Agne&rs

Chalmers puts the NDIS on the chopping block ahead of a tough budget Treasurer Jim Chalmers is flagging major NDIS changes as the central lever for budget repair, arguing the scheme’s trajectory is “unaffordable” without tighter eligibility, plans and provider rules. The push is also becoming a federal–state standoff, with Canberra warning states they’ll wear billions in extra costs if they don’t sign up—making this a defining test of Labor’s reform credentials and cooperative federalism. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, The Australian, The West Australian. Budget jitters: tax, deficits and “stagflation” warnings collide Across the papers, the budget lead-up is framed as a high-risk balancing act: global conflict and inflation pressures on one side, and a weak fiscal position and structural deficits on the other. Coalition and industry pressure is building around possible capital ga

The Karnataka Union of Working Journalists’ has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of senior journalist Ganesh Prabhu, who passed away at the age of 61. Prabhu, who served as a correspondent for The Hindu and The New Indian Express in Udupi for several years, was known for his dedicated and consistent reporting. In a condolence message, Union State President Shivanand Tagadur described Prabhu’s passing as an irreparable loss to the fourth estate. He noted that Prabhu was an active and committed journalist who made significant contributions to the field. Tagadur prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace and extended his condolences to the bereaved family, expressing hope that they find the strength to cope with the loss. Colleagues and members of the journalistic fraternity also remembered Prabhu for his professionalism and long-standing service to journalism in the region.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former party vice president Balbir Punj passed away on Saturday evening, marking the end of a distinguished career spanning journalism, politics and public life. Punj was regarded as a key intellectual voice within the party and had served as a Rajya Sabha MP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on X, calling Punj a “prolific writer, thinker and public intellectual” whose contributions to media and Parliament were “rich in facts and theory.” Modi recalled Punj’s role in strengthening the BJP among students, professionals and intellectuals, and expressed condolences to his family. Journalist Shivani Gupta described Punj as a gracious and knowledgeable figure, noting his ability to speak “the unvarnished truth” with authority. Condoling his demise, Gupta added a personal anecdote, saying, "I met him recently at an event and was, as always, instantly in awe. He had so much knowledge at his fingertips. He knew what mos

The Chennai Press Club on Sunday launched the first batch of competitive exam coaching for children of journalists under its ‘Interest-Based Competitive Exam Training Centre’ initiative. The inaugural class, held on April 19, saw the participation of around 28 students along with office-bearers of the forum. General Secretary Haseef Mohammed said, "The coaching classes are being conducted in collaboration with Aarvam IAS Academy." He added that all office-bearers were present at the inaugural session. The weekly classes will continue until September, with students being trained for upcoming TNPSC examinations as part of the initiative. President Suresh Vedhanayagam and Manikandan, among others, were present.